She refers to herself as a `village girl' because she was born and brought up in a remote village of Bengal. A village where girls could not go to school. But, with sheer determination, she attended the boys' school for a few years, completed the rest from home, went to a nearby town for college studies and finally obtained her M.Sc. degree after marriage. Since her husband worked in a German collaboration, she taught herself the language.

An expert in Bengali cuisine, she mastered Continental dishes as well, in the course of her travels abroad. A winner of many cookery contests, she is currently working on a book of diverse recipes. Extremely house-proud, she prefers to do the odd jobs all by herself whether bits of painting, carpentry, interior designing or gardening. Her talents include amateur directing and acting in the field of Bengali theatre. Social work is another thing that she is interested in.

How did you manage to study after marriage? Didn't your in-laws object to it?On the contrary, it was my father-in-law, a Deputy of Education, Uttar Pradesh, who encouraged me to join Post Graduate classes. I stayed with them at that time and attended classes.

But why did you decide not to work?
When my children were small, I had to be at home all the time. More so, because my husband's work often took him away from town (and sometimes even out of the country) for twenty days in a month. After they were grown up, however, I taught in a college at Gujarat where we stayed for a couple of years.

What values did you inculcate in your children?
From the beginning I instilled in them a sense of discipline, planning, learning by observation and a burning desire to learn. Another thing which I made clear to my children was that I would support them only till their graduation. After that they should stand on their own feet. I think the message was a success because both my children won scholarships based on their merit and hard work. In addition, I trained both of them in all sorts of household work.

Did you train both in housework?
Yes, I make no difference between a boy and a girl. My son is equally good in household chores as my daughter.

What is the secret of your beautiful home?
I have only a part-time help. I prefer to do the entire dusting and cleaning myself. I like to have green plants and flowers around me to liven up the surroundings and give a fresh look to the home. It is not expensive things only which can make a home look beautiful. It is combination of colours, a bit of nature, and everyday care for details which keeps a home looking beautiful.

Do you splurge a lot in decorating your home?
On the contrary, I'm a firm believer in the policy of `Best out of Waste'. I find it very interesting to convert left over odds and ends into something useful and attractive.

You have done a lot of entertaining. Could you give a few tips?
I love cooking. Whether it is a big party or a single individual arriving for a meal, I make it a point to cook a special new dish, something new or exceptional. I love experimenting with new dishes and ideas. Guests are very special and I plan a menu which not only offers a variety of taste but also in the colour effect it produces when laid out.

Is servant management as much of a problem as it is made out to be?
First of all, I prefer to call her a `help' rather than a maid or servant. Accordingly, I treat her as such, take an interest in her life as a human being, help her out when the need arises. She too reciprocates and obliges willingly if there is some extra work.

How do you find time for your myriad activities?
Time management is very essential. I plan my week ahead, setting aside certain days for different activities, so that I can find time for everything. Also important is dedication and commitment. When I know that a job has to be done, I go to any lengths to see that it is done perfectly and in time, even it means sitting up beyond midnight to complete it.