Interview Summary (00:00:58) Childhood, family background Mother was first-generation school-goer and father was first-generation college-goer. Caste/community was more interested in business than education. Mother's insistence on education for daughters. Born in Parasia, Chindwara district (now in Madhya Pradesh), but family moved to the city for the sake of education. She was stubborn about going to school very young. Joined a very small school at just over 2 years old. Studied there till Class 11. ...

Interview Summary (00:00:39) Childhood Parents work in defence. Limited association with south India despite being south Indian. Life as a child living among defence families, learning about loss and unity early. Memories of all siblings being delivered in the same hospital by the same midwife. School life in a convent. Moving to the south for her father's job. (00:03:46) Earliest influences of science Creation of Kendriya Vidyalayas around India. Memories of biology teacher Subhadra Menon at...

Interview Summary (00:00:50) Childhood Born in Calicut. Childhood was spent in mother's home with grandparents and large family. Family structure. Brother's angry letter about marrying a man who was married before. Parents were in Podanur so she was sent to Calicut for education. Origin of 'AP' initials. 2nd to 10th grade in Jesuit school in Calicut. Excelled in school. Unique qualities of school – used to be co-ed, students made to clean school themselves. Memories as school leader. More recent visit to...

Interview Summary (00:00:10) Turning point in life (into research) Financial independence since BSc. ICAR Junior Research Fellowship for Agricultural University newspaper cutting shown by brother. Visit to Coimbatore Agricultural University to find out more. Fisheries was only option.(Aside: Family skepticism about telegraphist job and grandmother's visit to astrologer who makes a prediction about her research future.)Preparing and appearing for the BSc fisheries exam – Nirmala...

Interview Summary (00:00:35) Childhood in Kottarakara and moving to Rishi Valley Rachel studied till Class 7 in Malayalam medium school in Kottarakkara. She qualified for a scholarship for entry into public residential schools in 1969. While being admitted into Rishi Valley School, there was concern by the school principal about her coping with English-medium classes, was made to repeat some classes. Rachel talks about her own self-confidence owing to her training by her father using books to learn English....