Who Am I

Who am I? It's a tough one to answer, but in a sentence, I like this quirky take - I am Asian Indian in this immigrated country, USA, where I am neither. Yet, I love this land—it has shaped me in ways that make me who I am today. Professionally, I am a lifelong learner. Though now in my 50s, I sometimes wonder, professionally being in software - Did I sign up for too much?

By nature, I am inquisitive and seek new adventures, among them, getting to know people. I love cultures knowing a few languages and living in different countries and that too in multiple places in both of them has been a blessing in disguise. At heart, I am still a vagabond,  (or as we say in Bengali, a "Jajabor"). Recently, however, my constant wandering/wanderlust has been paused due to family obligations. Yet, I foresee changes on the horizon - soon! Food, travel, books, documentaries, music, and movies are close to my heart. I enjoy staying active through walks, gym, table tennis, or yoga. Meditation keeps me grounded, and lately, I’ve been diving into theology, particularly Buddhism and the Bhagavad Gita. Professionally, I’m an IT nerd, though I sometimes wish I had a more outdoorsy job.

My childhood in India was fun. Originally from the Nawabi Lucknow region, I consider myself culturally Bengali (Bong) as I grew up in Calcutta. I grew up in a traditional family, interspersed every few years with some traditional marriage in UP or Bihar or long summers up there and then back to Calcutta. The 80s and 90s South Calcutta's bourgeois middle-class life - with a heavy Marxist undercurrent, shaped my formative years. Durga Puja, movies (Satyajit Ray/Nandan), music (traditional and Bollywood), and studies (School/Science/College Street) all played a part in my upbringing. This was followed by idyllic Goa, Goa became my intellectual awakening, where I spent over half a decade, earned my first master's degree, and began my career. This was followed by my second Masters in Syracuse and as I frame it - where I was reborn into this other democracy. The largest democracy, India suplemented by the strongest Democracy, the USA. A place where everything is polar opposite to Socalistic/non-individualistic/traditionalistic India.  As I would say the two countries are separated by a common democracy.

For the Psychologically inclined, I am an ENTJ Type.

Relationship-wise, I am divorced but happily co-parenting a kid who always challenges and reminds me why the few pounds between her ears, is the most intriguing and esoteric substance known to humans. The icing on the cake, she is at the best age for a parent. Old enough to show her future maturity but soon in a jiffy shows that she is still an adorable child.