A year of milestones and memories

The year 2024 was an incredible journey – marked by long-awaited achievements, moments of joy, and occasional challenges. It will always hold a special place in my heart as the year I fulfilled my cherished dream of earning my PhD. A journey of perseverance finally bore fruit.

The year began at home, surrounded by family, where celebrations were warmed by the blessings of Dadi. Starting 2024 in the company of family was a thoughtful choice, knowing that opportunities for such moments may be scarce in the years ahead. Few things compare to the comfort of enjoying homecooked khichadi with its aromatic accompaniments.

The year kicked off with a proud moment as Rahul defended his PhD thesis- a reminder of the hard work and commitment that defines his journey. Adding to the excitement, we had the privilege of meeting Nobel Laureate Prof. Julius, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

And not everyday we get clicked with a Nobel Laureate. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/rGwky7ex1N

— Dr. Tryambak Srivastava (@imtryam) January 19, 2024

Boss turned 50 in February this year and the folks at 3018 did their best to celebrate this landmark moment in his life. Deep returned from the USA for his engagement and we were thrilled to join him on the special day. The ‘Sonu Group’ had its annual body meeting at his engagement ceremony. With Deep and his family, we visited some serene locations near the Bhutan border, soaking in nature’s tranquility.

March brought an inspiring talk by Dr. Raghuram P., OBE, on breast cancer, broadening our perspectives. A quick Holi trip home followed, though mismatched dates meant I returned on the festival day itself. Despite this, the colors and blessings I received from my family were all I needed.

Absolutely awe-inspiring talk by a passionate breast surgeon and philanthropist Dr @RRPillarisetti. His commitment to serving the community and country is truly remarkable. Thank you, sir, for inspiring us with your service. pic.twitter.com/3Yd7VprAkg

— Dr. Tryambak Srivastava (@imtryam) March 15, 2024

April brought moments of transition. Sunil submitted his thesis, and we bid farewell to Dr. Tarang Gaur as she embarked on her postdoctoral journey.

In the peak summer of Delhi, in May, Happy visited IIT Roorkee, and we hopped onto Bihar Central to feed our tummies and souls. Labmates celebrated my birthday along with another thesis submission by Dr. Sajib.

Did I tell you that I visited my alma mater, South Asian University, now located at its permanent campus in Maidan Garhi? Seeing the new campus and being recognized by faculty and staff eight years post-graduation was a nostalgic and heartwarming experience.

The jubilant June brought profound joy seeing Dr. Varsha marry Milan Bhaiya, two seniors I deeply admire. Seeing them together was truly heartening. Adding to the joy, in this month I defended my PhD thesis – a moment that fulfilled a long-held dream. Presenting my work to departmental colleagues and the general audience was a humbling yet exhilarating experience. The post-defense celebrations were elevated by the camaraderie of lab members and the warmth of the external examiner.

July called for a visit home to celebrate my graduation. The highlight was presenting my PhD thesis to Dadi, to whom it is dedicated. Meeting my kindergarten teacher, Vijay sir, added a special touch, as he reminisced about teaching us our ABCs and 123s.

“गुरुर्ब्रह्मा ग्रुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः।
गुरुः साक्षात् परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः।”

गुरु पूर्णिमा पर सभी गुरुओं को विनम्र नमन, विशेषकर दादी को, जिन्हें हमारा शोध समर्पित है। 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/B1Z5PCZkhM

— Dr. Tryambak Srivastava (@imtryam) July 21, 2024

Stree 2 was a major hit of Hindi cinema in August and our lab sneaked for a quick movie outing. We even had the pleasure of having Stree to watch her movie and pose with us.

In the eventful September, on 5^th, we celebrated Teacher’s Day, a day to acknowledge and thank our mentors and Gurus for their constant support and guidance on matters related to academia and beyond. In late September we jointly celebrated the thesis submission of the trio of the lab, Tryambak, Sunil, and Dr. Sajib. A pose in front of the wall of Delhi is enhanced with the presence of the boys in the lab.

Deep’s ultimate return from the USA sparked excitement, and I was thrilled to finally have gotten the opportunity to celebrate togetherness. We roamed around the localities of South Delhi to find him accommodation, get furniture, and appliances, and ultimately get him settled. Together, we attended the National Film Awards, got a glimpse into the world of cinema, and even met a few stars.

Now that Deep was here in India, a college reunion in Bhubaneswar was executed, where nostalgia reigned supreme. When in Odisha, the first thing you do is start munching on Dahi Bara – Aloo Dum.

This long-cherished reunion was absolutely revitalizing when old buddies met and talked our hearts out. We shared stories, successes, failures, and whatnot. Long walks into the college campus, hostel premises, and long drives on the streets of Bhubaneswar to Konark Marine Drive were all reminiscing old memories. We also got an opportunity to stay at Chandaka Forest Reserve, thanks to ACF Mallick Sahab.

Prof. Animesh Mohapatra invited us to his home and we were thrilled to see him in high spirits.

October is a birthday month and we celebrated the birthday of Rakesh Bhaiya with a unique cake, Chhena Poda. Well, you can’t take Odisha out of us. In October itself we celebrated Dadi’s 85^th Birthday. She has been the backbone of the family and we wanted to make her feel special.

This is the festive season of the year spanning from October to November and the festivity starts with the onset of Durga Puja, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and Chitragupta Puja, ultimately leading to Chhath Puja. It was my good fortune to celebrate most of these festivals with family. November also brought professional recognition as our research article on AR-V7 in breast cancer was published, a moment of immense pride.

I visited Patna this year and was pleased to see how the city has grown. The marine drive at Ganga Ghat is the highlight of the city’s growth trajectory. The street food stalls across this area have given a lively vibe to the city. It was a prized moment to meet and seek the blessings of ‘Bio Sir’ Mr. Ashok Kumar who motivated me further to pursue biology in high school. The warm hospitality of sir and ma’am has left a lasting imprint on my mind. The way they fed me with good food, blessed me and pampered me like a kid will drive me to continue working for society as a whole.

December capped the year with professional and personal milestones. Winning the Young Researcher Award at NBRCOM 2024 for my oral presentation in Health Sciences was a surreal moment. The cheers from my labmates once my name was announced caught the attention of Dr. Rajiv Behl, DG ICMR, who humorously remarked on my popularity before commending my work.

Pleased to share that I received the Young Researcher Award in Health Sciences for my oral presentation at NBRCOM 2024.🏆 it’s gladdening to know that our work on AR-V7 is gaining traction. Getting such recognition in front of mentors and colleagues is unparalleled.👨‍🎓Grateful!🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/IrR8WwDnEq

— Dr. Tryambak Srivastava (@imtryam) December 6, 2024

The month had a high note as we celebrated Rahul’s wedding. He is among the best persons I know exist on the planet and I couldn’t be happier than seeing him finding his best match and getting married to her. My best wishes, bhai, for your happy and fulfilling married life.

Upon my return to Delhi, lab folks organized a short and sweet farewell party. Interestingly on this day, Deepak was awarded the Best Poster award at the Jamia Hamdard conference. Great day with lots of memories (let’s not discuss the lost trails).

Finally, our annual Secret Santa tradition brought light-hearted fun, wrapping up the year with laughter and joy. This means no labwork and only Uno.

2024 was a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with triumphs, challenges, and cherished memories. As I prepare to script a new chapter in a different country, with new people and new goals, I carry forward the lessons and experiences of this remarkable year. Here’s to growth, success, and new adventures. Bring it on 2025.