1. Why did you leave India?
In search of better opportunities and for sense of adventure.
2.Do you plan to return to India to settle down? If returning, where would you like to live?
Of course, who does not like to invest their hard earned money overseas in India, and settle down happily with all other family members,including old age parents- and show his fellow men what you achieved which others could not in your town.
3. What do you like most about being abroad?
Feeling of great satisfaction of being recognised of your talents in an alien land and performing better among 80 % foreigners, who are earning lesser than us, in their own home land.
4. What do like least about being abroad?
Always feeling a sense of insecurity, and especially miss your old parents who need you most.
5. Would you be concerned about raising your family outside India?
No, that too after your children reach teen age.
6. What are your thoughts about marrying outside your immediate community, someone who speaks a different language or practices a different religion?
If you understand them well, there should be no second thought. Lot of Indians have married African women in Uganda. Female members from outside your community are always dedicated and caring for mutual hapiness.
7. What would be the first thing you would do if you became the Prime Minister of India?
The first thing I will do is to agressively promote to sell Indian products world wide, so that all Indian industries perform well, earnings go up for everyone, quality of products increase. Anyone residing abroad will vouch - the impressive performance of Chinese and Japanese goods finding their market to every nook and corner of the world. Today there is lesser poverty in their countries, because everyone has a job to do and being export oriented everyone feels a great sense of satisfaction that their hard work and their personal contribution has resulted in their products being sold overseas amongst great competetion. India has the largest natural resources and man power for manufacturing the best quality products in the world. Why cannot it perform exceedingly well in exports - which will benefit all. The world is very big and there is no limit to its potential in exports. For eg. China exports toys, slippers, safety matches, medicines, agricultural implements, bicycles, tyres, tubes, worth billions of dollars world wide among tough competetion. Why not India ?
8. What do you think are India's greatest strengths?(max 3)
1) Highly skilled and hard working man power
2) Natural resources
3) Security for all its citizens
9.What do you think are the biggest problems facing India? (max 3)
1) Some are the Most corrupt and selfish politicians who have absolute no sense of patriotism. They only think of filling their coffers by switching parties for personal gain. There must be some criteria set for appointing politicians what more shame when you elect someone under Congress switches to BJP for his personal gain.? Today 90 % of the younger generation have lost who is who in politics, which was not so 15 years ago.
2) Lack of industrial development technology wise to be at part with the rapid progress being made overseas. India is still behind more than 175 countries in respect of modernity and technological sophistication. inspite of having the best manpower.
3) Lack of government policy to reverse the brain drain. Today every brilliant student is going to USA / abroad in search of recognition for his qualifications, which are lacking in India. Today Microsoft has 60 % employees from India , and Bill gates has become the richest man in the world - thanks to the contributions of his indian employees. He has recognised that Indians are the best in software technology compared to students from more than 200 countries. If indians can do well in america for their progress, why not in India. Why does not the government encourage all the students. Why does it invest millions of dollars in financing IITs when 90 % of the students want to settle abroad. Why does it not provide necessary recognition to all the talented students. Today you will find Talented Indians behind every successful company, let it be citibank, soft ware companies, NASA, faculty members of the best universities in the world, research scientists across the globe, doctors in the best hospitals in the world etc. The government must not encourage this brain drain, to others advantage.
10. Do you think that a presidential form of government would better serve the needs of India's democracy?
Yes. But the president must be very patriotic, young and courageous and must be a independently decisive person . The country must be recognised by its leader.
11. For whom do you have the highest regard amongst living Indians?
Every Indian soldier on the battlefront.
12. Do you think that the national obsession with Cricket has helped or has it hurt India as a sporting nation?
No.
13. What do you think are India's greatest achievements since Independence? (max 3)?
1) Development of software technology.
2) Negligible civil wars
3) Development of communication and electricity which is now prevailing in every nook and corner of India.
14.What is your happiest memory?
The moment of hearing news that I became a father.
15.What's your favourite pastime?
Hearing News from around the world.
16. What's your most memorable journey?
After getting my car repaired in a village and driving very late night on a remote state highway for about 100 kms to reach my family members/children who were expecting me eagerly. The excitement on the faces of my family to receive me so late was the most memorable.
17. What is your ultimate food dish?
Potato - which is universal and available in almost every country in the world.
18. What are your favourite movies? (max 3)
Patriotic, Patriotic and Patriotic - especially to observe war movies where our country soldiers fight and even die valiantly for their country.
19. What are your favourite books (please list authors as well)? (max 3)
1) Books on travel, 2) Books on fiction, and 3) Guiness book of world records.
20. A message from you to other NRIs
Be a 'Proud Indian' wherever you are. Just because some are born abroad they should not forget their Indian roots, and remember your features and looks do not change because you are born abroad.
In search of better opportunities and for sense of adventure.
2.Do you plan to return to India to settle down? If returning, where would you like to live?
