I grew up in India, the youngest of twelve siblings. My parents moved around Madras, Jaipur and Delhi for my father's job, and took me and my sister, Prema, who was one year senior to me, with them. The two of us were very close, along with another sister Suda, who was three years older than me. Shortly after the photo below was taken, my sister Suda died of Typhoid, at the young age of 11. The use of antibiotics was not widespread in India at the time and my mother did not believe in the help of Western medicine or doctors, a decision that has eaten at me for a long time.
At this point, most of my older siblings had left home to go to school in another city, university or were married. As soon as I turned 16 I left home for Engineering College and soon after got married. The freedom to pursue any dream at all is what drew me to the USA to study for my MBA in the 80's. I then lived in Australia for over thirty years and recently moved back to the US to pursue my career aspirations. Along the way, the unexpected benefits have been exposure to an ever shrinking world encapsulated in the local communities in America and Australia, and economic freedom. I wish migrants success to find what they seek!
Sitting with three of my older sisters in Ooty, India in 1965. Shortly after this photo was taken, my sister Suda (right) died of Typhoid, at the age of 11. The use of antibiotics was not widespread in India at the time.