Coming from a small town, Deoria, to this premier institute, the journey is full of excitement and uncertainties. I completed my Bachelor’s from BRD PG College Deoria where I developed an interest in plants. With the thought of exploring more in this field, I decided to pursue a Master’s in Botany from Banaras Hindu University. There I realized that I would like to continue exploring ecology more than molecular biology. And hence, I landed in the Ecology department.  My research focuses on the Population and Community ecology (PoCoEco) of plants under the influence of grazers in an arid region of Karnataka dominated by tropical savannah vegetation. I am estimating the change in plant species composition and plant traits in grazed and long-term ungrazed sites in standing vegetation and soil seed bank. It’s exciting to notice the contrasting behaviour of the same species in two different conditions.  Apart from research, I also love to chit-chat with people (which, most of the time, I will be seen doing) and listen to old Bollywood songs.