I grew up in an agrarian family, and my appreciation for insects is rooted in that upbringing. I loved bees as a child and was fascinated watching my dad hold a queen bee in his palm, with workers clustered along his hands – I wanted to grow up and be able to do that myself! I learned about entomology during my secondary school years and knew then that I wanted to pursue it as a career.

After completing a master’s in entomology, I began working on the taxonomy of the order Hymenoptera, which introduced me to the magical world of wasps. During this time, I witnessed the importance of wasps to indigenous communities in Northeast India, where they are respected and considered part of their cultural identity. This deepened into a genuine passion for wasps, eventually leading me to pursue an interdisciplinary PhD exploring the socio-economic, cultural, and ecological roles of wasps in the ecosystem.

I continue to enjoy taxonomy and describing new species (Eumeninae, Anthophorinae, Trigonalyidae). I’m always curious to learn about lesser-known, less charismatic species and hope to describe a few more of them along the way.