Of course, who does not like to invest their hard earned money overseas in India, and settle down happily with all other family members,including old age parents- and show his fellow men what you achieved which others could not in your town.
3. What do you like most about being abroad?
Feeling of great satisfaction of being recognised of your talents in an alien land and performing better among 80 % foreigners, who are earning lesser than us, in their own home land.
4. What do like least about being abroad?
Always feeling a sense of insecurity, and especially miss your old parents who need you most.
5. Would you be concerned about raising your family outside India?
No, that too after your children reach teen age.
6. What are your thoughts about marrying outside your immediate community, someone who speaks a different language or practices a different religion?
If you understand them well, there should be no second thought. Lot of Indians have married African women in Uganda. Female members from outside your community are always dedicated and caring for mutual hapiness.
7. What would be the first thing you would do if you became the Prime Minister of India?
The first thing I will do is to agressively promote to sell Indian products world wide, so that all Indian industries perform well, earnings go up for everyone, quality of products increase. Anyone residing abroad will vouch - the impressive performance of Chinese and Japanese goods finding their market to every nook and corner of the world. Today there is lesser poverty in their countries, because everyone has a job to do and being export oriented everyone feels a great sense of satisfaction that their hard work and their personal contribution has resulted in their products being sold overseas amongst great competetion. India has the largest natural resources and man power for manufacturing the best quality products in the world. Why cannot it perform exceedingly well in exports - which will benefit all. The world is very big and there is no limit to its potential in exports. For eg. China exports toys, slippers, safety matches, medicines, agricultural implements, bicycles, tyres, tubes, worth billions of dollars world wide among tough competetion. Why not India ?
8. What do you think are India's greatest strengths?(max 3)
1) Highly skilled and hard working man power
2) Natural resources
3) Security for all its citizens
9.What do you think are the biggest problems facing India? (max 3)
1) Some are the Most corrupt and selfish politicians who have absolute no sense of patriotism. They only think of filling their coffers by switching parties for personal gain. There must be some criteria set for appointing politicians what more shame when you elect someone under Congress switches to BJP for his personal gain.? Today 90 % of the younger generation have lost who is who in politics, which was not so 15 years ago.
2) Lack of industrial development technology wise to be at part with the rapid progress being made overseas. India is still behind more than 175 countries in respect of modernity and technological sophistication. inspite of having the best manpower.
3) Lack of government policy to reverse the brain drain. Today every brilliant student is going to USA / abroad in search of recognition for his qualifications, which are lacking in India. Today Microsoft has 60 % employees from India , and Bill gates has become the richest man in the world - thanks to the contributions of his indian employees. He has recognised that Indians are the best in software technology compared to students from more than 200 countries. If indians can do well in america for their progress, why not in India. Why does not the government encourage all the students. Why does it invest millions of dollars in financing IITs when 90 % of the students want to settle abroad. Why does it not provide necessary recognition to all the talented students. Today you will find Talented Indians behind every successful company, let it be citibank, soft ware companies, NASA, faculty members of the best universities in the world, research scientists across the globe, doctors in the best hospitals in the world etc. The government must not encourage this brain drain, to others advantage.
10. Do you think that a presidential form of government would better serve the needs of India's democracy?
Yes. But the president must be very patriotic, young and courageous and must be a independently decisive person . The country must be recognised by its leader.
11. For whom do you have the highest regard amongst living Indians?
Every Indian soldier on the battlefront.
12. Do you think that the national obsession with Cricket has helped or has it hurt India as a sporting nation?
No.
13. What do you think are India's greatest achievements since Independence? (max 3)?
1) Development of software technology.
2) Negligible civil wars
3) Development of communication and electricity which is now prevailing in every nook and corner of India.
14.What is your happiest memory?
The moment of hearing news that I became a father.
15.What's your favourite pastime?
Hearing News from around the world.
16. What's your most memorable journey?
After getting my car repaired in a village and driving very late night on a remote state highway for about 100 kms to reach my family members/children who were expecting me eagerly. The excitement on the faces of my family to receive me so late was the most memorable.
17. What is your ultimate food dish?
Potato - which is universal and available in almost every country in the world.
18. What are your favourite movies? (max 3)
Patriotic, Patriotic and Patriotic - especially to observe war movies where our country soldiers fight and even die valiantly for their country.
19. What are your favourite books (please list authors as well)? (max 3)
1) Books on travel, 2) Books on fiction, and 3) Guiness book of world records.
20. A message from you to other NRIs
Be a 'Proud Indian' wherever you are. Just because some are born abroad they should not forget their Indian roots, and remember your features and looks do not change because you are born abroad.
He is an Automobile Engineer and father. He has been living in Kampala, Uganda for the past 5 years.
Published - 1999
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 - 1999
Participate in 20-Questions
The views of this column are the author's own, and do not necessarily represent the views of NRI Online.
