I am an academic, and I have always made it clear that my ultimate home is in the realm of ideas.

I am not a 'doom and gloom' guy.

I am a 10th class pass in Hindi. From 7th grade to 12th grade, I was in Delhi; before that, I was abroad. I came in not knowing a word of Hindi in 7th grade and learned Hindi and passed the exam in 10th. I think I was north of 50 percent, so I feel very proud of that accomplishment.

The idea was never for me to be a career bureaucrat or career technocrat; it was more about where I could implement ideas and reform programs.

I am a story-teller, and I look to academic research... for ways of augmenting story-telling.

I am always stimulated by people. Almost never by ideas.