? When and how did your journey to Kuwait begin?
I came to Kuwait in 2001. My husband got a job, and I chose to relocate with him. The same year, I started working with Radio Kuwait and Arab Times almost simultaneously, and since then my journey of learning has continued. Before moving to Kuwait, I worked with HMV – Sa Re Ga Ma , a leading entertainment company in India, as a producer and radio presenter.

? Tell us a bit about you, your family and your life in Kuwait
The last 16 years have just whizzed past. My work in print and broadcast media has kept me busy. Meanwhile, my children have grown up. As far as work is concerned, I have concentrated more on art, history, society and culture than on politics. I have done quite a bit of work on Kuwait’s heritage, culture, and women. I have worked closely with organizations in Kuwait to focus attention on various aspects of Kuwait’s material and non-material culture. I got actively involved with the revival of sadu, the restoration of heritage buildings, Kuwait’s folkloric music and dance, and its customs and tradition. Apart from work, I have also been involved in curating events. Over the years, I have organized and promoted events for embassies, NGOs, and non-profit organizations in Kuwait. I have curated lectures, workshops, concerts and exhibitions on different platforms. In 2016, Hr-Anand Publications (New Delhi) released her first book “Women of Kuwait: Turning Tides’ – showcasing Kuwaiti women achievers. The book which aims at breaking stereotypes is being sold in India and Kuwait.

? Let’s talk about your education? Where did you complete your studies from?
I graduated in English from Loreto College, Calcutta. In fact, I did my schooling from Loreto. I followed this up with a Masters from Calcutta University. While working for my Masters, I also managed to complete a couple of Postgraduate diplomas in Marketing and Advertising Management, and Public relations. In 2015, I received a journalism Fellowship from East –West Center, an internationally recognized education and research organization that was set up by the US Congress to foster better relationships between the US, Asia, and the Pacific Islands through study, research, and dialogue. I was chosen to represent Kuwait, and that is something is very special to me. It was an enriching experience. We were around 16 journalists from around the world, and we travelled through the States, Malaysia and Pakistan discussing religiosity, diversity, and the importance of religious freedom in civic society.

? How much do you miss India and what do you miss the most?
I miss everything about India. Of course, I miss family the most. I miss the colour, sound, noise and confusion. I started my working life in India, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I left India at a time when private radio broadcasting was just picking up. Some of my former colleagues are big names in media and entertainment today. At times, I feel that if I had stayed back things would have been different. But then, on the other hand, I would have been deprived of the experiences I have had in Kuwait. 

? How do you feel about residing in Kuwait? What do you like the most about Kuwait ?
When I first arrived in Kuwait, and I started working, I was struck by the commonalities between the cultures of my place of birth and the country that had become my adopted home. There was the same emphasis on family, the same respect and regard given to parents and older relatives. Our eating habits share similarities. I think that is what helped me settle down fast. And what I like most about Kuwait is that it is a great melting pot. And for people who want to learn about other cultures, it does provide opportunities. Moreover as a person working in media living and working in Kuwait has presented me with opportunities, which I might not have received otherwise.

? How do you spend your leisure time apart from work?
I read. I am a voracious reader. Read almost anything I can out my hands on. I have also done a bit of amateur theatre. In fact, in the future, I may take this up more seriously. I am not able to do theatre more often because of time constraints. My work leaves me with hardly any free time. 

? Tell us about you’re the secret of your success.
I think I have been dogged. I mean I have been very determined in whatever I have done. When I started looking for a job 15 years back, I was told the best I could do was become a teacher. With all due respects to the teachers out there, I did not want to teach. I was a trained radio professional, and here I was being told to do something I knew nothing about. However, I persisted. I got in touch with the local Radio station and convinced the Station director to give me a chance. The same thing happened with the paper. I didn’t give up. I did every story that came my way. I worked long hours sometimes through the night. And I learned. Every day was learning, and that is such a blessing. Hard work, willingness to learn, courage, and persistence are my mantras, along with good inter-personal relations.

? Are there any similarities between India and Kuwait?
When I started working in Kuwaiti, very early on I recognised the commonalities between Indian and Kuwaiti culture. Recognizing commonness is important – as it brings acceptance and allows relationships to grow. One of the first points of commonness is the traditional music of Kuwait, and then there is sadu followed by food, language, shared trading history and a lot more. As members of the diaspora, we need to understand and appreciate these commonalities and build relationships around them. I have come across Indians who have lived for decades here – without stepping out of their comfort zones to find out these shared areas. And that is not right.

? How do you plan to further nourish the NRI society in the coming few months? (Future Plans, cultural or professional events, social service activities, etc.) 
As a journalist, I have always tried to bridge cultures. And as an Indian journalist, I have sought to showcase and explain various aspects of India’s material and non-material culture to my non-Indian readers in Kuwait. My first book ‘Women of Kuwait : Turning Tides’, which was released at the Kuwait National Library and the Kuwait Embassy in Delhi last year is another attempt to bring the two countries culturally closer together. India and Kuwait have cultural and economic ties that go back hundreds of year. This book, which is being distributed in both countries– I hope will help to break certain misconceptions and strengthen cultural ties. My work in the future will continue along these lines. I have to start work on my second book. I am taking my time to think about my approach. I know that I will continue to work on women, because that is a subject that moves me. What I am completely sure about is that whatever I do, I will leave behind a body of work that Kuwaitis can refer to in the future when they want to know more about the contribution of their women to the development of their country in general. The Indians are the largest community of expatriates in Kuwait, and these books will be my way of giving back, as an Indian.

? Do you have any message you that would like to share with other like-minded NRIs across the globe?
The diaspora, as we know is an important component of globalization. The Indian diaspora is huge, and in Kuwait it is the largest and most diverse. If I may say so, each member of the diaspora is an ambassador in his/ her own way, and we have the obligation to act in whatever way we can.