Long, long ago, so long ago when there were no Cell Phones around and Tablets were things you drank. I was born in India and grew up in a garden city called Mysore situated in south of India. I studied for Matric at Sarada Vilas College and BSc at Mysore University, both situated at my home town – Mysore.
Growing up in India, it was natural to me to be a part of a service organisation. I joined Rotaract club of Mysore at the age of 18, remained a member until I left India at the age of 24. Introduction to Rotary in India is like studying at Oxford in UK, I am fortunate for such experience.
At the age of 24, I came to my newly adapted home: Durban, South Africa, where I met Irene who made sure I did not look beyond Durban. Living in Durban was/is as though I never left India.
I worked briefly at a few different companies until I found a home at Sanlam. I enjoyed a long stint of about 20 years at Sanlam as an Independent Financial Adviser, before embarking on my own for the past 7 years. I run a small Independent Financial Advisory practice in Durban.
My life partner Irene who has been a resident of Durban since birth. She grew up and studied in Durban and became qualified Nurse. She quit nursing to be a full time Mother to our children and a Care Giver to all of us. Though both my children are almost adults, and I am definitely a fully grown adult, all of us are totally dependent on Irene for our survival. She feeds us, shops for us, provides us with a healthy/happy home for us to lead a life of comfort.
We are gifted with two kids: a Boy and a Girl. Our son Kiran is in the III year of Mechanical Engineering and our daughter Kimaya is in the II year of Chemical Engineering. Both of them are at University of Kwazulu Natal, Durban. We have been fortunate that both of them are studying in Durban, giving us a few more years of complete family, before they venture out of the family nest to seek greener pastures.
Now to the more relevant part my life: Rotary! It was not until recently that I was able to get back into the Rotary world. Though Rotary has always been a fond memory, somehow it eluded me until recently. I joined the Rotary Club of High Noon, Chatsworth, south of Durban about two years ago. It is a small little club with active members with the most significant project being the formation of a Renal Dialysis Unit. My knowledge, experience with Rotary in South Africa is still growing. However I feel fortunate to join the E-Club of South Africa One, which feels like a whole of South Africa within one club.
I look forward to many years of Happy Rotary.