Saumya’s background as a student of education and linguistics has taught her the importance of engaging meaningfully with the people around her. She is always on the lookout for perspectives and ideas that challenge her preconceived notions. Through literature, film, music, theatre, and most importantly, dialogue, Saumya is always looking to understand and discover new knowledge and insights. In her downtime, she can be found chasing bird calls across gardens, listening to an eclectic music collection, or watching true-crime documentaries online. A personal goal she’s envisioned is to read more vernacular literature and become more competent in her native language, Punjabi. Saumya’s main draw to the YIF was learning alongside a diverse cohort in an experiential-learning-based environment. The ambit of the topics up for study under the Fellowship also appealed to her deeply. She aspires to hone her academic research skills and is looking forward to the Critical Writing Programme.