The Tamil Creator Podcast (EP #67): Rathika Sitsabaiesan - From Politician (Canada's 1st Tamil MP) to Professor

Rathika Sitsabaiesan is a former politician (Canada's First Tamil Member of Parliament) and currently a professor at Centennial College.

Podcasts

Jun 13, 2022

Ara Ehamparam

Business Owner

Toronto, Canada

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She joins Ara on this week’s episode of #TheTamilCreator to discuss growing up in a single income household, watching her parents help other Tamil immigrants get on their feet in Canada, introducing Tamil Heritage Month with the late Jack Layton’s full support, the impact of a Tamil being elected as an MP, taking 8 months off in 2015 due to extreme burnout, how somebody in the Vietnamese community encouraged her to become a teacher; her ensuing passion for education, working in a hospital for 5 years before realizing she didn’t want to be a doctor and so much more.

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Timestamps

00:19 - Ara introduces this week’s guest, Rathika Sitsabaiesan
01:27 - Rathika speaks on her family upbringing and how it led her to a career in politics, and then education
09:41 - Growing up at a faster pace as the child of an immigrant
11:04 - How shifting from University of Toronto to Carleton led her into politics
14:08 - The moment Rathika was officially elected and her immediate reaction
17:00 - What it was like working with Jack Layton
23:08 - Rathika reflects on her career in politics and assesses her performance
29:19 - Why she didn’t resume her politics career; Jack Layton’s passing
35:50 - What she would have done differently as an MP and when she considering running as an independent
40:21 - Is Rathika done with politics?
41:06 - Being involved in post secondary education and advocacy for the past 15 years
44:17 - How Rathika sees the education space evolving amidst the pandemic recovery
52:25 - What she would tell her 16-year-old self; her parents not understanding mental illness but still being supportive
58:08 - How she wants to be remembered by her friends and family
1:01:26 - How her political career is still useful in her everyday life today
1:02:11 - Creator Confessions
1:10:40 - The Wrap Up