India, Aug. 6 -- Some people discover their talents through burning passion. I discovered mine by dodging musical notes.

In seventh grade, I was faced with a choice of music or home science. While I liked music, the sight of all those sharp notes and flat symbols convinced me to retreat immediately. Home science - softer, safer, and seemingly quieter - felt like a better fit for my sensibilities.

To my surprise, almost everyone else chose music. I was one of the only two students in the class who ended up choosing home science. There, instead of clefs and scales, I learned to stitch patterns and cook two beginner recipes: A chocolate cake and northern-style poha. It was a modest start, but to me, it felt like a secret club of underappre...