WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.630 [ARATHI AGADI]: Well, thank you for joining us for the NIAM Oral History Project. Can you please state your name and spell it as well? 00:00:07.700 --> 00:00:17.140 [LAKSHMAN AGADI]: Lakshman M. Agadi L a k s h m a n A g a d i 00:00:17.700 --> 00:00:21.800 [AA]: Thank you, Lakshman. Can you tell us when and where you were born? 00:00:23.040 --> 00:00:36.600 [LA]: I was born in a small town called Lakshmeshwar. It was in Dharwad District, Northern Karnataka. I was born on May 29, 1944. 00:00:37.900 --> 00:00:41.000 [AA]: Great, what languages did you speak growing up? 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:49.100 [LA]: Only language I knew at that time was Kannada. Up to high school, my language was only Kannada. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:56.500 [AA]: Great, and how would you describe your experiences growing up in Lakshmeshwar? 00:00:57.295 --> 00:01:22.100 [LA]: Oh it was fun. I grew up with, I come from a very large family. I have lots of siblings and it was really fun, I mean, pure. I enjoyed most of it because, my parents were excellent. They gave us a full freedom. And we had a good time. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.900 [AA]: And did your family practice a certain religion? And how about you? 00:01:28.010 --> 00:01:33.530 [LA]: Yes, we practiced Hinduism. And I’m 100% Hindu. 00:01:35.630 --> 00:01:40.320 [AA]: Okay. And when did you come to the United States? What brought you here? 00:01:40.700 --> 00:02:06.920 [LA]: I came here May 4th, 1975 and because when I got married, my wife wanted to come to USA first for doing her further study. Because her sister and brother were already here so that was her ambition. So, she came before me and I just decided to join her. 00:02:09.065 --> 00:02:17.850 [AA]: And were there any expectations as far as what you thought about the United States or Chicago? What was it going to be like when you moved. 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:26.890 [LA]: I didn't have any expectation. It was all excitement to come and, come to USA and especially Chicago. 00:02:27.600 --> 00:02:32.430 [JITESH JAGGI]: Had you heard of the United States before, like where you were going to immigrate, this country, this-- 00:02:32.540 --> 00:02:57.750 [LA]: Yes, yes. The reason is because my oldest brother was the chairman of a company called Pfizer, in India. So he was in Bombay, he used to come quite often to New Jersey because that was their world headquarters. So I knew he was coming here. Then one day I got married, I told my brother I’m going to USA for good. He was all excited. 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:05.960 [AA]: And, when you were first arriving in the United States what were some of the challenges you faced? 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:30.400 [LA]: Well, lot of challenges because we didn't have a television at that time. I didn't know how to turn on these faucets, all these modern gadgets faucets. And then the food was a major problem. Also, I didn't know driving because that was another challenging situation for me. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:52.390 And then, it was all--I don’t think I had any obstacle. I merged very easily with the locals. I had no problem in the beginning. They had a tough time to understand the language. I mean, my accent. But eventually, I learned how to speak correct way. 00:03:53.020 --> 00:04:02.580 [JJ]: Did you have other, when you say you kind of merged well with them, did you mean like, were there other South Asian or Indian families around you? Or were there 00:04:03.250 --> 00:04:20.900 [LA]: Yeah, because my sister in Lowell here, right? And then she had, she was already a training doctor here in Chicago. And then she had a few friends, so I used to meet them quite often, you know, in their house. That’s how I got, you know. 00:04:23.430 --> 00:04:29.530 [AA]: How would you describe your first job in the U.S.? What was the experience like? 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:41.000 [LA]: Oh, it was a wonderful experience. First thing is, 00:04:31.050 --> 00:04:55.650 [LA]: I learned how to drive the car. So I took the lessons and then my sister-in-law, she taught me how to drive, she would sit next to me and--then I, immediately, I got a job in less than maybe 3 weeks after landing here. I mean, coming to Chicago. 00:04:56.440 --> 00:05:21.660 So I went for an interview, there was a small company in Chicago and they interviewed me. And the way I answered, they immediately selected me. And then they gave me the job. So it was exciting. Andthen I didn't even know that I was doing so good, because in those days, I remember the gas was only $0.45 a gallon. 00:05:22.880 --> 00:05:31.000 And then my salary was $600 a month. So, but because I was in sales, I had a incentive. If you sell certain amount more, you make commission. So, within 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:54.980 a short time, I was making a lot of commission. I was making as much as 4-$5000 dollars per month. And some of my friend who I had met earlier who were doctors, they were doing their residency, they were not even making anywhere near what I made. 00:05:55.440 --> 00:06:20.230 So they used to say, “What is it you’re doing here?” **laughs** So that is how I, I enjoyed the job, first job. And then, I worked for them maybe about six, less than six months. It was a small company then I applied for a much bigger pharmaceutical company and they flew me to Dallas, Texas for an interview. 