Like any other child in a middle class family and more out of complying with my parents wishes, I too was aspiring to become a Doctor during my high school days. Being a dreamer at heart it wasn’t too far, when I realized that this wasn’t my calling. At the time when all my classmates from the Biology stream were busy appearing for the Medical Entrance Examination in the year 1993, I had made a clear choice, I cannot make a career in pure Sciences as I had planned initially.

Today I am a Faculty at National Institute of Design, and teach in the M. Des program of Interaction Design & Lead, Science & Liberal Arts discipline activities for 5 Masters in Design Programs at NID Bengaluru Campus.

When I look back, what brought me into this is the quest to find my true calling, and the journey was not very eventful but a very slow yet filled with great life experiences. So what is it worth knowing about me? It’s my determination and sheer perseverance and following my heart which has helped me get into this

That summer after completing my schooling, I was engaged with some interesting work at Akashvani Bhopal and recording programs for Yuvvani (the youth program at Akashvani, Bhopal). I cherished my selection as the Radio Artist through an Audition test. I played the role of Sita in Radio Play the 13-episode serial of “Uttar Ram Charitra” written by Bhavbhuti. I learnt good techniques to work on my own voice doing voice overs for Computer Aided training programs, on camera presentations for the television Educational programs, taking interviews of the teachers/experts in some subject areas, taking part in live group discussions on various contemporary topics and aspects of society specifically focusing on the youth’s point of view.

On the education front, being reasonably good at the hand drawing skill, I passed in the entrance test for the admission to Bachelor of Arts (B A) in Fine Arts (Drawing & Painting) alongwith other 2 subjects like Geography & Economics at the Government Girls PG college at Bhopal. The graduation years liberated me in 2 ways-Firstly I had the freedom to be myself and not at all be perturbed by what others are doing since I had no one known to compete with me in this solo journey & Secondly this was something I was really enjoying thoroughly. This was like food for the Soul. It’s important to know that I got a chance to rediscover myself even more since I also had good time to learn different skills. Eventually I completed Masters of Fine Arts (Drawing & Painting) Program at the same college in 1998 and I stood first in the University in my Faculty.

I was also part of a Theatre group outside college and did 2 stage plays at a good level. Participated in couple of Drama competitions, painting competitions and so on. In a nut shell I was getting introduced to different medias to unleash my creative self and realise my artistic potential.

By this time, I was started earning a little through the Radio Programs, but being a Post Graduate now, it was the time to think of a career as well. I took up a Primary School Teachers job in my own school and started teaching Drawing as a subject.

In the year 1999 when Multimedia was an emerging field offering lot of scope for people with my background. Considering that I need to prove myself worthy of earning a livelihood for self and also for the family I appeared in the national level exam and got selected for 6 months’ Diploma course in Advanced Diploma in Computer Arts from CDAC Alandi Centre (Pune). This course gave me a professional knowhow of the real work in Multimedia for a creative professional.