Book Recommendations
In terms of fiction, I like the modern retellings of mythologies like the books by Devdutt Pattanaik and Chitra Banerjee’s Palace of Illusions.
Among non-fiction, I’m currently reading, We Also Make Policy by Subhash Chandra. Kaushik Basu’s Policymaker’s Journal and An Economist in the Real World are some interesting works with a touch of humour.
Film Recommendations
I like most of the recent Amir Khan movies, even the flop ones. I can name three: 3 Idiots, Talaash, Laal Singh Chaddha. I’ve enjoyed watching Talaash multiple times. I’ve found Laal Singh Chaddha, which many consider a bad remake of Forrest Gump, to be well adapted to the Indian context. I like it as much as the original.
Music Recommendations
Bollywood movie songs with a pleasant melody
Any Other Media Content You Recommend
Economics Explain, a YouTube channel that explains economics topics and recent economic development in a light and engaging way. I’m also into food channels.
Favourite Food Spots
I really like to go out for food, and to cook whenever I feel like it. I like Soy Soi; also, this Thai restaurant called Benjarong in Alwarpet.
Favourite Travel Destinations
Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and the Maldives
Favourite Hangout Spot in Chennai
Phoenix. It’s the most accessible and easiest place to go.
Go-to way to unwind
Spend some time with my family: my husband and my two-year-old daughter. After a long day, we just chit-chat and have food together. Sometimes, we go for late-night scooter rides or take peaceful walks around the campus.
Things You Like Most About Chennai, And Something You Dislike
The best thing about Chennai is the campus I live on because the weather is better here, and we have access to beautiful wildlife. There isn’t much to complain about, except that I haven’t learned the local language. Had I done so, the city could have offered me so much more. So, it’s not on Chennai, it’s on me.
What made you switch from chemistry to environmental studies, economics and public policy? Are you happy about how it turned out?
It was a random decision. A friend suggested shifting to environmental studies since we weren’t enjoying chemistry. She knew someone in that field and was excited about it, so I just went with the flow. It wasn’t a well-planned move. We were kids, unsure about the future, yet optimistic. Looking back, I’m glad I moved away from chemistry. It had become too tiresome with endless lab work during the day and lab books to complete at night.
Inspirations in Your Research
Right now, I’m drawn to the work of Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, especially their use of randomised control trials (RCTs). Though their works have their share of criticisms, it’s an approach I’d like to explore in the future. But interests evolve. A few years ago, I was drawn to something entirely different, and that might change again.
Advice to Researchers
Don’t get demotivated by rejections. As my father used to say, “failure is the pillar of success.” It’s natural to feel sad when your work is criticised or rejected, but you have to take it positively and work toward improvement. I know it’s easier said than done. But you must remind yourself that failure is inevitable; without it, there’s no success.
Research Tips
Keep reading. Ideas are not going to pop in your head without reading a lot of papers. I also urge students to make good use of AI. I don’t think that technology ruins us; it depends on how we use it. The goal of technology is to increase our productivity. So use AI and other tools positively and wisely.
If you weren’t a prof, what would you have become?
A homemaker
— Interview by Alphin Tom
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