Husband and Wife Duo Graduate with PhD’s in Education

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Husband and wife duo Drs Dhanasagaran (Sagie) and Rubandhree (Ruban) Naicker proudly celebrated each other’s academic achievements when they both graduated with their PhD’s in Education from UKZN recently. 

However, one half of the academic power couple Sagie had to deal with his existing yet debilitating effects of paraplegia and chronic ill health while completing his PhD. Midway through his study, Sagie underwent surgery for spinal stenosis and his research was curtailed.  

But with the support of his loving wife, family and friends, he pulled through and managed to complete his thesis on time. His PhD is titled Piecing together the leadership puzzle: A self-study of practice.  

In his study he reflected on his leadership practice in key nodal experiences in various contexts. He also explored the consequences of being a person with a disability  and observed that he has a “vibrant and alert mind trapped in a disobedient body”.  

‘The motor accident that led to my becoming a paraplegic at the peak of my youth altered my being significantly. Even though 29 years have gone by I still experience a sense of otherness as paraplegia differentiates me from “able-bodied people”. This experience has heightened my sense for justice, equity and fair play and I have become a champion campaigning for the rights of people with disabilities.’ 

‘My inner strength and resilience has helped me to cope and forge ahead in spite of the barriers that disable me. I am of the view that I can still realise my life’s purpose and transform myself into becoming the best that I can be. Paraplegia describes my physical state but it does not define who I am.’ 

Sagie pointed out that while completing his degree, he encountered various challenges such as struggling to get access to the library and various lecture rooms because of a lack of wheelchair-friendly ramps.  

‘The paraplegic toilets were always locked. The paraplegic parking bays at the Edgewood campus were frequently abused by able bodied persons and I had to find alternate parking which was inconvenient.’ 

‘There were times when my dignity and independence was impaired when my supervisor Dr Inbanathan Naicker had to assist me when the lifts did not work. He was at all times sensitive to my special needs and never made me feel that I was less capable.’ 

‘At the cohort sessions I once had to have my refreshments alone in the lecture room because I could not access the staff room – I experienced exclusion and really felt the effects of being “othered”.’

Speaking about his wife Sagie said: ‘While both my wife and I came from very humble backgrounds with social and financial constraints, we have forged ahead against these odds to achieve academically. We now live in Kharwastan. We were both school guidance counsellors and met at a meeting when school counsellors were being rationalised by the Department of Education.  We’ve been married since 1992 and are soulmates.’ 

Sagie had chosen to do his PhD, citing his wife Ruban as the inspiration. ‘Watching her study for her master’s degree awoke the academic being in me.  She encouraged me to pursue PhD studies and made enquiries for me. As soon as she completed her master’s degree passing with cum laude she started her PhD journey.’ 

‘It was a huge advantage having two researchers in the same home as we lived and breathed every experience together. We leaned on each other for emotional support; shared a forum to test ideas; and used this opportunity to clarify technical issues.’ 

Ruban’s thesis explored how teachers’ responded to critical incidents in their teaching lives and why they respond the way they do. Her findings revealed that teachers are either inspirited or dispirited depending on their resilience, leadership support, school culture, social support and their values and beliefs. 

Drawing from both their research, they wish to advance leadership and management development in South Africa and have put together a programme that will benefit existing and aspiring leaders in government, corporate and non-govermental sector.  

‘Our programme phronetic leadership or leading with wisdom starts by leading the most difficult person that is you. Details can be found on our website  www.newagestrategies.co.za’ 

Sharing a few words of advice, Sagie said, ‘This is a message to society that people with disabilities are capable of achieving if the barriers which disable them are removed. I dedicate my success to people with disabilities and pray that society embraces them and allow them to also shine.’ 

Melissa Mungroo