Describe yourself in three words or phrases.
One would be intellectually curious, second student-oriented — fittingly, my name Vidya means ‘knowledge’ in Sanskrit — and third, a lifelong learner.
What do you like most about your job?
The focus on institution building, creating a 21st century school that can stand among the best anywhere in the world.
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
Currently, what occupies most of my bandwidth is finding the best people. We may have world-class infrastructure in the pipeline, but schools are not just about buildings and laboratories — they are equally, if not more, about people. Bringing together the best faculty and students so that real magic can happen is what takes up much of my attention.
What’s a piece of work you’re proud of – and what did it teach you?
I’m especially proud of my scholarship and the six books I’ve written, each covering a different aspect of Indian architecture, urban planning and design. When I went to graduate school, I realised there was very little written on Indian cities and design techniques, so I ended up writing the book I myself had wanted to read 20 years ago.
What’s a small daily habit that helps you in your work?
Oh, I read a lot — my wife teases me about it all the time.
What’s one change you’d like to see in your sector over the next few years?
One major change I truly appreciate is the growing recognition of design in India. We are paying far more attention to design than before — whether through airports, railway stations or metro systems — and I believe that if society continues to value better design, the overall quality of life in the country can improve significantly in the coming decades.
What idea, book, podcast or conversation has stayed with you recently?
One of our board members — a former chairperson of the Competition Commission of India and a prominent business leader — recently pointed out that nearly 80% of India’s urban landscape for 2047 is yet to be built. That gives a sense of the scale of planning, development and construction still ahead, and if it can be done well, sustainably and efficiently, it could transform quality of life across the country.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in this field?
My advice would simply be to train well, be confident and go out and conquer the world, because this period truly belongs to young Indians. It is an incredible moment for India, and having seen different parts of the world, I genuinely believe the country has become a beacon of hope for much of the free world — young people today have immense opportunities, as long as they remain patient, keep working hard and pursue what they want with confidence.
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