What led me here and where do I want to go?
Growing up in a small town and being academically gifted, I was expected to become a doctor. But to my family’s dismay, I turned down a seat at the medical college just 10 minutes from home and decided instead to study architecture in Kolkata—a decision I’ll never regret.
Architecture school unlocked my enthusiasm for human-centered thinking and problem-solving, and it introduced me to the power of visual storytelling. This led me to explore information visualization and participate in every competition I could.
After graduation, I spent two years at Studio Interweave in Gangtok, working with a dynamic team on architecture projects as well as proposals aimed at tackling issues surrounding Gangtok's rampant urban growth. There, I found a value-driven community that encouraged autonomy and experimentation, instilling a sense of responsibility and allowing me to grow both as a designer and collaborator. One of the highlights would be organizing “Gangtok 2021” with Architects of Sikkim, a citizen-centered event aimed at creating a dialogue about our city’s rapid urbanization.
Through the outcomes of this event, Manch was born. Manch is a grassroots political movement aimed at giving the common people a place to voice their opinions. These experiences helped me gather a more holistic view of how the world works and fueled my drive for thoughtful decision-making, strengthening my confidence to take on complex, real-world challenges.
Revisiting challenges that have interested me throughout my life through the lens of an experience designer has been the highlight of my journey at NID so far.
With climate change at our throats, coupled with the overwhelming implications of living in the information era on our mental health, the world only seems to be getting harder to live in. I try my best to remain optimistic because I believe that humans, with the power we possess, are also responsible for and capable of solving the problems we have created. Along those lines, I want to continue to apply my mind, skill, and energy towards making the experiences we encounter in our short life on this planet uncomplicated, memorable, and meaningful.