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A Tamil Brahmin Indian girl the world and the people of India forgot. Every English-speaking Jesuit-educated Indian knows Florence Nightingale's story, but history has no record of Padmavathi Iyer. When women were traditionally confined to the kitchen/illiterate: In 1917, a Tamil Indian girl was born into a middle-class family in Rangoon, Burma, where her father had gone for a living. He named her Sivaramakrishna Iyer Padmavathi. At a time when women were traditionally confined to the kitchen/illiterate, this middle-class girl did MBBS from Rangoon Medical College. Then unimaginable for a Female Indian doctor: When the Japanese invaded Burma, they briefly returned to their traditional home in Coimbatore. In 1949, she went to London to do an FRCP, then unimaginable for a Female Indian doctor. She was selected to study further at Johns Hopkins University, US, where she trained under the legendary cardiologist Helen Taussig. Firm in returning to India and serving Indians: Thereafte...

 Natto (not-oh) Noun a dish of fermented cooked soybeans, often eaten for breakfast over white rice or with toppings such as soy sauce and mustard. More about Natto First recorded in 1870–75. Comes from Japanese, from na(t)- and tō, “bean.” Na(t) is ultimately from Middle Chinese, a cognate with Mandarin nà, “to bring into, receive.” Examples of Natto For a traditional Japanese breakfast, many people enjoy a serving of natto over steamed white rice. Natto is known for its sticky texture, which is a result of the fermentation process. Acumen (uh-kyoo-muhn, ak-yuh-) Noun keen insight; shrewdness. More about Acumen First recorded in 1525–35. Comes from the Latin word acūmen, meaning “sharpness.” Acūmen comes from the stem of acuere, “to sharpen,” as does the English word acute, “sharp or severe.” Examples of Acumen Her acumen in identifying profitable investments impressed everyone at the meeting. With his financial acumen, he was able to grow his small startup into a successful busin...