Samvaad - A dialogue within & without

02/04/2026

My shift from Hard taskmaster to mother!

02/04/2026

Sharing my shift from task master to a mother!

31/03/2026

A Heartfelt Note of Gratitude: For School.

As we prepare for a new chapter of open schooling for Rugved to align with our neurodivergent brain, and our strenghts, my heart is full of gratitude for the institution that has been his second home. Seeing a child go to school with a smile and return with the same joy every single day is the greatest peace of mind a parent can have.
To the Visionaries
Having worked closely with the school as a visiting Psychology teacher, I have seen firsthand the dedication that goes into building an environment which will be inclusive. ( trust me its not easy for schools too, to build inclusive environment)

My deepest thanks to:
Director Maam & Principal Mayuri Mehta Maam: Your constant strive for excellence and your inclusive vision make GK Gurukul what it is. Thank you for your unwavering support in exploring every possible way to help Rugved thrive.

To the Pillars of Support
Rugved has been truly blessed with teachers who didn't just teach, but nurtured. A special thank you to:
Bijal Maam (School Counsellor): For your guidance and for being the bridge of understanding.
The Wonderful class trachers and coordinators: Paulami Maam, Nili Maam, Pooja Kukreja Maam, Archana Maam, Kajal Maam, Kavita Maam, Pallavi Maam, Revati Maam, Bharti Maam, and Poonam Maam.

A very very Difficult Goodbye for now. ( because Rugved wants to come back here after 10th as he says 😄)
The decision to move was purely to protect Rugved’s self-esteem and allow his brain more pace to learn. As he grew more self-aware, he began to ask, "Ka mala baki students sarkha class madhe kalat nahi? Ka mala lesson vachun pan yet nahi..Mi slow ahe ka, mi intelligent nahiye ka, mazha brain kaam karat nahi ka?" (Why don't I understand like others? Am I slow?). Watching him grapple with self-imposed pressure was tough, but the fact that he never wanted to miss a day of school despite these struggles is a testament to the love he received.
We are leaving with heavy hearts but beautiful memories. Thank you, GK Gurukul, for making school a lovely experience and for being the village it took to raise our boy with kindness.

29/03/2026

Science Holds Me Accountable. Art Keeps Me Human.

As a student of science, and a doctor I do not negotiate when it comes to scientificity and absolutely practicing evidence based medicine
Evidence matters. Rigor matters. Lives depend on it.

But there is a part of my work and of me that science alone cannot hold.

The stories.
The emotions that don’t fit neatly into diagnoses.
The weight that doesn’t show up in reports.

That is where art enters.

Not as an alternative to science
but as a companion to it.

The artist in me helps the doctor in me pause, perceive, and feel
to listen beyond symptoms,
to notice what is unsaid,
to sit with complexity without rushing to fix it.

It reminds me that every “case” is a person,
every silence has meaning,
and every struggle cannot be reduced to data.

And the doctor in me helps the artist stay grounded and responsible
to not get lost in subjectivity,
to question, to verify,
to ensure that empathy does not replace accuracy.

Art allows me to process what I carry.
Science ensures I carry it responsibly.

Because while science sharpens my decisions,
art deepens my understanding.

19/03/2026

16/03/2026

Today I noticed something beautiful.

Rugved has started practicing cursive writing on his own.. No reminders, no pressure, no instructions. He simply picked it up after watching another student and decided to try it himself.

And it reminded me of something important about children.

Every child has their own internal map of growth their own timing, curiosity, and pathways of learning. Some things bloom early, some much later, and some only when the child feels ready.

As parents, we often feel responsible for pushing, teaching, correcting, or ensuring progress. But moments like this remind me that ..

Parenting sometimes requires two quiet virtues:
Nazar and Sabr 😄 as
Rightly says in Dhurandhar 😃

Nazar :the ability to *observe deeply* without interfering.
Sabr : the patience to allow growth in its own time.

Children don’t always grow because we push them.
Very often, they grow because we allow them the space to discover themselves.

15/03/2026

This one hits hard!

14/03/2026

Fleeting thought!

05/03/2026

Had a wonderful time yesterday delivering a guest lecture on Internet Addiction to the MA Psychology final year students at DESPU.

We explored the continuum from compulsive use to dependency and addiction, and discussed how digital platforms engage the brain’s mesolimbic dopamine pathways and other neurobiological circuits that reinforce repetitive online behaviour.

The session also covered diagnostic criteria, early identification, and management strategies, including therapeutic approaches such as Motivational Interviewing, which can help individuals regain control over problematic digital habits.

What made the experience particularly rewarding was the curiosity, thoughtful questions, and enthusiasm of the students. Conversations like these are important because the next generation of psychologists will increasingly face challenges related to **technology use, behavioural addictions, and the mental health of children and adolescents.

Rooting for this wonderful and committed batch as they step forward to contribute meaningfully to the field of mental health.

Thank you and Dr. Sheetal Ruikar maam, for this opportunity!

19/02/2026

Thats all who is am! Plant parent, boy- mom, artist, therapist!

17/02/2026

Recieved in what's app forward... but this one is so apt!!

26/11/2025

This one is for all who belong to the category..

'Doctors are the worst patients, .. and I have been one of them!!

I woke up today not feeling well. Actually have been waking up not feeling well... but just pushed through last few days...today' as well... the very first thought that came, the same one I’ve had for the last 15 years was:
“Pop some pills, keep going, show up for work.”

Because that’s what we’ve been trained to do.
That’s the culture we grew up in.
Push through.
Be available.
Patients first.
Us… later...or maybe be never!

But today, after battling that familiar inner guilt, I mustered courage for myself to not push through.. allowed something I’ve almost never allowed myself to do.
I took a deep breathe and cancelled all my commitments.
And I’m sharing this for all my colleagues who need this reminder:

Your wellbeing is not optional.
You don’t have to earn rest.
You don’t have to justify being human.

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is say:
“I’m not okay today ..and that’s reason enough.”