Cover Credits: Make up: Maria Hajek; Photography: Benish A. Shah; Styling: BASS
Meet Puja Kakar, the Cover Model selected for NEEM Magazine’s Fall 2009 cover. Puja is truly the definition of “model behavior,” living life in the service of others and looking gorgeous in the process!
While many people your age our out partying, you’ve taken a more practical approach – how does that feel?
puja: I just feel that there is a time for everything. Some of the people from our generation feel that life is a party. However, they can get carried away. I feel like it’s just about setting your priorities and finding a balance in life.
You work with autistic children…. what lead you to do that?
puja: I absolutely love children. They are just so pure, innocent, and oblivious to the world, especially autistic children. My mother has been working for Board of Education so she was my hook up for this job. Also, I was interested in autistic children ever since I did a project on it in high school.
In South Asian society, autism is not understood – what is the best you can describe it to our readers?
puja: I am so glad that the show Aap Ki Antra came out. It is such a good awareness program. As mentioned on the show, autism is NOT psychosis. It is a condition where the child cannot communicate their needs and wants. Sometimes they themselves are not aware of them. They have delays in cognitive development and language and often have repetitive behavior as well.
On a lighter note – where do you see yourself in 5 years?
puja: I see myself as Nurse Practitioner preparing to get married and settle down. Lets hope that happens! haha
Quick, tell us 5 random things about yourself!
one: Okay, I am super hyper. I like being loud and crazy to make people laugh. 
two: I am very filmy. I used to daydream about my prince charming coming on a horse. Haha and then I woke up and realized that’s not exactly how
it works.
three: Food. I love eating and trying new things.
three: Food. I love trying new things. My favorite is Thai food..yum!
four: I have a single mother that I adore. She is my world and my only family.
five: I am fond of Satsung; which is like a philosophy class. It basically teaches how to live a happy, humble, and simple life. Hm
