January of 1993 was a tumultuous time for Mumbai. The city's peace was being held captive by brutal rioting. Hostilities had escalated and tensions had peaked to an all-time high. It was during this time, one cold night in January that my mother gave birth to my twin brother and me. My brother and I had entered the world with our immediate surroundings in turmoil but at the time, our mother couldn't have foreseen that more menacing and deeply personal chaos awaited us. Two years later, our father passed away and my mother was left alone to raise two children all by herself.
My childhood was a relatively happy one for someone who was raised fatherless. My uncle was the father figure in my life who used to spoil my brother and I rotten. I am told that I used to be an extremely naughty child- bouncing with energy and brimming with mischief. All of that energy slowly receded as I grew older and more aware of my responsibilities. I recognized early on that I had to mature faster in order to be of support to my mother. She had done a wonderful job raising us on her own but I could see that she was wearing out fast.
I, therefore, decided that I would stay on in Mumbai, pursue my studies here and help my mother out. I completed my engineering course in electronics and telecommunications and after graduating, created a start-up with my brother. We identified a gap in the market and founded a company called Athlexica which was a premium activewear brand that created innovative products to serve the activewear and sportswear market. It is during this period I realized my passion and affinity for marketing.
After my brother moved away to the US to pursue his Masters in Computer Science, I decided to join NMIMS to pursue an MBA in marketing, which marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I am hopeful about what the future holds for me, and am grateful for the opportunities my life affords me at every step to continue, grow and evolve as a person.