Mumbai's Mahilas: Kiran Vasudev
Brigid Connell (BC): Can you tell me a little bit about what you did for a living and how you got into it?
Kiran Oberoi Vasudev (KOV): I started my career as a lecturer in Delhi University teaching geography to undergraduate students. However, while I enjoyed teaching, I aspired to serve the nation by joining the civil service. I appeared for the Civil Services exam and was selected for the Indian Revenue Service (Income tax), in 1978 and served till September 2014. It was an exciting journey administering taxes, investigating tax evasion cases, implementing projects on use of Information Technology, Business Process Reengineering and working with some of the leading tax administrations in the world and advising smaller ones.
BC: Who or what do you think has been one of your biggest influences both personally and professionally?
KOV: The person that I am today is a cumulative result of so many influences along the way. To name some, I was particularly influenced by my grandmother, who came to India with her two young daughters, as a refugee from Pakistan. Her courage, simplicity, piety, loving nature, caring and sharing impacted me greatly. My parents have led by example and their integrity, dedication and commitment helped create institutions of learning from scratch. I owe a huge debt to my teachers, friends and continue to be inspired by the common wo/man on the street who smiles despite the many challenges s/he faces. My source of inspiration for sports is Mr. Fauja Singh who started running at the age of 89 and ran marathons till the age of 102. My own brother amazes me with his awesome adventure sport feats such as Iron Man and his recent participation in the relay swimming the English Channel. There is a lot to learn from the younger generation today which includes my two young daughters who stand strong and live their independent lives.
BC: What is one of your favourite things about living in India?
KOV: It is very interesting to work in India because being a vast country, it is diverse in its geography, history, culture, people, languages, cuisine, attire and so on. Working in the Government, I was posted to different parts of the country as a result of which my family and I got an opportunity to be exposed to so many diverse cultures, people and ways of life all of which has been so enriching. I spent nearly 15 years working in Mumbai, a city which ranks first for me for its great working environment and professionalism, safety and comfort for women, vibrance and is a great equaliser.
BC: Can you tell me about the adventure sports you do?
KOV: My interest in adventure sports dates back to hiking in my school days. Living in the North of India, we invariably went to the mountains in the summer and hiked there. My interest in other adventure sports developed about ten years back with river rafting, followed by zorbing, and in the last few years parasailing, paragliding, kayaking, biking and jetskiing. I love to try new sports; I find them very exhilarating and a lot of fun and constantly dream of doing new things. I believe age is no criteria for such activities.
BC: What was the most recent book you read?
KOV: 'It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War' by Lynsey Addario.
BC: What type of advice would you give to young women living in India right now about how to succeed?
KOV: The young working women today are smart and intelligent and know how to get what they want. My advice would be to primarily consider themselves as an equal member of the workforce and that is the key to success. Women have always had to work harder to prove their competence, hence accepting that, as well as the fact that a working woman has to play additional roles of a wife, mother etc., they can still make a mark. I would advise them to work hard, consistently upgrade their professional skills, strive for the best with tenacity and grit and never give up.
BC: Have you had any personal experiences with gender stereotypes in your profession or industry?
KOV: I personally did not experience any gender stereotypes within the Government.
BC: What do you think is one of the most effective platforms for change in this society?
KOV: The most effective platform for change in this society is education. Whereas, that is important for all, it is especially relevant for women in effectively bringing about social change, as they act as catalysts for the family. Education would automatically lead to change at various levels such as health, nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, employment and various other parameters for a better quality of life.
BC: What is something that you have worked on and are particularly proud of?
KOV: One particular assignment that I particularly enjoyed was that of recruitment, selection and placement of personnel in the junior ranks of the Government. The aspirants were from the rural areas, often lower income and lesser educated families not aware of the job opportunities. Hence, creating awareness in far-flung areas, training them for the exams, ensuring objectivity in selection and placement process was immensely satisfying. Further, holding a special recruitment process for the visually and hearing challenged and ensuring their placement was extremely gratifying.
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.