00:06:21.400 --> 00:06:51.980 That was an airline called Easter Airline, even though **laughs** nobody has heard that. And, they sent me a ticket, I flew to Dallas and met the gentleman. And then, he selected me. And then they came for my background check. So they asked the existing company, “hey do you know this guy?” And this existing company was shocked that this guy is looking somewhere else. So they said, they asked me to come. So, I met them. 00:06:52.630 --> 00:07:19.645 Then they told me, You know you don’t have to join them. We give you a distributorship here, that means you’ll be making double than what you would ever make from there. Even though that company was big, better salary, they gave me a company vehicle, everything was offered. Then that was a challenging time for me to decide whether to go on my own business or go and work for a good paying job. 00:07:20.650 --> 00:07:33.460 So, I thought about it for about three, four days. Finally, I decided to stick to the same company, became their exclusive distributor. So that is when my fortune really went up. I did extremely well. 00:07:41.080 --> 00:07:53.890 [AA]: So, Lakshman, you mentioned the two jobs that you were considering at the time and since then, you've made you've made strides. What led you to the decisions you made in your career? 00:07:54.650 --> 00:08:22.697 [LA]: I always wanted to be my own boss. That was motivation. Even in India. So, that is why I decided to become my own boss. So, I built up the whole company from zero. And I was so successful, my previous boss was Bill Michay and became my employee. **laughs** So that was exciting part for me because-- 00:08:23.320 --> 00:08:53.830 In fact, he was the first one invited me Thanksgiving day to his house. He used to live in Bellwood. And I remember, I went to his house and his wife was Pat, and he had two kids and then Bill told them, “Hey, I’m getting an Indian guy.” So his son thought I’m an American Indian **laughs** with a hat. So, I went to his house that’s where first time I had my Thanksgiving day with him. 00:08:54.860 --> 00:09:05.860 And then, he was a nice guy. And he was laid off from the previous, our company. Then I asked him if he wanted to come and help me, so he was working for me. 00:09:06.550 --> 00:09:09.980 [JJ]: That is remarkable. Why pharmaceuticals in particular? 00:09:10.290 --> 00:09:13.500 [LA]: Not pharmaceuticals. These were medical devices-- 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:15.450 [JJ]: I see. And why that field in particular? 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:17.670 [LA]: The reason is because I had the background in India. 00:09:17.430 --> 00:09:18.190 [JJ]: Right. 00:09:18.730 --> 00:09:25.810 [LA]: See, that is why I wanted to pursue that. And it was easy for me to jump into that field. 00:09:26.030 --> 00:09:32.030 [JJ]: Right. But why sales in that medical field? Did that just happen to you? Or did you make a conscious decision? 00:09:32.030 --> 00:09:38.520 [LA]: No, no. I was in sales in India, you see. That is how I, I applied for the sales job here. 00:09:38.810 --> 00:09:40.950 [JJ]: Ah okay, okay. Understood. 00:09:42.350 --> 00:09:44.940 [AA]: And what is the name of the company? And what does it do? 00:09:45.150 --> 00:10:14.360 [LA]: It is called Milex Products Incorporated, the company no longer in existence because it was bought by Cooper. And they were specialized in the woman’s healthcare for making like products like diaphragms in the olden days. And I remember, they were in the Time Magazine in the front cover in 1961, or ’63. And, you know, they were selling so much diaphragm in the US. Then came the pills, you know? Contraceptive pills. Then the diaphragm disappeared. 00:10:14.910 --> 00:10:17.460 [JJ]: Oh, so they kind of shifted focus, is it? 00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:35.100 [LA]: Yeah. Then they started other medical devices. Not into drugs. Because in those day they introduced a drug was very challenging. FDA was very strict. So these guys don’t want to get into the pharmaceutical business. Only the devices. 00:10:35.640 --> 00:10:38.950 [AA]: And the company you have today? What is the name of that? 00:10:39.150 --> 00:11:10.480 [LA]: Yeah, it is called Medgyn products. And we are also specializing in the same woman’s healthcare. And I’m very proud because we represented 140 countries in the world. We are recognized by WHO, Bill Gates Foundation, John Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, they’re all our customers and also they really like what we do. In fact, just about 2 weeks ago, we won a Malcom Baldridge Award for our quality system. And I think that speaks volume about what we do. 00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:41.120 And we are present in all the fifty states in the United States and our major customers include Mass. General Hospital, University of Chicago, UCLA, Columbia, you know, name any teaching hospital. In fact, our name is in the textbooks. 00:11:41.460 --> 00:12:05.270 And became I came out, invented some instruments by talking to the doctors. So many of the instruments are named after them. So, some difficult procedures, sometimes they were challenging tasks, what instrument to use. So they mention our name. In fact, two instruments named after myself, Agadi forceps. 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:07.270 [JJ]: Tell us about that. 00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:37.880 [LA]: Yeah, that is because lot of the lady doctors were complaining to me that there is no instrument which is very small to go inside the cervix and remove some of the polyps or IUDs, in those days. They told me, “Nobody has got it,” if he can make this small diameter, and then I heard it from several people. And most of them, in those days, during my time, most of the OB-GYNs were male, you see? 00:12:38.630 --> 00:12:52.790 There were very few female doctors, in those days. Now it is changed, is upside down. So those are the ladies, I listened to them, and invented the instrument. So then I name it myself. 00:12:53.660 --> 00:13:06.270 [JJ]: So, if you don’t mind, like, we are interested in more about your life, so can you connect your distributorship, that time, to Med--Med-- 00:13:06.470 --> 00:13:06.960 [LA]: Medgyn. 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:13.360 [JJ]: Medgyn? So how did that, so there’s this gap, I want to know, where were you--What happened next? 