But why did you choose to become an IAS officer and your subsequent carriers?
I was a quite brilliant student, the youngest in class, and topping it. I then did my pre-university. There were two career choices only at the time, becoming a doctor or an engineer. Back then, being a lawyer or a journalist were not so looked up at. So I applied for the IIT and entered IIT Madras.

Two and a half years later, I realized I was not cut off to become an engineer, among others because I am not an early morning person, while everyone else was on time so early in the morning. I felt I wanted no part of that life. I am a late night person. Also, I did not have really exciting teachers. So I left before getting any academic credentials.
But I learnt how to do crosswords, solve chess problems, my tennis and organizational skills improved. So in a way, I equipped myself for life.

Then I moved to economics and law. But as I my father retired, I dropped out after a year, and joined a bank in Madras, then the State Bank of India.
All along though, something in me made me feel I had let my parents and their expectations down. So I applied for the IAS exams. And God was kind, so here I am… I never planned my career as many do in the services. My first posting was in the Northeast, which many people consider a kind of calamity. But it turned out to be an amazing opportunity. And I then went from one place to the other.

... contd.