I have always been fascinated by machines and vehicles and how they operate. Mechanical systems always fascinated me — gear systems and aerodynamics seem like magic. Having practically grown up with a computer I had always been fascinated by the software, but more so with the hardware. I have to know the inner workings.
When I saw edutainers on YouTube like Veritasium, Kurzgesagt, 3Blue1Brown, I saw a beautiful field full of logic and brilliant thinkers. The laws of physics haven’t changed but our understanding has brought about so much innovation and progress.
The piano is one of the most beautiful and complex engineering marvels in terms of instruments. Seeing planes fly over my head every day I think — if human brilliance can make us fly, soar across the sky, break the barrier and say that sky is not the limit, it can solve everyday problems.
My love for electronics coincided with my game dev passion. Embedded systems and controlling circuits was literally magical. You’re telling me there are electrons inside this wire arranged in a way that creates current — and the same electricity that operates my light, fan and refrigerator is responsible for running my computer that’s doing millions of calculations based on just turning on and off current. And it makes calculations, simulations, animations, games work in real time, and also operates fiber optic cables transmitting information across continents, powering the games I’d been playing and connecting people of all nationalities, age, gender and class to provide happiness and education.
What I want to do with all this
I decided I had to be an engineer. Computer science seems like the obvious choice — all my hobbies involved a computer somehow. But I don’t really want to go into an IT service company and build internal tools my entire career. I want to contribute more.
I’ve been interested in electronics, I love rockets and aircraft. Would be amazing if I could be a rocket scientist one day and say “it’s not rocket science — but wait, it is.”
My first childhood ambition was to be a soldier. And I found that all of these dreams come together in the path of a Fighter Pilot at the Indian Air Force.