Celebrity Interview - Ishika Gupta

I have always believed that lives all around us are very interesting and each one of us perceives, experiences and explored life in a unique way. Doesn''t it happen so that we randomly meet someone and start talking about their experiences and wonder, "wow! what a remarkable experience"? For you my story is fascinating, for me its yours. With such a realization, I have taken this initiative to document stories and experiences of ordinary people (with extraordinary stories). 

First up in this series is Ms. Ishika Gupta. She is working with International Rice Research Institute as a Consultant has done her Bachelors in Economics from Hans Raj, Delhi University followed by a Masters in Economics from Madras School of Economics. 

"In the train there was a person, from some European country and he started talking to us and I remember he said that he was a butcher, and he worked 6 months and then saved and traveled for the other 6 months, alone. That really fascinated me, I was 16, quite impressionable".

So let's beginning from your childhood. What are your fondest memories from your childhood?

Fondest memories would be back in Calcutta where I grew up in a joint family. There are many instances but to name a few, I can never forget having dinner on an 8-seater table, me, my brother, cousins, papa and papa's older brother. Once I got slapped by my dad on the table (the only time he has raised a hand on me), I must have been 7 or 8. He slapped me because I wasted food everyday. I kept on yapping on the table and sab khana khatam karke uth jaate the and end mein mai khana chhod deti thi. Toh he lost his patience one day! 

Also, I can never forget playing 'kitchen-kitchen' with leftover peels that my grandmother gave me from the day's vegetables that she cut. She saved all the peels for me and my sister (tauji's daughter) and we pretended we were cooking! And playing carrom, scrabble with my tauji and my brother and cousins.

I slept with my grandmother after I reached a certain age, and then I used to bug her every night to tell me stories about her childhood, how she grew up, her school, what kind of clothes they wore etc.! I used to find find it fascinating to imagine her as a young girl. Finally, this was when i slept with my parents. I did not go to sleep unless my dad kept his hand on me. I made him do that even by waking him up in the middle of the night, in case his hand had slipped. Basically all the fun with cousins and uncles, getting teased by everyone! I had a fun childhood, and I wish we still had joint families.

How would you define yourself as a teenager? Were you a rebel child?

No, not a rebel at all. I was a good girl. I did my homework and listened to my parents. Basically, I never rebelled, I still have not. I settled into school and then college happened and now I am working. My parents have never really been worried about me. I was always the one they were least worried about.

So do you think that's what teenagers are meant to do (be a good girl)?

No, not necessarily. I think I am a very risk averse person. I tend to confirm to established practices. I hate when things don't go as planned.

You have moved from Kolkata to Delhi. How are both the cities different? Is there any similarity between the two?

I moved when I was very young, 10 or 11. Since I grew up in Delhi, my formative years were spent here. Delhi has influenced me and molded me in both good and bad ways. I will not want to compare Delhi with Calcutta because I will be biased towards Delhi for obvious reasons.

Calcutta for me is a place where I went for my summer vacations, ate a lot and played with my numerous cousins, listened to stories. I guess I still see Calcutta like that, like a holiday home and Delhi is my home.

You are quite a traveler, where all have you been and which is by far the best place you have visited? Also, share some moments during that trip.

Umm, not quite a traveler. I wish I remembered going to Shillong. I went there with my parents when I was 4 or 5 and sadly I remember nothing at all (a fact which makes my dad roll his eyes, because he says he remembers things way back when he was 3). I wish I remembered that trip because the photos look magical. And i look strange *chuckles*

From the ones I remember, I guess the toy train ride from Kalka to Shimla was the most memorable one. I was mesmerized by the beauty. I had just given my 10th boards and we went during the summer break. In the train there was a person, from some European country and he started talking to us and I remember he said that he was a butcher, and he worked 6 months and then saved and traveled for the other 6 months, alone. That really fascinated me, I was 16, quite impressionable. His life seemed very adventurous and I wondered, and still do, if I ever be able to travel alone to a foreign country, given that I always yearn for company and get bored very easily.

Which is the best place you have visited in Delhi till now? Why?

CP!!! I love CP. Period. I don't know why but I feel at home when I am in CP. I can go there everyday (which I do after office) to the same place (usually Wenger's) and not get bored. I think by now I have mastered all the blocks. And I like colonial architecture, even though CP has been renovated. And then I have people like you who have told me awesome things about what CP used to be and is now. Bas, i love CP!

What is the one thing you feel has changed drastically in Delhi in the last 10-15 years?

Since I came in 2000, infrastructure wise, Delhi Metro. But Delhi needs to calm down and be more welcoming. People tell me they find Delhi-ites rude and I agree, people lose their cool at the slightest of things and its getting worse i think.

How do you think you can contribute to the progress of our country/city (with your skills and capabilities)? 

Country? That's a very heavy question. I will say I used to be one of the people who littered before but since the past year or two I have stopped doing so and try to make my friends do the same. So yes, stop littering.

I guess in my capacity as a researcher and the kind of job I am in right now, if i do it well enough I will be able to affect maybe the life of a few farmers if not more. But it would need a combined effort.

Favourite cuisine: Continental

Favourite dish: Ye mushkil hai bahut. A fat juicy steak, good pasta, biryani from Calcutta and, anything that has bacon, phuchka and roll (both from Calcutta) aur bahut hai, I had a tough time narrowing these.  

Favourite attire: A cotton kurta with the silver jhumkas and salwar of course. hahaha.

Most stylish person you know: Okay Srishti, she is my friend from school. I love the way she dresses and mixes things up. She has real talent! And Sumedha! For the same reason, I get most of my ideas about stitching my clothes from her. No Celebrities. 

Favourite sport: Tennis

Favourite sportperson: Roger Federer

Favourite music genre: I grew up on Bollywood, so that. But I love listening to folk and classical as well.

Favourite musician: Yaar it changes, Right now I am listening to old songs. I love Geeta Dutt! But there are many.

Thank you so much for your time. 

There is a Celebrity in each one of us. Embrace yourself. Pamper yourself.

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