Simply Great
The Dance of Life
- ARK & PREETA KRISHNA

Life is short……. There is so much to experience and so much to do. How can one add new roles and activities without dropping the existing ones, and still excel at everything? Journey with Dr Mohana Krishnaswamy to find out how.

It isn’t often that you come across a person who has such diverse interests as Science and Media. It is rare that a person is objective yet creative, homely yet ambitious, loving yet assertive, intense yet lively, gentle yet strong, accomplished yet simple. Meet this woman for whom music and art truly transcend all boundaries …. for whom family isn’t just an institution but a bond she holds very close to her heart… for whom art isn’t just a profession but a way of life…. Meet Dr Mohana Krishnaswamy, a savvy woman of the world.

We understand that you have worked in diverse fields such as Science and Media. Can you tell us about the early phase of your life?

I was born in 1948 at Ranchi, Bihar as the 10th child of my parents. As I was the last child, my mother wanted me home to keep her company. So I joined school only in the 5th standard. By then my family had moved to Hyderabad, where I completed my schooling in Hindi medium. I was always a bright student and always managed to come first right up to my graduation, despite the fact that I considered all subjects other than science irrelevant and a waste of time. In fact, from my schooling to my Doctorate, I haven’t spent a single paisa on my education, having always obtained merit scholarships. I did my Bachelor’s in Science in Nizam College, Hyderabad. My answer papers were rated so highly by my Professors that they used to read them to the students doing their Master’s. I was awarded the Vaidehi Memorial Gold Medal that is given to women candidates who secure the highest mark in Chemistry. I had always dreamt of doing medicine, and though I desired to join medicine immediately after school, I could not because I was under aged. Again, after finishing my graduation, I got a seat in Medical College. This time too, I was unable to do it as my family was shifting to Chennai and I was reluctant to stay alone. My only interest other than science was Bharatanatyam, in which I had done a 6-year course. My father, however, was against my pursuing it as a profession.

After moving to Madras, I got married to Krishnaswamy. I was only 19 then. Here again in my in-law’s place, as I was the youngest, my father-in-law, Mr K Subrahmanyam, showered a lot of affection on me. He gave me the freedom and encouragement to pursue whatever I wanted to. I eventually enrolled for Master’s in Biochemistry at A.C. College of Technology. When I was in the final year, I was carrying my first child. This was the only time in my academic career that I came second. I went on to do my Ph.D in Biochemistry, which I completed in 4 ½ years. The best part of it all was that there was no gap whatsoever in my studies. After I completed my thesis on the Biosynthetic Pathway of Vitamin B6, I obtained fellowships from ICMR and CSIR and was invited to the Nutrition Congress at San Diego, U.S.A. Subsequently, I presented about 27 post-doctoral research papers in various Indian and international scientific journals.

In what direction did your career progress from there?

I then worked for Capt.Srinivasamurthy Drug Research Institute, conducting research in Ayurveda and Siddha. We were working on a group of anti-fertility (in collaboration with WHO) and anti-cancer drugs. For my research in the field of cancer, I received the “Hari Om Ashram’s Gold Medal”, the highest award in Ayurveda from the Gujarat Ayurveda University for outstanding pre-clinical research in anti-cancer drugs. Having worked in the research field for about 15 years, I found myself at a dead end, frustrated with the system. As I am basically a happy, enthusiastic and positive person, I felt the time had come for me to make an exit. I quit full-time research in 1984 and became a consultant at the same institute. I was then involved with the Sankara Mutt, Kanchipuram in the setting up of an Ayurvedic College near Chennai, where I worked for two years. I am still a consultant to them and plan to involve myself even more, once Post-graduation and research facilities are added. I still write articles on Ayurveda off and on.

How did the shift from Science to Media happen?

It was an unexpected shift even for me. Had you come to interview me a few years earlier, I wouldn’t have even consented to it. I was never a communicative or expressive person. So, Media was never my cup of tea.

