Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan is an award-winning children’s author, poet, editor, and voice-over talent. She won the 68th National Film Awards for Best Narration Voiceover for the film Rhapsody of Rains- Monsoons of Kerala in 2022. She is also a former non-profit development professional who spent two decades as an advocate and fundraiser for persons with disabilities.
Shobha has recorded voice work for documentaries, educational programmes, journalistic initiatives, and audio books. She has published children’s books in India and the United States, including the award-winning Indi-Alphabet (Mango and Marigold) and Prince with a Paintbrush: The Story of Raja Ravi Varma (Westland), It’s Time to Rhyme (Aleph), Parvati the Elephant’s Very Important Day (Harper Collins) and A Treasure Trove of Timeless Tales (Red Panda/Westland). Shobha’s work has been anthologized by Tulika Books, Solstice, and Skipping Stones and is part of school curricula. Her first book for adults, Good Innings (Penguin), will soon be translated into Malayalam.
The discussion began with a quote “Jack of all trades & master of one (none)" with the reference to any person who has dabbled in many skills, rather than gaining expertise by focusing on only one. The speaker also added that it gives you a better problem-solving ability in unprecedented situations & that everyone needs to be a multi-tasker in the present competitive world. The discussion also included thoughts that we each are a combination of attributes which converge to become a personality - A multifaceted Self. We see ourselves as individuals, a singular self. We identify ourselves as "me" & "I". The moderator resented her questions beautifully making the overall discussion with a perspective of today’s working culture.