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:43.750 [LA]: Alright, I was doing extremely well, I was with them for eight years or so. And then, because I was very ambitious and my territory was restricted only to Cook County. Including Chicago. So then, I wanted to expand my territory. I asked them, they said, “No.” They said, “You are making too much money. So be happy with that.” So then, I was not happy with the, this thing-- 00:13:43.960 --> 00:14:14.690 And how did they stop me? They won’t supply me the products. Or they will say, we are behind by one month or two months. My customers are, “Hey, Agadi, what happened to my product?” So, then I decided to leave them. I left a company after 8-1/2 years. Then, I knew where these products--there were also very few of them we were making it. Most of it was coming from outside the United States. 00:14:15.660 --> 00:14:46.340 So, I contacted Korean, no, Japanese Embassy and Korean Embassy. And then German. Then I got some medical exporters, medical device exporters. So, I wrote to them, “I’m so and so looking to import some of your products.” And first--tell them first trip in ’87 to Tokyo and I issued a royal welcome. They thought I’m a really big company. So they treated me like that and then-- 00:14:47.180 --> 00:15:13.240 Then I was looking for a particular products that I knew I need to import, then I signed a deal with them. Then they told me, you know, “You send us a fax, and send us LC.” I didn’t know what is a fax **laughs** At that time. And then they said LC. I didn’t know what is LC either, because I just went there with open mind to find something. 00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:46.650 So then I found the name of the company and the products that I want to buy. Then, when I came back to Chicago, first thing is I bought a fax machine. One of my friends showed me what is the fax machine. It was big chunk, in those days, thing **laughs** rolling paper. And so I bought that. And then I went to my small bank, Hey I need to open an LLC. And then they told me how it works. And I didn't have enough money. So, I had to borrow from my various credit cards. 00:15:46.650 --> 00:16:00.580 From mine, I exceeded my limit, my wife’s, wherever I could find. Collected the money, deposited. And, they told me how they do the LC. That is how I got the first product imported. 00:16:05.350 --> 00:16:10.820 [AA]: Lakshman, being a man, how do you fit within a women’s centric medical sphere? 00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:34.960 [LA]: Because I always cared for--you know, I grew up with a family of five sisters. And then my mother had two sisters and plus their siblings, so I grew up with them, you know. So, I never thought there’s any difference between a man and a woman at that time. I never, ever, you know. They both deserve equal opportunity, that was my goal. 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:42.480 Plus I respected the woman more than the man because they go through a lot of issues, right? 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:46.800 [JJ]: Did this give you more appreciation for-- 00:16:47.360 --> 00:17:17.480 [LA]: Of course. Of course. You see, because, see, what happened was, when I imported, I didn't know that I needed FDA. **laughs** I needed FDA license, registration number, all those things. So I was, I got the product started selling. Then some inspectors from the State of Illinois healthcare came. “Hey, show me your FDA number.” “I, Do I need it? I don’t have it.” 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:50.470 Then they immediately stopped me selling anything in the U.S., completely shut up until I, you know--then I hired a lawyer and then he told me, “Let us first comply with the law. First, let’s get your FDA license.” He applied for me. Then he identified, in those days called 510K, for every device you import. So, but because I had already worked with the doctors local, had a good connection at the University of Chicago, and Northwestern, and other hospitals. 00:17:51.020 --> 00:18:20.530 So some of the doctors, they gave me good recommendation, “Hey, he’s a genuine guy and these products are good,” and they gave me letter. So, the FDA believed all those letters and they gave me the 510K. That is when I started. Then, when I got all this done, still I was having a challenging problem because the local dealers didn’t want me to succeed. They harassed me, “Oh don’t believe him. This is wrong, this is fake” and all that. 00:18:21.170 --> 00:18:37.680 So then I thought, suddenly I thought, “Why I'm struggling here? The whole world is open for me.” So, I started traveling. First time I went to Mexico. I took all my products with me. Sold out everything. I was really shocked. **laughs** 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.710 [JJ]: Did you like set up shop? 00:18:38.820 --> 00:19:07.880 [LA]: Yeah. No, they have congresses, you see. I came to know when is the congress. So I applied for the congress, went there. Sold out everything. And many Mexican doctors, I was the first one they said Hindu, Hindu. **laughs** That is how they used to call me. And I became instant success. Then I thought, wow, opportunity everywhere. That’s how I expanded it. 140 countries. And when I see the conditions, you know. I remember in Uruguay (Paraguay), Asuncion-- 00:19:08.570 --> 00:19:37.160 And the doctors, they liked me very much. They would take me with them to their hospital rounds. I see all these teenage girls, mothers, you know. I couldn’t take the sight of it. How much they are going through. In fact, I remember in Cairo. I went to, from Jerusalem to Cairo, the peace was settled at that time. And I went to one of the biggest hospitals where the doctor had delivered Anwar Sadat’s children. 00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:52.630 And he was so happy to see me. Then I showed him what I'm trying to sell. He told me, “You know, this is such a rare commodity. **laughs** We keep in the safe here.” And he showed me and that is how I established Egypt. 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:55.130 [JJ]: Is it the forceps he was talking about? 