2. Do you plan to return to India to settle down?
Yes very much and whenever I have enough money. My great home city - Hyderabad.

3. What do you like most about being abroad?
Amazing opportunities - sky is the limit.

4. What do like least about being abroad?
Material, mechanical and artificial life.

5. Would you be concerned about raising your family outside India?
Yes very much - especially in US with so many gun shootings by bachoos (kids) in schools.

6. What are your thoughts about marrying outside your immediate community, someone who speaks a different language or practices a different religion?
Marriage is a gamble - why not?

7. What would be the first thing you would do if you became the Prime Minister of India?
Work towards getting a dictator.

8. What do you think are India's greatest strengths?(max 3)
Culture, spirituality and now IT.

9. What do you think are the biggest problems facing India? (max 3)
Population, corruption and politicians.

10. Do you think that a presidential form of government would better serve the needs of India's democracy?
Only dictatorship can help.

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

12. Do you think that the national obsession with Cricket has helped or has it hurt India as a sporting nation?
It's high time we ban cricket. So much money and time is being wasted.

13. What do you think are India's greatest achievement since Independence (max 3)?
Braindrain, IT and kicking Pakistan time & again.

14. What is your favourite pastime?
Cooking - something which I have to do to survive in US.

15. What is your happiest memory?
Giving charity for Kargil victims.

16. What's your most memorable journey?
A trip to Kanyakumari.

17. What is your ultimate food dish?
Tandoori chicken - unfortunately I cannot have any more - became a veggie.

18. What are your favourite movies? (max 3)
Gandhi, JFK and Sholay.

19. What are your favourite books (please list authors as well)? (max 3)
City of Joy, Old Man & the Sea - Hemingway.

20. A message from you to other NRIs
Mera Bharath Mahaan - whatever you are and whatever you have become today is only due to your Motherland and for heaven's sake don't forget her. Jai Hind!

- Ravi Kandikonda in Falls Church, Virginia, USA

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