Who Are Ramdas Menon And Jyotsna Vaid?

Publish date: 2024-05-21

Alok-Vaid Menon discussing being binary with Jonathan Van Ness on the Netflix series, Getting Curious, certainly sparked a fire all around the world. But while they may have revealed all their struggles and missions to uncover why systems of power may be threatened by gender nonconformity, they most certainly missed talking about their parents who’ve been supportive all through their journey. Thus, here we are with detailed info about Alok Vaid-Menon’s parents: Ramdas Menon and Jyotsna Vaid. 

Alok Vaid-Menon Parents

Alok Vaid-Menon is a Central Saint Martins graduate who went on to become a performance artist, writer, author, poetry, comedian, and designer. But more than any of their professions, Alok was most recognized for being a transgender rights advocate, performing under the moniker ALOK.

According to Alok’s father, the child wasn’t always fashion-forward. Instead, he described Alok as a “normal kid” who could be gregarious or introspective depending on their mood.

As for Alok’s mother, she loved them with no expectations.

Guess they were the ideal parents, Alok needed to thrive themself as transgender.

Alok Vaid-Menon Father: Ramdas Menon

Ramdas Menon a.k.a Raynelas Menon was 66 years of age in 2022.

His son Alok was 30 years of age then. So, that means Ramdas was 36 when he had Alok.

Ramdas was always interested in data-driven initiatives and programs in the healthcare space. No wonder, he spent time as a self-employed researcher ever since September 2017. But he was actively involved in mitigating the COVID-19 situation in India.

As for his job ventures, Ramdas last worked as a director of the Texas Health and Human Service Commission from Jan 2012 to September 2016. Before that, he was on the adjunct faculty of Texas A&M University, teaching graduate courses like Biostatistics and Public Health.

Alok’s father has also spent over 11 years working in the Texas Dept of State Health Service as its director.

Another one of his longest job ventures would be as an assistant research assistant specialist at Public Policy Research Institute (from Oct 1991 – Aug 2000).

Talking about his education, Ramdas is a 2007 The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston graduate who went on to get his Ph.D. in Sociology from McGill University.

Ramdas was born in Malaysia.

But he moved to the Indian capital New Delhi in the 1970s before leaving for the US to further his education.

No, we coundn’t find Ramdas over Instagram nor Facebook.

Alok Vaid-Menon Mother: Jyotsna Vaid

Coincidentally, Jyotsna Vaid was also 66 years of age like her husband in 2022.

Jyotsna Vaid was a Professor of Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience at Texas A&M University for over 35 years. Yes, she joined the university back in Sep 1986 and never left.

However, meanwhile, she taught at the university, Jyotsna also went on to become the founding member of COSAW Bulleting in 1982, and the editor in chief of Taylor & Francis in Jan 2009.

As for her academic qualifications — Jyotsna has a B.A. Biopsychology degree from Vassar College (1972  – 1976), a Ph.D. in Psychology from McGill University (1976 – 1981), and a Post-doc/Cognitive development degree from Michigan State University (1982 – 1983).

Finally, she then joined the University of California to research the development of symbolic gestures concerning language development.

Jyotsna is also a member of the Institute for Neuroscience and Women & Gender Studies.

Jyotsna is from Punjab, India.

She moved to New York in the late 1960s after her father got a job in the US.

Unfortunately, her father Krishna Baldev, a noted Hindi writer, passed away at the age of 93 in Feb 2020. Krishna worked as a Professor of English at State University of New York, Potsdam, and after his retirement, he went on to translate Samuel Beckett’s plays ‘Waiting for Godot’ and ‘Endgame’ (play) into the Hindi language in 1968.

As for Jyotsna’s siblings, she has a sister named Urvashi Vaid @urvvaid who is quite an accomplished lady as well.

The last we checked, Urvashi was working as an attorney and strategist in social justice movements. She was the President of The Vaid Group LLC, a social innovation firm that works with global and domestic organizations to advance equity, and a co-founder of the Donors of Color Network.

Is Jyotsna Vaid On Instagram, Facebook?

Yes, find Jyotsna over Facebook @Jyotsna Vaid.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find her IG.

Related FAQs

Alok’s parents are likely still together.

The duo tied the knot before 1986 and has cherished over 3 decades of marriage.

Reportedly, after their marriage, Ramdas and Jyotsna relocated to Texas where there were very few Indian.

Ramdas and Jyotsna have two kids — Alok and their older sister Alka.

While Alok needs no introduction, their oldest Alka was 35 years of age in 2022.

Here’s her FB @Alka Vaid.

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