‘Life cannot be lived in a cocoon’
Dr. Alagu Varshini, IAS, feels bureaucrats must avoid building impenetrable walls, and engage with the world at large.
She enjoys long drives by herself. Because she is short on time, she juggles her hobbies and her job. If she needs to go on a field trip, she gets behind the wheel and drives herself there. “I do it frequently,” says Dr. Alagu Varshini, the 2012 batch IAS officer, who is currently the Commissioner of AYUSH in the Telangana Government.
Varshini was born in Pollachi, a traditional mercantile town nestled in the lush green Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. At school, she excelled in academics, and volleyball was her sport of choice.
Watching her mother work and simultaneously care for the family inspired her while she was growing up. “My mother fulfilled her dream while allowing everyone else in the family to do the same. She is responsible for who I am. I wish every girl had a mother like
mine. I try to be like that for my daughter,” says Varshini, who is married to P Karthik, a software professional. The couple has two children — Saraswathy Karthik (5) and Guhan Arun Karthik (2).
Varshini juggles work and family life with grace. “There has been no compromise on either front. I have a very understanding and supportive spouse, as well as a motivating family environment, which alleviates tension and avoidable pressures,” says the IAS officer, who is also Director, (IIHFW) Indian Institute of Health and Family Welfare and Secretary (TSYP) The Society of Yoga Practitioners, Telangana Government.
After schooling, she enrolled for Dentistry at a Chennai university. “I finished my degree, but when I was preparing for PG, I realised the need for a systemic change in healthcare,” the oral surgeon reveals.
HOLDING LIFE’S REINS
Apart from driving, another passion of hers is horseback riding, which she claims teaches life lessons. “Because the horses are generally trained, we feel we know all of the tricks. However, when something unusual occurs, causing the horses to become agitated, we start actually manoeuvring the reins. I believe this teaches an important lesson of getting control of the situation when things appear to be getting out of hand,” she says, adding that horseback riding creates the confidence to deal with various situations in life.
FOOD FADS
Dr. Varshini is a self-proclaimed “super foodie” who enjoys eating everything. “I love Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines. But I make sure I don’t overeat,” says the officer, who believes in not shocking the body with late meals. “I value my body. The physiological constitution is a natural wonder in my opinion. As a result, I strive to be as systematic and punctual as possible.”
She is also very particular about not eating too much. “I never consume food that has been stored for an extended period of time,” she says. She spends her weekends cooking traditional Tamil delicacies for her family. The bureaucrat insists on having all spices and masala powders made at home. “My mother regularly prepares them from scratch and sends them across. This helps keep my children healthy,” she says of her family’s healthy eating habits.
MANAGING STRESS
While most bureaucrats are frequently stressed, Dr. Varshini has a different perspective. “There is nothing to worry about. Only when you step in the wrong shoe do you become stressed. We are here for administrative development, and following the rules and making business easier is the key,” she says.
However, certain situations necessitate critical decision making. “At that point, approaching one’s mentor is essential. Everyone should have at least one mentor to whom they can turn to in times of confusion or difficulty,” she believes.
While her three dogs, Aaron, Tiger, and Cassey, are her stress relievers, she also turns to cooking to unwind. She enjoys bingewatching movies and serials in any language. “I prefer to watch historical or true stories,” she says. Dr. Varshini enjoys a game of badminton on a regular basis. “Shuttle is a form of exercise, and why should discussions be
SHE IS THE FIRST TELANGANA CADRE CIVIL SERVANT TO BE SELECTED FOR THE FULBRIGHT-NEHRU
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limited to the coffee table? Why not in the shuttle court?” she laughs. She enjoys Classical Tamil literature and hopes to read more of it after the kids are grown up.
She describes herself as a ‘lovely homemaker, a passionate oral surgeon, and a freelance adolescent parenting consultant.’ She also admits to having a short temper and being unforgiving at times. “Aside from that, I am a warm, proactive, hardworking, and team player,” she says of herself.
For Dr. Varshini, family time is extremely important. “We have a habit of taking family, particularly children, for granted. Children are maturing adults who comprehend everything. They cannot communicate in the same adult language, but they immediately form a picture of ‘Family’,” believes the IAS officer.
She also believes that having friends outside of one’s professional circle is essential. “As bureaucrats, we have a tendency to cocoon ourselves and build an impermeable layer. The world has changed. People are more self-sufficient and forward-thinking. It’s important to have a life outside of work,” she believes.
“My father’s vision and mother’s prayers guided me throughout and continue to serve as a beacon for the future,” the officer says.