00:19:55.130 --> 00:20:25.420 [LA]: No, some other device, it’s called a disposable, you know, product. So that is how, you know, I became instant success. Same this with Stockholm. And the university called the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. That is where all Nobel prizes of medicine are given. And there the doctors, I started, you know, became their friend, they took me out to dinner and they wrote a book about product. **laughs** 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:45.670 [AA]: Lakshman, you've had a lot of success over the past decades with your career. Is there a particular instance that really strikes in your memory that really made an impact to you? 00:20:53.170 --> 00:21:21.180 [LA]: ...No the good thing about this when we used to, I used to go to several congresses. Not only the OB-GYN doctors and also the trade. The biggest trade, once a year is held in Dusseldorf called MEDICA. Okay? It’s the world’s largest show. About 120 countries come and participate with that prospective company, they encourage them to participate there. 00:21:23.110 --> 00:21:40.060 So, I was going there. And the best part of it was, so many customers were lining up in my booth, compared to my neighbors. That gave me the big satisfaction. Wow. So people will be lining up to buy our products. 00:21:42.040 --> 00:22:04.430 [AA]: That’s great. And now, shifting more to your personal experience, when you first came here. Because, you've spoken about your professional experience. What, to you, has really made a lasting impact to you, when you first came here? Was there a particular experience you can recollect? 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:36.460 [LA]: No, I mean, I came with the--in those days they allowed only $7. That’s all they allowed come out of India. Would that, you know, I mean--it was challenging because you have no money when you land here. Nothing. Zero. And so, I remember when I landed in Boston airport, I didn't know how to make those phone calls, you know. Those put a coin and dial. And actually I asked one of the passenger who was walking, “Can I get a change?” **laughs** 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:43.480 He was so nice enough, he put his own coin and dialed the number for me. I mean, I thought, “Wow, people are excellent here.” 00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:50.510 [AA]: Would you say that making friends and the United States, or Chicago, was difficult? Or not. 00:22:51.380 --> 00:23:01.280 [LA]: I don’t think it was any difficult for me now. Because there were few Indians already before me, so. They came in ‘60s, you know. 00:23:03.570 --> 00:23:23.590 [JJ]: Are there any negative incidences that you recall? Any experiences where you were misunderstood, or you were not understood, or you think like--I know you were surrounded by a lot of Indian families, but, were there times when you felt like you were the only one that looked like you, or something like that? 00:23:23.590 --> 00:23:50.170 [LA]: No. I never felt like that. Because, my sister-in-law was a very popular lady. She had lot of black and white American people, you know, in her house. They used to come. So that’s how we got mixed up very easily, you know. And nobody mistook me or anything like that at all. Never. And in fact there were a lot of--I remember, my first house was in Oak Lawn. That’s where my wife started her residency. 00:23:51.070 --> 00:24:18.770 And I was living in an apartment at 95th street. And I had invited one of the guy, Black guy, for something. I had met him in my sister-in-law’s house, he was a real nice artist. His wife was a nurse. Jake, his name was. And then he came, when he came he told me, “You know, just a few years ago, we’re not even allowed to come out of Western Avenue.” How bad it was. 00:24:19.930 --> 00:24:25.080 That is when I learned about **laughs** the discrimination. Until then, I didn’t know. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:30.750 [AA]: Can you tell us a little bit about your wife? 00:24:31.730 --> 00:25:03.060 [LA]: Yeah, she’s a, she did her medical school in Bangalore. And because her older sister, older brother, both were here, she was youngest in the family. She wanted to come, so she applied for the, actually, the green--they come here, but they refused to give her. Then I used my political clout, I was living at that time in Chennai, Madras at that time. 00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:32.210 I knew Karunanidhi, the then chief minister. I used clout to get her the tourist visa. Just to come and appear, and pass her examination. So, she came here, stayed with her sister, passed (inaudible) MD, then went back. Then applied for the job, then she got the job. And then she got the green card. Then came here before me about a year and then I followed her. Then she did her pediatric residency. 00:25:32.890 --> 00:25:40.740 Then she practiced, she didn’t want to practice, she worked for the State of Illinois for 25 years. And retired from there. 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:43.330 [JJ]: What’s her name again? 00:25:43.450 --> 00:25:49.360 [LA]: Veda. V e d a. Full name is Vedavati, but she’s known as Veda. 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:52.780 [JJ]: I see, and did you know Mr. Karunanidhi personally, yourself? 00:25:53.200 --> 00:26:21.950 [LA]: I had a friend who was very close and his brother was his classmate. And then, Karunanidhi shared, this is a small thing. So he asked his tourist minister, Raja Ram. And Raja Ram called counsel, not the visa officer, his boss. He said, “We didn’t know, sir, who is this gentleman. Send him.” So when I met him, first he told me no. Then when I met him, he invited me inside the office, he give me cigarette to see if I smoke. I said, “No I don’t smoke.” 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:30.270 Then he said, “What kind of a visa you want? How long do you want? I didn't know, sorry, I didn’t know who you are.” **laughs** 00:26:30.270 --> 00:26:31.470 [JJ]: Wow. That’s wild story. 