1. Why did you leave India?
For a perceived better way of living, more money maybe??
2. Do you plan to return to India to settle down?
Yes - Goa, Bangalore.
3. What do you like most about being abroad?
The opportunities available and the way our Indian upbringing allows us to seek and seize these opportunities and work hard enough to make these dreams come true.
4. What do like least about being abroad?
Miss family, our way of life, our upbringing, our festivals and the call of our country (even with all the socio-economic troubles).
5. Would you be concerned about raising your family outside India?
Yes. Most certainly, Definitely, Sure- Before my children get to be of an impressionable age, I want to be back.
6. What are your thoughts about marrying outside your immediate community, someone who speaks a different language or practices a different religion?
That per se is not a problem - but for someone like me that is a non-option as we will come across too many social issues. Maybe I have too much Indianness left in me still.
7. What would be the first thing you would do if you became the Prime Minister of India?
Make my wife the chief minister of my state.. hehe .. only kidding. I would like to work on population, infrastructure, corruption, education, involve a lot more young and educated people in politics.
8. What do you think are India's greatest strengths?(max 3)
1) Our values
2) Our self-reliance
3) Our vast resources (human as well as mineral, agriculture )
9. What do you think are the biggest problems facing India? (max 3)
1) Our corruption, selfishness and laid-back attitude brought on by our poor living conditions (no one thinks of communal/national betterment).
2) Our lack of marketing abilities - we cant sell tourism, our culture, we offer software services but are always positioned as labour providers).
3) Our population.
10. Do you think that a presidential form of government would better serve the needs of India's democracy?
No - The current system is good enough -changing this will not change anything till attitudes change.
11. For whom do you have the highest regard amongst living Indians?
Ratan Tata, Narayanmurthy, Anil Kumble, V.S.Naipaul...
12. Do you think that the national obsession with Cricket has helped or has it hurt India as a sporting nation?
No - it brings us all together. However we wish our cricketers shared this obsession and dedication. If they are as sincere as they are when they play Pakistan then we would all be happy (win or lose doesn't matter, we want them to do their best).
13. What do you think are India's greatest achievements since Independence? (max 3)?
1) IT Industry
2) Self Reliance
3) Slow but steady progress
14. What is your favourite pastime?
Reading, Writing, Work-out, Painting.
15. What is your happiest memory?
Growing up in India - the independence, the happiness,time spent with grand parents.
16. What's your most memorable journey?
By bus from Bombay to Mangalore - a 24 hour gruelling drive - (no McDonald's on the highway).
17. What is your ultimate food dish?
South Indian Food (cannot identify any single dish - just love them all).
18. What are your favourite movies? (max 3)
1) Pinjra (Marathi)
2) Mera Naam Joker
19. What are your favourite books (please list authors as well)? (max 3)
1) A bend in the river.. V.S.Naipaul
2) Karma Cola.. Gita Mehta
3) Bhagavad Gita..??
20. A message from you to other NRIs
Keep shining mates...We are India's ambassadors and we must uphold and be proud of our Indian-ness.
For a perceived better way of living, more money maybe??
2. Do you plan to return to India to settle down?
Yes - Goa, Bangalore.
3. What do you like most about being abroad?
The opportunities available and the way our Indian upbringing allows us to seek and seize these opportunities and work hard enough to make these dreams come true.
4. What do like least about being abroad?
Miss family, our way of life, our upbringing, our festivals and the call of our country (even with all the socio-economic troubles).
5. Would you be concerned about raising your family outside India?
Yes. Most certainly, Definitely, Sure- Before my children get to be of an impressionable age, I want to be back.
6. What are your thoughts about marrying outside your immediate community, someone who speaks a different language or practices a different religion?
That per se is not a problem - but for someone like me that is a non-option as we will come across too many social issues. Maybe I have too much Indianness left in me still.
7. What would be the first thing you would do if you became the Prime Minister of India?
Make my wife the chief minister of my state.. hehe .. only kidding. I would like to work on population, infrastructure, corruption, education, involve a lot more young and educated people in politics.
8. What do you think are India's greatest strengths?(max 3)
1) Our values
2) Our self-reliance
3) Our vast resources (human as well as mineral, agriculture )
9. What do you think are the biggest problems facing India? (max 3)
1) Our corruption, selfishness and laid-back attitude brought on by our poor living conditions (no one thinks of communal/national betterment).
2) Our lack of marketing abilities - we cant sell tourism, our culture, we offer software services but are always positioned as labour providers).
3) Our population.
10. Do you think that a presidential form of government would better serve the needs of India's democracy?
No - The current system is good enough -changing this will not change anything till attitudes change.
11. For whom do you have the highest regard amongst living Indians?
Ratan Tata, Narayanmurthy, Anil Kumble, V.S.Naipaul...
12. Do you think that the national obsession with Cricket has helped or has it hurt India as a sporting nation?
No - it brings us all together. However we wish our cricketers shared this obsession and dedication. If they are as sincere as they are when they play Pakistan then we would all be happy (win or lose doesn't matter, we want them to do their best).
13. What do you think are India's greatest achievements since Independence? (max 3)?
1) IT Industry
2) Self Reliance
3) Slow but steady progress
14. What is your favourite pastime?
Reading, Writing, Work-out, Painting.
15. What is your happiest memory?
Growing up in India - the independence, the happiness,time spent with grand parents.
16. What's your most memorable journey?
By bus from Bombay to Mangalore - a 24 hour gruelling drive - (no McDonald's on the highway).
17. What is your ultimate food dish?
South Indian Food (cannot identify any single dish - just love them all).
18. What are your favourite movies? (max 3)
1) Pinjra (Marathi)
2) Mera Naam Joker
19. What are your favourite books (please list authors as well)? (max 3)
1) A bend in the river.. V.S.Naipaul
2) Karma Cola.. Gita Mehta
3) Bhagavad Gita..??
20. A message from you to other NRIs
Keep shining mates...We are India's ambassadors and we must uphold and be proud of our Indian-ness.
Meet Sunil Prabhu.He currently lives in London. He works in the IT industry.
Published - January 2002
Participate in 20-Questions
The views of this column are the author's own, and do not necessarily represent the views of NRI Online.
Published - January 2002
Participate in 20-Questions
The views of this column are the author's own, and do not necessarily represent the views of NRI Online.
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