‘Cough syrup does not cure Cancer!’- my first lesson in healthcare as a 7 year old kid offering cough syrup to my grandfather afflicted with gastric cancer, sowed the seed for my interest in drug discovery and healthcare.

In roughly the time that it took for man to evolve from monkeys, I graduated with a PhD in Cancer Biology and have since been working for Promega Corporation, a biotech toolmaker providing solutions for drug discovery, forensics, genomics, food and water quality testing, and diagnostics. I lead the business development efforts in Asia Pacific, particularly the Indian Subcontinent.

With a burning passion to contribute to social development, I co-founded ‘Grassroots’, an initiative to promote healthcare awareness among underprivileged communities through workshops. I have worked with NGOs in India, Vietnam and Cambodia on developing their health programs. I recently conducted a 6-week workshop on 'Health and Fitness' for children in Singapore, in collaboration with 'In My Defense' an organization promoting fitness through karate.

Legend has it that when I was 6 year old, I watched a violin concert in the Carnatic style of music on TV, without batting an eyelid. My family took it as a musical sign from heaven and enrolled me in violin classes. I've been featured on the 'All India Radio' and have performed in concerts throughout the state as part of the college music band 'Tek Music'.

I have an insatiable wanderlust. Relaxing on the white sands of Phuket; trekking through the rainforests of Borneo; a safari in the African jungles; wine tasting in Cape Town; skydiving and bungee jumping in Queenstown; a roadtrip in Canada in fall; a train journey through the vibrant chaos of India; camping in Ladakh, with the snowcapped Himalayas standing as silent spectators to my adventures- I did them all and more.

I regularly unleash my wisdom upon this unwitting world, through my articles for ‘Udantya’, a monthly e-magazine. If I’m not in the kitchen stirring a spicy stew, or curled up on the couch with a P.G. Wodehouse classic, you could probably find me running on the streets, err… training for the next marathon.