The Indian American Experience Podcast
In our country, Indian Americans are a group that defies being painted in one stroke, be it in political/ideological leanings, definition of identity, or perception of their place in society. So, why not then hear directly from a diverse group of Indian-Americans, or desis, their experience, through light-hearted, casual conversations, and see if we can find common threads, maybe shed some myths, and hear some interesting stories!
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The Indian American Experience Podcast
32: Viji & Anirvan: An inspiring story of grit, dedication and harmony
My guests this week are VijayaLakshmi Nagaraj and Anirvan Sengupta. Together they are a confluence of spirited dedication, intelligence and wisdom.
VijayaLakshmi, Viji to her family and friends, got her Doctorate degree in Microbiology from India. She has undertaken various adventures since then, including her one year of research at Trieste, Italy followed by a quarter century of work at Rutgers University as a researcher in Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular biology. She took a rather challenging path at around the age of 50 of completing her Masters in Health Informatics from Weill Cornell Medicine in 2019. Since then, she has worked in the healthcare industry in New York and New Jersey in various impactful roles. In her free time, you can find her playing tennis, running, gardening or hiking.
Anirvan Sengupta grew up in a suburb of Kolkata and got his PhD degree at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. After a stint as a postdoctoral fellow in Paris, he came to join the Bell Labs in New Jersey. Anirvan is currently a professor at the Physics and Astronomy Department, Rutgers University and a senior research associate at the Flatiron Institute in New York City. His interests span Neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Physics. An avid marathoner in the past, these days he spends his free time mostly reading, swimming or going for long walks.
Together, they are an epitome of dedication to their work and both of them seem to have found their passion in their lines of work. Together, they recount their journey that led them to this point in life, and remark on the triumphs, joys, hardship and challenges along the way. With equal dedication and commitment, they have raised a wonderful young adult, and they share with me their philosophy behind their parenting as well. Listening to them both will fortify anyone’s love for what they do if it exists, or generate it if it’s lacking. In any case, together, they forced me to think more passionately and philosophically about work, self-discipline, and life in general.
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To contact me directly with questions or about being a guest on my show, email me here: IndianAmericanExperience@gmail.com