Dignity at Work

Welcome

A Mission of Healing

Today, through Workplace Harmony Counselling, I provide a confidential, supportive space for individuals facing harassment, exclusion or a toxic working environment.

Drawing upon both my scientific career and lived experience, I assist people — particularly women in academia and the professional world — to navigate conflict, rebuild confidence and find emotional clarity.

Our sessions are not merely about counselling; they focus on recovery, empowerment and resilience — so that one’s career is never again held hostage by fear.

Why It Matters

Workplace harassment is not only a women’s issue — it is a question of human rights and integrity. It stifles creativity, destroys trust and silences potential. When organisations ignore it, they lose far more than talented staff — they forfeit their moral authority.

It’s time we spoke about it openly.

It’s time we replaced silence with dialogue, fear with courage, and pain with purpose.

A Message to Every Working Woman

If you are reading this and living through something similar, remember: You are not weak for speaking out. You are not unreasonable for demanding respect. And you are certainly not alone.

I have walked that path — and I stand with you.

Together, we can build workplaces founded on trust, empathy and equality — where no one feels unsafe simply for turning up to work.

“My scars became my strength. My silence became my story. Today, I speak — not just for myself, but for every woman who still cannot.”

The Services I Offer

Private one-to-one counselling for those experiencing harassment or distress
Guidance on workplace rights and legal frameworks (including POSH and institutional procedures)
Mediation and conflict-resolution strategies
Awareness and training workshops for organisations
Mentoring for women in science and higher education

About Me

A Scientist, a Woman, and a Survivor

Have you ever imagined a scientist — armed with knowledge, passion and purpose — being crushed beneath the weight of harassment in her own workplace?

I have lived that reality.

For decades, I committed myself to scientific discovery — from the corridors of IIT Delhi and AIIMS to the laboratories of the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory. My career began with optimism, filled with dreams of innovation and of serving science. Yet, early on, those dreams collided with a reality no woman should ever have to face.

I was met not with collaboration, but with resistance. My equipment was tampered with, my work undermined and my integrity questioned. Each morning, I would walk into the laboratory wondering what might be broken next — an instrument, an experiment, or perhaps my spirit.

When I raised my voice, I was dismissed and isolated. “You’re only bitter because you’re a single woman,” they told me. Those words cut far deeper than any professional slight.

The Laboratory That Became My Battlefield

Science had always been sacred to me — my laboratory was my sanctuary. But when I discovered a colleague misusing that very space for unethical conduct, something inside me broke. Reporting the matter was neither simple nor safe. I was discouraged, even threatened.

My family’s support kept me going — my brother even bought me one of India’s earliest mobile phones so I could call for help if I ever felt in danger. That small act of love became my lifeline.

Eventually, with evidence and the backing of a senior woman colleague, I approached the Director who finally took decisive action. The struggle was long, and the scars remain — yet I refused to let harassment define my life’s work.

Step by step, I rebuilt my confidence, my research and my reputation. Over time, I rose to become Chief Scientist and Head at CSIR–NPL — leading national projects, representing India abroad and mentoring generations of young researchers.

Turning Pain into Purpose

When I reached positions of leadership, I knew precisely what I had to do — ensure that no woman under my care would ever feel as powerless as I once did.

I served as Chair of the Sexual Harassment Committees at CSIR Headquarters and NPL, helping to establish policies that were fair, transparent and compassionate. I trained committee members to listen — not to judge — and to treat complaints with humanity rather than suspicion.

My message to every woman who sought help was simple: