2. Do you plan to return to India to settle down?
Cannot makeup my mind about returning back but if I do return it could be either Pune or Bangalore.

3. What do you like most about being abroad?
Peace of mind (atleast in most aspects) and good opportunity.

4. What do like least about being abroad?
People's attitude and ironically lack of opportunity for a minority as opposed to the majority.

5. Would you be concerned about raising your family outside India?
Yes and No. Again a contradictory answer but that is a fact.

6. What are your thoughts about marrying outside your immediate community, someone who speaks a different language or practices a different religion?
Could have been difficult but not disastrous.

7. What would be the first thing you would do if you became the Prime Minister of India?
Introduce social security number and credit rating system.

8. What do you think are India's greatest strengths?(max 3)
1. Education
2. Hardwork
3. Culture

9. What do you think are the biggest problems facing India? (max 3)
1. Lack of respect for the nation and laws of the land.
2. Corruption
3. Pollution

10. Do you think that a presidential form of government would better serve the needs of India's democracy?
Yes, if the president is accountable for his work.

11. For whom do you have the highest regard amongst living Indians?
Sam Pitroda.

12. Do you think that the national obsession with Cricket has helped or has it hurt India as a sporting nation?
It has helped.

13. What do you think are India's greatest achievements since Independence? (max 3)?
1. Good development in Information Technology.
2. Space Program
3. Construction of Expressways.

14. What is your favourite pastime?
TV/Movies, Reading and Driving.

15. What is your happiest memory?
To drink "chai" on the "tapri" and share a cigarrette with a friend.

16. What's your most memorable journey?
Journey from India to USA.

17. What is your ultimate food dish?
Hotel Vaishali's Tomato Onion Uttappa in Pune.

18. What are your favourite movies? (max 3)
1. Sholay
2. Company
4. Daud

19. What are your favourite books (please list authors as well)? (max 3)
Who Moved My Cheese - Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard.

20. A message from you to other NRIs
It is very hard, isn't it to hang up the boots and return back. One has to have an iron heart and then decide the path as to where they want to settle down - here or back there in good, old and beautiful India.

- Ketan Shah

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The views of this column are the author's own, and do not necessarily represent the views of NRI Online.