Author Description

Two Indian immigrants, Anand, and Gautam are octogenarians now. They grow up in the same neighborhood during our middle and High school years in India where I grew up. They went to professional colleges - Engineering and Medicine. I lost contact with them after finishing middle school with them. Anand and Gautam also lost contact with each other as their colleges were in different towns and their career trajectories take them to different places. They witness the Indian Independence movement during their formative young years. They see firsthand the suppression by the colonial power. Anand's father, a Judge, is a freedom fighter who suffered jail and physical abuse by Indian surrogates. This imprints an indelible tattoo on Anand's mind. Yet, they both take a keen interest in learning English and English history. There is a secret admiration for the British, particularly in contrast with the heterogeneous and undisciplined Indians. This causes a love - hate relationship to the British. In post-Independent India, they suffer parochialism, lack of dedication and honesty, and more importantly, corruption. Anand started work in a then British-owned steel plant, a plum job. The prosperity associated with the job gives him a luxurious life sprinkled with romance, but frustrations come cascading one after another. Indoctrination by his father and stellar teachers makes Anand a stickler to principles. It catalyzes a dislike for India to the extent that he feels that he does not belong there. Gautam after his Medical degree has to suffer fools as well. Independent India's society has a quota in jobs for lesser capable castes as recompense to past suppression. This is harsh for them who are from a forward community. Indeed, they both emigrate. Though an angry emigre, it is a tortured decision for Anand to leave his country because of love and attachment to his family, and even country. Anand gets a doctorate in engineering in Canada; Gautam after a short stint at the NHS in En