1. Why did you leave India?
In search of 'Greener' Pastures.
2. Do you plan to return to India to settle down?
Definitely yes, Darjeeling.
3. What do you like most about being abroad?
Free from hassles of daily life. Everything is so convenient and easy.
4. What do like least about being abroad?
Travel time to India.
5. Would you be concerned about raising your family outside India?
No.
6. What are your thoughts about marrying outside your immediate community, someone who speaks a different language or practices a different religion?
So long as compatibility exists, there is no problem.
7. What would be the first thing you would do if you became the Prime Minister of India?
Downsize my cabinet, assess and eliminate all useless members.
8. What do you think are India's greatest strengths?(max 3)
1) Patience
2) Rich Culture
3) Exotic food
9. What do you think are the biggest problems facing India? (max 3)
1) Worthless neighbours
2) Illiteracy
3) Babu-dom
10. Do you think that a presidential form of government would better serve the needs of India's democracy?
Debatable. Personally NO.
11. For whom do you have the highest regard amongst living Indians?
NGO activists who do endless work without expecting any personal material gains.
12. Do you think that the national obsession with Cricket has helped or has it hurt India as a sporting nation?
But we are no champions at Cricket either, with such a mass
following and population, we should have had a Dream Team for years.
13. What do you think are India's greatest achievements since Independence? (max 3)?
1) Agricultural growth
2) Space research
3) Religious Diversity
14. What is your favourite pastime?
Sports, Trekking.
15. What is your happiest memory?
Moving to Switzerland.
16. What's your most memorable journey?
Siliguri to Darjeeling, by toy train.
17. What is your ultimate food dish?
Rosti, Risotto, Pasta, Spaghetti, Pizzas.
18. What are your favourite movies? (max 3)
1) Matrix
2) Saving Private Ryan
3) Pakeezah
19. What are your favourite books (please list authors as well)? (max 3)
1) The fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
2) Truth, Lies and a little Malice ( Khushwant Singh Autobiography)-- last read
3) Julius Caesar (A Shakespeare Play)
20. A message from you to other NRIs
Ensure that you share your growth with your motherland. Each one
of us should contribute in whatever way we can. I strongly suggest that all NRIs should sponsor at least one needy child in India.
Meet Anil Agarwal. He currently lives in Switzerland.
Published - May 2002
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The views of this column are the author's own, and do not necessarily represent the views of NRI Online.