It’s February, it’s Valentine’s Day, it’s my 20th year at Ipas. So, I thought I’d share some love—20 things I love, in fact. Maybe we have some things in common?  

1. Music. My tastes are eclectic. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Elvis Costello, the Clash. But I grew up listening to classical North Indian music and ghazals. Once I heard Ali Akbar Khan perform privately at the MacArthur Foundation (he’s a Mac Genius) and it was magical. Any surprise my son is a musician?  

2. Swimming. Three times a week, early in the morning. I love the silence, the focus on breathing, and the time to let my mind wander.   

3. Gin & Tonics. A classic among cocktails, and a great way to kick off the weekend.  

4. Fiction. I read constantly and always have. Some favorites: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (why has she not won a Nobel Prize?), and Blindness by José Saragamo.   

5. Indian street food. Indian snacks are the bomb. We take our snacking seriously. Fresh, hot and spicy—things like aloo tikkia, samosas, bhel puri, pani puri.  

6. Ceramics. An ancient art form which every culture has and is both pragmatic and beautiful. I started learning how to throw pots when I was writing my dissertation and picked it up again a few years ago. There are endless variations and very few wrong answers.    

7. Carolina men’s basketball. When I first came to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, I thought the Dean Dome was named after an academic dean (in fact, it’s named after a beloved former basketball coach). Like going to Rome and not knowing about the coliseum!  

8. Hiking. Being among trees makes me happy and feel connected to these ancient life forms.  I’m reminded of how small I am, how brief and insignificant my life is compared to the lifespan of a tree and, indeed, the planet. 

9. The Ipas mission. Access to abortion and contraception may seem a narrow focus. But it’s connected to so much—gender norms, economics, politics, humanitarian aid and development, climate justice. It’s about human rights. 

10. Fellow reproductive justice partners, like you, and our shared commitment to this important work.   

I know, that was only 10 things. Look for part two in the coming days.   

Peace and love,   

Anu Kumar
Ipas President and CEO