00:26:33.760 --> 00:26:45.480 [AA]: And with you and your wife moving here, you mentioned you have a big family back in India. Were you ever homesick throughout the years and how did you communicate with them? 00:26:45.480 --> 00:27:04.130 [LA]: No, I was in the phone-touch with them all the time constantly, especially my oldest brother. My another favorite brother, doctor in Bangalore. I was calling them constantly. They were calling me to see how things are going. And I was always excited **laughs** to talk to them. 00:27:05.570 --> 00:27:07.380 [AA]: And would you go back and visit? 00:27:07.990 --> 00:27:09.450 [LA]: Of course I go back and visit. 00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:11.820 [JJ]: Like how often would you say? 00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:27.540 [LA]: Uh, for 10 years, I didn’t go. Even though my mom was there at that time. Then I decided to go and I went there in ’86 and then again, subsequently I went every year or every two years. Then after I went. 00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:31.810 [AA]: What do you miss about India the most? 00:27:33.030 --> 00:27:37.060 [LA]: The most I miss is my fami--my brothers and sisters. 00:27:39.070 --> 00:27:41.330 [JJ]: Has anybody from there visited you here? 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.720 [LA]: Oh yeah, all of them have come. 00:27:46.890 --> 00:28:02.110 [JJ]: No, I was just asking, are there childhood memories that you think back of often that took place in India? Does anything have special connection with you? Maybe food or festivals or something like that. Friends, perhaps? 00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:12.640 [LA]: Yeah, I have quite few number of friends and both--I studied in Bombay, you see. I did my college in Bombay. 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.340 [JJ]: Where? 00:28:13.530 --> 00:28:15.270 [LA]: In Bombay, Barnes College (inaudible) 00:28:15.270 --> 00:28:16.290 [JJ]: Oh, Barnes College, okay. 00:28:18.950 --> 00:28:22.190 [LA]: But my first job was in Madras. 00:28:29.190 --> 00:28:34.250 [AA]: And how do you maintain your connections with your Indian heritage? 00:28:35.790 --> 00:28:42.000 [LA]: Because, I’m a, you know, I go to the temple and, you know a lot of, many of the Swamiji’s know me, personally. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:29:18.100 I was actively involved in the Ramat Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago. I was the Vice President one time. I was the trustee. And then in 2015 we organized the biggest event temple in the history of the, in the temple, not only here in the whole USA, where 10,000 people participated. And is called a Maharudram, and I was the chairman of that. 00:29:19.300 --> 00:29:21.850 [JJ]: Yeah, tell us a little more about that. What was that about? 00:29:21.850 --> 00:29:51.410 [LA]: Yeah, it’s the religious event. And they worship Shiva. So it was a one year preparation. But every month we invited some great Swamijis, all sects, from (list of names/locations) everybody was invited there. So they would come and speak and teach us about Shiva, you know. 00:29:51.480 --> 00:30:21.160 And then, the event was the biggest one on June 12th to 13th of 2015. And first day was Lalitha Sahasranamam where 1500, one thousand five hundred sumangali, sumangali is married woman, they chant. The biggest event, and we have big tent outside the temple and the parking lot. 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:22.880 [JJ]: Right here in Illinois. 00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:53.730 [LA]: Yeah, just in Lemont. Then, next day about 10,000 people participated. And people came from all over the country. And, I forgot what they call them. There are learned, Vedic scholars. But 250 of them participated, chanting at the same time. The whole grounds were vibrating with the holiness. Then, I met all the Swamiji name. I met Sri Sri Ravishankar, I invited him to come. 00:30:54.270 --> 00:31:09.160 Then I invited Hawaii swami, Bodhinatha, he came. Then I invited (inaudible) mandir, all the Swamijis. Then I invited Chinmayanand Swamiji. All the Swamiji, because my goal was to bring all the Swamiji into one stage at one time. 00:31:09.670 --> 00:31:13.700 [JJ]: I see. And what does your role in the temple and in the festival? 00:31:13.270 --> 00:31:14.120 [LA]: No, I was the chairman. 00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:15.420 [JJ]: You were the chairman at this time? 00:31:15.030 --> 00:31:44.030 [LA]: Yeah. So I had a lot of good help, a lot of highly educated doctors, engineers. But I ran it like a business. I delegated. Each one was excited to do better than the other person. I delegated and, if they have any issues, they come to me. And my philosophy was inclusion. I told them that God did not create junkies. Everybody’s included. So that inclusion paid off in a big way. 00:31:44.840 --> 00:32:13.770 Even though there were, as you know, in our community always in fighting and all this. Egos, everything disappeared because each person has to do certain things and they were, they got so excited because they got their families involved in India. A full container of puja sama (inaudible) came from India. One container. We used the clout of Congressman Danny Davis, to lease that one **laughs**. 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:22.640 I mean, you know, we got the plates, we got everything. I have a paper I’ll show you. Newspaper. 00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:23.450 [JJ]: Yeah, absolutely. 00:32:26.090 --> 00:32:32.410 [AA]: Were you involved in any other Indian communities here or Indian organizations? 00:32:32.530 --> 00:32:57.450 [LA]: Yeah, I mean, I go to Venkateswara temple and then I donate a lot of money to Chinmaya at that time under this thing. Ramakshavesan. I’m involved in all the temple that you name here. And then, some of the leading Swamijis in the past used to come and stay with me. There’s one Swami, Swami Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swami, very famous from Mysore. 00:32:58.180 --> 00:33:23.030 Recently, about six months ago, we built another temple in Carpentersville, Northside called the Trinity Datta Yoga Center. So, I'm one of the biggest contributor there. And, in fact, the [inaudible] statue which is supposed to be in the temple is in my house. Big statue. So it is going there to that new center. 