I strongly believe that, in the industry I am in now, certificates simply don’t matter when it comes to success. Still I strongly believe that the education I had in Mathematics has hugely helped my rational thinking and also in understanding the logic in creativity. This is not just from the courses I did. It is also because of the life I lived during my formative years in institutions and the whole new worlds among strangers.
My family shifted our base to Thiruvananthapuram at 6 months of my existence in this world. We moved to the heart of Thiruvananthapuram City which is the Fort area. I spent best part of my childhood in the vicinity of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple where I used to go every day morning as a ritual.
Before my initial schooling at Government Sanskrit School I was in Nursery (today’s Kindergarten) run by Vanita Samiti (a Women’s Organisation) where my mother was an active member. After the initial schooling, I was shifted to St.Josph’s High School where I did my High Schooling.
1971 to 1973 – After the passing out of the SSLC, I was admitted to the famous much sought after college of those days, Mar Ivanios College for Pre-degree and Degree courses. During the Pre-degree which became Higher Secondary School later, I chose the Mathematics Stream though I was admitted to the Commerce Stream initially. I could not stand Commerce even in those days.
During those times, I had already started showing my talent in drawing and painting. And I was taken to then Drawing Teachers my father knew. I was also getting self-trained in Oil-painting. I did my first oil painting on paper during that time.
1974 to 1977 For the graduation I chose Mathematics and the Main subject with Physics and Statistics as the Subsidiary subjects apart from English and Hindi language. This was the time I got involved in many extra-curricular activities like Stage performances, Painting, etc. and won many prizes at College and State levels.
After graduation my adventurous life of a traveller started. Having completed my graduation, next natural choice was to get into post-graduation. And I found a place where I could do Post-graduation in Mathematics with Computer Science as specialization. This was a rare combination at that time when there were no PCs!
1978 to 1980 – I got admission in the Mathematics Department of Sardar Patel University, Anand, Gujarat against heavy odds, especially regarding the spoken language. I was quite up-beat about spending 2 years in a totally new place with no friends or relatives! Till then though I have been travelling to many places across the country, someone or the other used to be there in those places. These two years are the times when I truly studied and learned to live. It was a great experience. I am not sure whether I would have survived in any other place the way I did in Gujarat, as I strongly believe Gujarat is the most hospitable state in India.
1991 – Years passed and got a fancy of doing a Post-graduate Diploma in Management when such a course was announced by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), while working for a living.
Since then, I have been learning everything on my own as I could not find any institutions which taught my area of interest.
I am still learning, though not formally, and will continue as much as I can..