ABSTRACT
Vandana Jayawant developed an early interest in architecture, spurred by a number of different influences. She wanted to be an architect since she was nine years old. She became familiar with the field as her great uncle was a town planner. She also gives credit to her wonderful art teachers in school, Mr and Mrs Paul, who discovered the strength in her artistic abilities. While everybody was making paintings, Ranjitsinh was helping paint the drama sets. In short, she was engaged in many extracurricular activities through her high school years. She was also head girl and topper in school. Her father was in the army and she had a rather anglicized upbringing. Her mother gave up an active dentistry practice after marriage, but she never let go of her skills and independence. She made Ranjitsinh believe that she can do anything in life and was pivotal in many choices of her life, like sending her to a boarding school for best education and encouraging her to enrol in architecture. Another important person is her grandmother, who taught her that one can be soft but strong and hold the family together.