My husband had directed and produced a documentary film called “Indus Valley to Indira Gandhi” (the first Indian film distributed by a Hollywood company - Warner Bros.), which had gained immense popularity and respect. My first assignment was to supervise the translation of the script into Hindi and direction of the Hindi dubbing. I was given only 10 days’ time to dub the 4-hour film. I managed to successfully complete the task, retaining in it the spirit and life of the original. It garnered appreciation from all corners, including late Rajiv Gandhi. This gave me the needed confidence on the shift and I got into Media on a part-time basis.

My next major assignment was as associate director for the documentary on “Operation Blue Star”. The film was taken at the behest of the Government of India, as they wanted a neutral, honest and objective account of the action taken against the militants at Punjab. The film was shot within a week of the operation, amidst gunfire. I was the first civilian woman to enter the Golden Temple after “Operation Blue Star”. We interviewed a cross section of people - civilians, journalists and defence personnel - including Gen. Sundarji. This film was shown in Indian Embassies / High Commissions all over the world. Surprisingly, the Censor Board refused to give clearance for the film to be shown in India and we had to move the court to obtain clearance.

I then joined my husband’s business full-time and took over as the Chairperson. Being at the helm of affairs made me realize that I was happy being my own boss - even if it meant being the head of the chick. I initiated diversification in Krishnaswamy Associates, which was till then only into documentary film making. Then on, we started producing television serials in Hindi as well as Tamil. The Hindi serials needed my personal attention and so I was creatively involved in their making. We also pioneered the production of Hindi TV serials that carried the ethos and culture of the south. It was then that I realized the importance of all that I had learnt. For someone who considered all subjects other than Science a complete waste, my knowledge and proficiency in Hindi came in handy to take our organization to the next level. We were the first to produce the ancient Tamil twin classics “Silapadikaram” and “Manimegalai” as a costume drama titled “Upasana”. We also produced Sri Aurobindo’s “Savitri” as a stage show and as a drama for television. It won the award for Creative Excellence at the US International Film and Video Festival. I won the IFUW International First Prize at Helsinki for directing “How They Left Hell Behind”, a documentary on women empowerment. I have also won a couple of awards for the best Tamil TV serials. To date, we have produced 30 TV serials and about 250 documentary films.

This move from Science to Media has instilled in me the faith that if you are destined to do something, it will happen.

In retrospect, how would you assess your professional life?

I believe that if someone can involve himself in something and do it with dedication - that by itself is the greatest puja or meditation. Whether it was with my research or now with the media, I have always given my best to all that I have done. I hold my work and life at such a level that when I am asked about my contribution to society, this is what I say : I believe that doing one’s job to the best of his ability (both on the personal and professional front) is by itself a great social contribution. If you do not ruin other people’s chance of success, if your employees are happy and content, if your clients are happy with your work, if you are giving the right message to society, if you lead by example, if you never put up a farce, if you are not unkind to anyone, if you communicate good things to everyone, and if your conscience does not prick you, I don’t think you need to make any separate social contribution.

The most satisfying feeling about working with Krishnaswamy Associates is that in the 40 years of our existence, we have never compromised on our principles and there isn’t a single project that we regret having done. We have never done a film that was ethically or morally against our philosophy. Although the decision is sometimes tough, for it isn’t just a question of morals but also money, we have stuck to our guns because of this god-given attitude. Before taking up any project, we play the devil’s advocate, analyze every aspect down to the minutest detail, and take it up only when we are absolutely convinced. Risk or danger to life has never deterred us from going ahead with a project if we believed it was for the good of society. Whether it was the documentary we made on “Operation Blue Star” or the operations of “Indian Peace Keeping Force” in Srilanka, we never allowed the risk factor to come in our way. We do not reject a project that is good just because the scope for profit is less. Many a times we are approached by people who lack the finance for producing films that carry social messages and create awareness. At our end, we identify people who have the required finance and are on the lookout to do something good for society, and get the films made. Thus, we act as a bridge and contribute to society. If you have the right motivations to do good things, everything falls in place. Today, Krishnaswamy Associates is an organization of national reckoning. In 2003, Krishnaswamy Associates conducted a four-day Sathbavana Utsav dedicated to communal harmony. We have made several documentary films, TV shows and stage shows to express our dedication to the message of inter-religious harmony. In recognition of this, I was given the Indira Priyadarshini Award at the National Convention on Communal Harmony on Indira Gandhi’s birthday at New Delhi this November. We’ve set our own standards and stamped our class. Looking back, I would say that the experience has been very fulfilling.

