#725
On January 30, 1986, I arrived in Bharuch, Gujarat, to begin my career in environmental engineering—a field that would later grow into environment, health, and safety (EHS). The date remains vivid because it aligned with the Challenger space shuttle explosion, which unfolded while I was traveling from Bombay. Four decades have passed in what feels like a brief moment, encapsulating a formative phase of my life.
Arriving at 22, I carried the typical certainties of youth: a firm "my way or the highway" stance and an unshakeable belief in my own rightness. Gujarat gently but steadily challenged that rigidity. Daily interactions taught me the value of listening, adapting to circumstances, and embracing practicality over stubbornness. More enduringly, the environment reinforced foundational principles—trust, honesty, and integrity—which I internalized as non-negotiable elements of character.
The region's culture left a distinct impression. Food held a central place; people lived to eat, savoring an array of vegetarian dishes that were consistently excellent. As someone inclined toward rationalism with limited religious adherence—I observe in Tamil Nadu, that roughly 90% of people do not follow faith unquestioningly—I found the practices in Gujarat, intriguing: fasting traditions, the casual "Jai Shree Krishna" greeting echoing the Muslim "Insha Allah." The warmth and openness of the people stood out most. Trust came easily, friendships formed quickly, and I acquired conversational Gujarati within weeks, even without prior Hindi knowledge. Those years felt balanced and enriching.
The decade in Gujarat, from 1986 to 1996, included a key personal milestone: meeting Lalitha in Bharuch in 1990 and marrying her six months later in 1991. This chapter nurtured the gentler dimensions of my life, for which I continue to feel appreciation.
Yet, by the mid-1990s, reflection on long-term priorities prompted departure. While the people, lifestyle, cuisine, and work environment were genuinely positive, limitations in education and healthcare became evident. Personal encounters with healthcare shortcomings underscored the gaps. Conversations with friends and colleagues, despite their intellect, often revealed disparities in depth of knowledge compared to my own upbringing in modest Tamil Nadu cities like Karaikudi, Madurai, or Coimbatore. I recognized that Gujarat's strongest offerings fell short of what I had accessed growing up, and I did not want my children to face similar constraints.
Returning to Tamil Nadu felt culturally incompatible, so Bangalore emerged as the logical choice—a larger metropolitan area offering superior access to education, healthcare, and intellectual stimulation. The move in June 1996, aligned with a deliberate focus on these essentials, which I viewed as best provided in an urban setting of scale. The decision was not easy since it involved leaving a world class organisation- SANDOZ.
The decision yielded clear returns. My children thrived in Bangalore's educational ecosystem, completed their studies, and built careers that led them to San Francisco. Over the 30 years since leaving Gujarat, doubt has never arisen about the choice. Gujarat suited that era perfectly—providing career launch, personal growth, and family foundations—but certain core needs demanded relocation. The healthcare in Bangalore, helped me so much for my own health as well as for my parents, to whom I feel, Bangalore gave couple of years extra life due to world class healthcare.
In hindsight, the experience illustrates a principle of "horses for courses": different places serve different purposes at different times. Gujarat molded adaptability and instilled lasting values. Bangalore, in turn, opened doors to sustained opportunities. Writing these reflections from San Francisco today, the journey from Bharuch appears as a measured progression across 40 years of career and family life.
Karthik
30th January 2026 1815 Hrs PST.
Foster City. CA.
1 comment:
Well said Karthik
Enjoyed reading 👍
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