Renu Mehta introduces a famous and well-respected Indian on foreign shores

What comes to your mind when you hear the name ‘Mulay’? Naturally, you would think of Suhasini Mulay of the ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ fame. But, there is yet another Mulay, whose name is synonymous with eminence.

Indeed the other Mulay is Suhasini’s sister, Dr Shree Mulay, Director of the McGill Center for Research and Teaching on Women. For many of us who don’t know about the center, The McGill Center was founded in 1988 to promote research and teaching in the field of women’s studies. Located at Montreal, the centre is committed to academic excellence, community service and the principle of women’s rights as human rights.

And Dr Mulay has been responsible for its scholarly and administrative leadership. Under Dr Mulay’s guidance, the centre has now become a focal point for both community groups and academics.
In fact, Dr Mulay is a scientist, a researcher, a professor, an administrator, an advocate and an activist — all rolled into one.

A scientist in academia, she has identified the many hurdles that women face even today and has thus served as mentor to a large number of women. More importantly, she has helped develop gender-based analyses of the process and substance of science teaching.

Through her researches, Dr Mulay has advanced the biological understanding of women with a particular focus on reproductive health.

Also a professor at the Department of Medicine, she has taught several graduate courses including, ‘Research Medicine in Experimental Medicine’, ‘Introduction to Gender-based Analysis: Engendering Change’.