The demands on you must be quite high. How do you manage to beat the stress of the job?

Being non-compromising demands that one be disciplined, efficient, well-planned and well-organized. It also requires you to know how to get your team to work. Continued process excellence and focus on efficiency and planning can alone ensure a stress-free and happy work atmosphere for everyone. If the one at the top is happy, the happiness percolates.

You are a person with varied interests, aren’t you?

Apart from science and dance, I have a wide range of interests. Everything inspires me from Sufi Qawali to Marathi Abhang to Carnatic music to Ghazals to Urdu poetry and Sher-shayari. Every medium, I believe, is God-realizing. If you know a language in the true spirit of the language, you will find so much to appreciate in life. I can speak six languages (English, Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Urdu and Telugu), of which I can read and write three. It isn’t enough to have expertise in just one subject. You need to have little knowledge about everything to have a well-rounded personality. Learning is a process I enjoy. To kindle an interest for Bharatanatyam in my daughters when they were young, I started learning again. With so much to learn and do in life, how can anyone ever feel bored?

Has your hectic schedule ever been a constraint to the time you spend with your family?

I have never allowed my personal interests to come in the way of my parenting. When I was associated with research in Ayurveda, I received several offers to settle abroad. My husband even offered to move abroad and do the babysitting while I worked. What held me back was my love for the family. Having to go alone to attend my B.Sc. convocation made me realize how much children need their parents. This put speed breakers in my thinking and I have always ensured that I am available for my family any time they need me. Moreover, my husband‘s career was also progressing very well. I believe that when someone is intensely involved in some activity, I should not be a disturbance to them. Whether my husband is writing his scripts or my daughters are at work or my grandchildren are busy doing something, I never distract them. Instead, I do something to keep myself occupied. Non-interference, I have come to realize, is a great virtue. While I never discourage anybody from doing what they are interested in, when I find someone reluctant to do something I feel will eventually benefit them, I go all out to persuade them to do it. For instance, one of my granddaughters was averse to learning Maths. I found out why she disliked and worked with her. In a year’s time, I have succeeded in developing in her a love for the subject. Finding out the cause of a problem is by itself half the solution. I believe that love is the only vehicle to get things done; if you love somebody, you will do it for them. While discipline is a must, I am convinced that discipline without love spoils. In fact, if someone were to ask my grandchildren who is the strictest person in the family is, they would say it’s me. Yet, they like to spend time with me.

People like standpoints only when you stand as an example. I feel that the influence of parents should be most dominant as children are their addition to the society. No parent should disown or shun his / her responsibility. Of course, there will be occasions when we have to make our displeasure known, but what makes all the difference is the way it is expressed - with love and friendship, not with anger and frustration. It is essential to first be a friend in every relationship, to know what every individual is capable of, and to listen as much as you talk. Never use labels while communicating with people if you want the message to get across. All this has helped me as a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, employer, and in fact in every role of mine.

When you are with a person who is so full of life, you never really want to leave. Every minute you are with Dr Mohana Krishnaswamy, you find that there’s so much to learn, so much to listen to, so much to admire, so much to appreciate, so much to experience…. but life, as we all know, is about moving on…. is about calling the next shot.

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