00:33:30.340 --> 00:33:35.320 [AA]: Okay. Lakshman, are you involved in other Indian organizations that are non-religious? 00:33:35.860 --> 00:34:08.490 [LA]: Yes. One called Nirva, as you know, even in the U. S. there are lot of communities like Marwari community, or Brahmin, you know, certain Dikshitar community. Like that, we have a community called Vaishya community. And, so, they started this actually, I started this, gosh maybe long ago, ’90s or something in Balaji temple. We installed first our main god is Parvati, called Vasavi. 00:34:09.095 --> 00:34:36.490 She’s the Parvati and she’s our goddess. So we installed the statue there and then because I got busy with the business, some other people belonging to our community, New Jersey, started this Nirva. N i r v a. North Indian Vasavi Association. It is so big, it is nationwide, all the 50 states. So it has grown into biggest, one of the biggest this thing here. 00:34:37.140 --> 00:35:06.560 And they do help community, not only here, in India, they educate the poor kids, hundreds of kids. And then there are volunteers in India, helping people to feed during Covid time. Lot of good things they are doing it. And then last year, uh no not last year, 2019. Convention is held once in two years. Where anywhere from five to eight thousand people assemble from all over the country. 00:35:07.240 --> 00:35:17.270 So, one was held in Troy, Michigan, about two years ago. And they honored me with the plaque and a Lifetime Achievement Award. 00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:22.030 [JJ]: Oh, I see. What was your role in the Nirva? 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:31.000 [LA]: My role was, you know, I don’t think I did any major role. But I started it, I was the first one to start this, right? And even before anybody thought about Nirva. So we had opened up the temple, and then we were meeting every third Sunday. We’ll do Abishekam, so we all few people, you know most of them are doctors, I’m the only (inaudible) in that group. 00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:54.390 [JJ]: Right. But what was the, I’m trying to understand what was the motivation behind it? Do you have any connection with the Vaishya community-- 00:35:54.620 --> 00:35:55.950 [LA]: Yes, I’m a Vaishya right? 00:35:56.140 --> 00:35:56.460 [JJ]: Right. 00:35:56.710 --> 00:36:14.670 [LA]: I’m in that community, I belong to that community. And you know, they ask me some questions, I mean, counseling. I help them out. I do, for example, the convention when they, there’s a, some help needed, I go out of my way to help them out. 00:36:14.090 --> 00:36:15.540 [JJ]: I see. 00:36:19.330 --> 00:36:22.900 [AA]: And, what do you like to do in your leisure time? 00:36:23.610 --> 00:36:51.980 [LA]: I play lot of golf **laughs** And then meet a lot of friends and, I was also involved in rotary club. I was a president of rotary club of Oak Brook one time. And then I ran it very successfully. And then for two years, it is a one year term but they extended because I was doing so good. They said, He should continue one more year. So I was two years I was the president in Oak Brook club. 00:36:54.460 --> 00:37:04.170 [AA]: And, when thinking about when you first immigrated here, were there any objects or items that you carried with you that you treasure even today? 00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:23.590 [LA]: The only thing I remember I carried was, my mother gave me a--you know, each family has got their own god. That picture. I think I'm, I’m sure I have that picture somewhere. I used to carry that for a long time in my wallet. 00:37:24.120 --> 00:37:25.090 [JJ]: Was it Parvati? 00:37:25.560 --> 00:37:32.960 [LA]: Shiva. Shiva, Parvati, and you know. And that was the main god, Shiva. 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:47.560 [AA]: I understand you've developed your own family here. What are some of your own life lessons that you would pass on to future generations? 00:37:48.160 --> 00:38:16.860 [LA]: Well, I pass on that anything is possible in this world if you make up your mind and think positively. Inclusion is very important. Don’t think small, think big. And, it's a beautiful world. Include everybody. And not, not only, develop yourself, help the community, help the society. Give back. The more you give, more you get back, you see. 00:38:17.180 --> 00:38:23.700 [JJ]: When you say inclusion, do you mean like inclusion in terms of like race, sexuality, things like that? 00:38:23.820 --> 00:38:27.880 [LA]: All the human beings, you see. I mean, doesn’t matter who they are, what they are, you know. 00:38:28.540 --> 00:38:37.430 [JJ]: Did you see any sort of pushback or anything in that terms within the Indian community? Like, in the temple community regarding different castes or sects? 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:43.680 [LA]: No. I have never experienced this because, if somebody comes, I treat that as trash. 00:38:43.740 --> 00:38:44.800 [JJ]: Oh I see **laughs** 00:38:44.800 --> 00:39:00.980 [LA]: Because, I don’t have interest in the--Any negatives are garbage. I call it as a garbage. You have to be positive all the time, you have to. Because, any human being is created for a reason. And if you know that reason, go and ask him. Why? 00:39:04.200 --> 00:39:08.500 [AA]: What kind of impact do you think Indian Americans have made on in Chicago? 00:39:08.990 --> 00:39:33.850 [LA]: I think they’ve done extremely well, Indian Americans have done lot of contributions to the society in Chicago area, you know. They’re involved in politics, they’re involved in, I think medicine, there lot of highly leading doctors, Indian doctors I think. Tremendous. That is why, compared to let us say other people we are not discriminated, according to me. 00:39:34.500 --> 00:39:38.050 I may be wrong but I never felt any discrimination in my life. 00:39:41.290 --> 00:39:45.900 [AA]: And, what do you see as the future for the Indian American community? 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:47.230 [LA]: Very good, excellent.Excellent. 