- Singing and listening to Carnatic classical, semi classical, devotional music. Vocal and playing veena, a traditional string instrument, have always made me happy. It helps to explore, innovate and realise the creative side of my personality. They have helped me to stay calm, happy and even manage work better. They bring a sense of joy and peace each time when I sing, learn a new song and just listen. I started learning to sing at the age of 8 years and I only realised how valuable it is much later as I identified its ability to help me focus better. It was my parents, especially my mother who instilled this habit of learning and singing in me. Being a working woman herself, I have watched her waking up at 4 am in the morning and practising music everyday.
- Reading books has been a constant hobby in my life. This provides new information, engages the mind progressively, helps to understand information better and much more. This has been a constant companion and entertainment as vacations brought more books and new reading for me always as I grew up. Reading newspaper daily, articles and author opinions published on weekends, short stories and heroic efforts, patriotic efforts, environmental contributions and work always attracted my attention.
- Writing is equally enjoyed. I wrote diaries when I visited a new place, wrote short articles and chronicled events as I watched my father maintain a diary of all significant events always. I won essay competitions in school and college.My article about my Guide, Prof.Katre Shakuntala was published in a Kannada weekly on the occasion of International Women’s Day when I was working for my PhD. I wrote about my Father-in-law and his care to take me to the AC coach from Regular while travelling from Bengaluru to Hyderabad which was published by Women’s Era magazine. As a researcher, writing and publishing articles brought immense joy for me. This is continued till date as this provides a beautiful platform to express myself.
- Gardening, taking care of plants is a true joy for me. It engages and provides a sense of instant connection.
- Watching nature, be it trees, mountains, rivers, ocean, birds, animals all make me happy. I can spend endless time doing this as there is a lot to learn and grow with this for me.
Being creative and engaging in beautifying/rearranging household set up gives equal joy. I am able to be involved in my hobbies for any length of time which is valuable for me.
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