Mumbai's Mahilas: Geeta Anand
Brigid Connell (BC): Can you tell me a little bit about what you do for a living and how you got into it?
Geeta Anand (GA): I work as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. I got into it by looking for jobs at newspapers immediately after I graduated from college and finding one at a tiny, free newspaper called Cape Cod News in Hyannis, Massachusetts in the U.S.A. One of my favourite things is meeting interesting people and having great conversations with them.
BC: Who or what do you think has been one of your biggest influences, both personally and professionally?
GA: Maybe my mother. She loved chatting up people and wasn't afraid to talk to anyone from any walk of life. She also loved writing and encouraged me to read widely and write. She also felt strongly about issues and believed in fighting for what you believed in, which you do in some ways in journalism through trying to reveal the truth in things.
BC: What was the most recent book you read?
GA: Akhil Sharma's 'Family Life'.
BC: What type of advice would you give to young women living in India right now about how to succeed?
GA: Do something you find meaningful and enjoyable and do it with passion and discipline, refusing to give up when it's hard.
BC: Have you had any personal experiences with gender stereotypes in your profession or your industry?
GA: Yes I have. In my early years, I felt my editors didn't take me seriously because I am really friendly and smiley. They thought that meant I wasn't a tough journalist. I took on hard core political and crime beats and did the toughest stories to prove otherwise.
BC: What is something that you've worked on that you're particularly proud of?
GA: Most recently, I wrote a series on the rise and spread of drug resistant tuberculosis in India. I was proud of it because it humanized the problem, making for compelling narrative writing but also telling people something really important that they needed to know. The pieces were also tough, taking to task important national and international groups for being part of the problem. This is an important step toward making progress.
Mumbai's Mahilas is an interview series conducted by Brigid Connell, Programme Development Intern, Asia Society India Centre. The series explores the diversity and drive of Mumbai's women, both personally and professionally. All women, especially those who are leaders in their field and who create change in their communities, were encouraged to participate. Interviews cover women's backgrounds, professions, successes, interests, reflections, and advice for other women. Any views or opinions presented in this series are solely those of the individuals and do not represent those of the Asia Society India Centre.