00:39:50.100 --> 00:39:50.890 [JJ]: Why do you say that? 00:39:52.100 --> 00:39:52.350 [LA]: Hm? 00:39:52.440 --> 00:39:53.200 [JJ]: Why do you say that? 00:39:53.290 --> 00:40:07.250 [LA]: Yeah, because you know they're hard-working. As long as they’re hard-working and think positively, maintain most importantly the family. You see? Our basic unity is the family. Indian family strongly believe in the family unity. 00:40:07.640 --> 00:40:15.190 [JJ]: Do you see a difference between the early wave of Indians immigrating here and the latest wave, if you have a had interaction with-- 00:40:15.290 --> 00:40:34.490 [LA]: Oh yeah, I don't see much difference. The later guys are all mostly IT. Very few doctors most of them are computer science, engineer. They also maintain the same, that, you know, tradition, a family, and connection. And I don't see any difference at all. 00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:44.298 [AA]: Can you talk to us about your children? Any memories that you have from their childhood and you as a parent? Along with your wife? 00:40:43.460 --> 00:41:00.030 [LA]: Yeah, yeah, I have three kids. My son, he’s a doctor, pathologist, board certified pathologist. And then I have a daughter Aarthi. Then my younger son, he’s in totally different one. He’s in creative design and art. 00:41:01.030 --> 00:41:30.050 And he lives in New York. And my oldest son and Aarthi, I was, since I was very busy traveling around the world for my business, I thought better I put them in a private boarding school. So they went to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. And that is where I think, is very famous for Bush children went, John Kasich kids went. So, I thought, they were too young also. 00:41:30.150 --> 00:41:44.400 They were maybe 13 years old when they went there. Aarthi was only 13. I think I made a mistake, that one, because that was too early to send them away from home. But it was my selfish--I thought, you know, maybe they get a better education. 00:41:45.290 --> 00:41:48.740 [JJ]: So they, all your children went that, to the boarding school? 00:41:48.298 --> 00:41:49.430 [LA]: Except my younger one. 00:41:50.160 --> 00:41:54.260 [JJ]: I see, and both your children they were in their early teens? You were saying, when they went? 00:41:53.780 --> 00:42:19.890 [LA]: Yeah, 13 years old. So they lived in the dorm there. Went to high school, and I think my son lived there four years and then one year he went to France for exchange student. He was living in a family in Rennes. So there he was in the Alps, he is very fluent in French rather than in Indian language. English. 00:42:19.890 --> 00:42:39.810 I had an excellent babysitter, I mean she was with us for more than ten years. Rose, she was like a grandmother. Because, my mother had died already, I didn’t have anybody. Neither my wife’s side, she didn’t have any parents either. So Rose was almost like a grandmother, I mean she was fantastic woman. 00:42:39.810 --> 00:42:45.660 She took care of them, feed them, give them shower, they go to school, come back, take care of them. 00:42:46.360 --> 00:42:54.830 [JJ]: Did you miss your children when they were away and like experiences from that, did they not like the experience? Did they tell you that? 00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:58.510 [LA]: No, I mean, well we missed them, of course, you know. 00:43:00.820 --> 00:43:03.770 [AA]: What are other ways you spend time with your children? 00:43:03.880 --> 00:43:21.650 [LA]: Oh, then when they were young, I would take them on a vacation all over the world. Caribbean, Disney World, Disneyland we went to. Europe and they went to, gosh, name any, Hawaii-- 00:43:21.960 --> 00:43:24.020 [JJ]: Any particular one that stands out for you? 00:43:24.020 --> 00:43:29.310 [LA]: Yeah, and India we went. I mean, name. Everywhere we went. 00:43:30.230 --> 00:43:42.600 [JJ]: What would the, I’m interested in knowing what were the experiences of your kids when you went with them back to India. Because, you experience India as you knew. And for them-- 00:43:42.330 --> 00:44:14.560 [LA]: No that, totally different experience. They were all excited, and especially when they saw the cows on the street they would shout, Hey Dad look at the cows. **laughs** So they were, and then they saw how poverty was, how you know. They had a, I think that is when they woke up. Hey, there are people here not just like us. We are grown with all the silver spoon in the world. And, so that is when they, it was some impact on them when they were young, especially my older, and Aarthi both. 00:44:14.790 --> 00:44:17.090 [JJ]: Did any of them end up joining you in your business? 00:44:17.600 --> 00:44:38.410 [LA]: Yes. So it so happened Aarthi was working for Johnson & Johnson. And then she was in London and then suddenly decided that come back. Then she said, “I’ll join your company.” I said, “What? But don’t expect the same salary, you have to earn it here.” 00:44:40.480 --> 00:44:54.000 So, then she joined and she did, you know, terri--fantastic job. Even thought we had a father and daughter conflict in the beginning, but I knew she will be in the right direction. Then she was doing extremely well, then 00:44:54.000 --> 00:45:13.450 my son, who is the doctor, was working in the lab, he got bored. He said, I’ll also join. I was hesitant that he should practice, but he liked it and he's doing a great job too, because we need a doctor, you know for research development, for compliance. 00:45:07.000 --> 00:45:23.020 So it worked out very good for us. So he also joined, both of them. My younger son said, “No, I want to be my own.” So, he’s in New York. 00:45:25.320 --> 00:45:27.410 [AA]: Do you have any grandkids? 00:45:27.900 --> 00:45:38.610 [LA]: Yes, I have, my Aarthi has blessed me with three children. Maya, Neha, and Ajay. Three. So, I have a lot of fun with them. 00:45:39.730 --> 00:45:46.210 [JJ]: Do you have like a different experience with them versus your kids when they were children? 