THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT

DR. SRIMATHY KESAN, FOUNDER AND CEO OF A LEADING SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH FIRM "SPACE KIDZ INDIA” (SKI) SPECIALISES IN SPACE RESEARCH, ROCKET DESIGN, BUILDING AND LAUNCHING SATELLITES. THE LADY WHO HAS LAUNCHED THE WORLD'S LIGHTEST SATELLITE, INTERACTS IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PROVOKE MAGAZINE ON HOW SHE BUILT HER OWN IDENTITY AND MORE D

- Vinitha Venkatesha

What's your story behind starting Space Kidz India'?

I got married at the age of 18. I was an all-rounder, national basketball player, state athlete and paratrooper parade commander at the NCC, Delhi. So, all these accolades, and for the first time, a girl was leading a parade with a sword. I was blessed to do that. And that day, we had general KV Krishna Rao around as our chief guest and he was so excited to see a girl cadet do this. After the parade, he called for me and he called my dad and said fantastic daughter and you're a proud father. General KV Krishna Rao told my Dad that after graduation we will take her directly into the Armed Forces. So my Dad was very thrilled, but on the same day, we were leaving from Hyderabad to Chennai, for my wedding. I moved to Chennai. We have a huge family. But there was that little vacuum within me that wanted to do something in life. You're not born to just be somebody's wife, mother, sister and all that. You need an identity of your own. So I had that question on my mind 'Why was Srimathy born?' and I needed my answers. My best friend Reema Sisodia suggested about world travel exhibition in Miami. It was a free trip. I think that was the first а time when I came out of my comfort zone and never look back. I went there and got to see NASA's presentation. They had an astronaut presenting completely all the exhibits of space shuttles. I got so fascinated because as a child everybody is fascinated is NASA. I spoke to some space course directors and they told me about space camps where you can take a child to NASA and they will teach you the nitty-gritty of making a satellite, how to launch a rocket and you can go around to visit the Kennedy Space Center. I planned for about 108 students and with a lot of struggle I got the visa and passports for the children. So if you are determined and throw to the Universe, work hard and you will get everything you need.