00:45:46.500 --> 00:45:57.260 [LA]: Of course, totally different. Here we’re totally relaxed. They do whatever they want to **laughs** But as with our kids, you know we were very bit strict. **laughs** 00:45:58.260 --> 00:46:00.090 [JJ]: I see. In what terms do you mean then? 00:46:00.500 --> 00:46:00.820 [LA]: Hm? 00:46:00.890 --> 00:46:05.660 [JJ]: In what terms do you think the parenting for your kids has differed from your grandkids? 00:46:05.710 --> 00:46:17.540 [LA]: Yeah, I was very strict with them to study and, you know, do things rightly. That’s not the case with my grandchildren. Tell them to do whatever they want **laughs** 00:46:20.100 --> 00:46:27.300 [AA]: Are there some values that you carried on from your parents with your children and grandchildren? 00:46:27.450 --> 00:46:42.990 [LA]: Yeah, my parents taught to us hard work. And, you know, if you go, if you have a goal, whatever you want to achieve, you can achieve it, if you work at it. Anything is possible. 00:46:43.960 --> 00:46:45.490 [JJ]: What were your parents like? 00:46:46.490 --> 00:47:14.650 [LA]: My, oh there is a long story. My father was a fantastic human being. He was an orphan, okay? And then, when he was young, his father died when he was only 5 or 6 years old. And his mother took him to her native place, okay? Then her mama’s, my mother’s, my father’s mother’s brothers wanted to adopt him. 00:47:15.630 --> 00:47:43.030 He refused, he said, I am born to so and so, I am not going to be adopted by anybody, at the young age. Then, when he was teenager, he left his mother’s native place, went back to the village where he was born, and there he worked as a laborer. And then he knew his father owned a lot of property, everything was gone. So he worked, but he was a good businessm-- He never went to school. 00:47:43.530 --> 00:48:02.670 His signature was a thumb. And then, he knew how to do business. How to count. So, he was going in the market, sell, buy from the local shop, sell. He made so much money. When he died, he owned half the town. Including, he built the first cinema theater in that village. 00:48:03.120 --> 00:48:05.430 [JJ]: So the salesman instinct came from-- 00:48:05.550 --> 00:48:37.260 [LA]: Yeah, possible. And then not only that. Because he never had a chance to go to school, he wanted every son of him to go to college. So, my oldest brother ended up in Bombay, you know why he sent him to Bombay? He told him, “You buy these products here, send it to me so thatI can make a profit.” That’s how he ended up, he became, my brother became a successful guy. He was a M Com, LLM. Then he joined, I think Park Davis, or something? 00:48:37.580 --> 00:49:03.460 Then he retired as a chairman of Pfizer. He lived in Bombay all his life. Then my another brother, he’s a very successful surgeon in Bangalore. He has his own hospital called Agadi Hospital. Even today it is famous. It’s a 200 bed hospital, Agadi Hospital. He’s now 86. His son as taken over his name, he’s also Anil doctor, Anil Agadi. He’s running the show there. 00:49:04.610 --> 00:49:33.590 My father had a philosophy: Anybody fails high school, they had to come back to the shop and help him out. **laughs** So, second guy, he failed. **laughs** He ended up back in the village. But he also was very successful in his own way. He became a village, what do you call, a high school committee chairman even though he never went to high school. **laughs** Then he was a very popular village head or something like that. 00:49:33.590 --> 00:50:00.040 He was highly respected and, so. He’s the one who lived there back. And then my doctor brother and then came my opportunities. So that’s how I left also. Then my younger brothers, they also followed. And they both are successful. One is a lawyer, I think he was, one was a CPA. They settled down in Bangalore in their own business. And-- 00:50:00.040 --> 00:50:02.210 [JJ]: So it seems like a big joint family. 00:50:02.210 --> 00:50:04.670 [LA]: Yeah, yeah. All joint. It was! 00:50:04.980 --> 00:50:15.240 [JJ]: I’m very surprised, like you come from a joint family and coming to America, which a lot of immigrants talk about the experience of loneliness, but maybe you surrounded yourself with a lot of people? 00:50:15.480 --> 00:50:40.390 [LA]: Yeah, you know always we, you know, lot of people were always. Even now my, I have my brother's children here in California. They’re all in IT. My another brother’s daughter is doctor in New Jersey, she was the first one to treat a Covid patient in our family. Back in March of 2020, when it started. 00:50:43.380 --> 00:50:47.540 So, we have a, you know, fantastic family background. You know, that’s what I’m proud of. 00:50:48.880 --> 00:50:53.770 [AA]: Has the family all gone back to Lakshmeshwar? Where your roots are, and has it changed? 00:50:53.340 --> 00:51:14.470 [LA]: No, no, actually my oldest brother. He’s no longer, who was the chairman of Pfizer, before he died, he divided his wealth into three parts. He had two sons. One part is oldest son, another part another son, one part he built a college. Engineering college. And, actually Abdul Kalam went and praised him. 00:51:14.740 --> 00:51:16.720 [JJ]: Wow. The former president. 00:51:16.850 --> 00:51:32.330 [LA]: Yeah. He said, “Everybody builds college to make money. You’re building it at the village. I can not thank you enough for your generosity and--” Because of that, the whole town has come up. Now it is remarkable and it is one of the top colleges in the, in India now. 00:51:32.420 --> 00:51:33.310 [JJ]: What college is that? 00:51:33.510 --> 00:51:45.210 [LA]: Is called, Agadi College, Agadi, actually real name is Smt Kamala and Sri Venkappa M Agadi College of Engineering and Science, Lakshmeshwar. You can look up Agadi Engineering College. 00:51:45.900 --> 00:51:53.710 [JJ]: I see. Tell us a little more about this because it seems like it's like a local economy sort of transforming moment. 00:51:52.630 --> 00:51:56.350 [LA]: Yes, yes. From the village. Can you imagine-- 00:51:55.580 --> 00:51:59.680 [JJ]: Tell us before the village, before the college, village after the college. 00:51:59.980 --> 00:52:28.690 [LA]: Yeah. No, now it is a prospering because some of the kids would never have in their dreamt that they would ever go to a college or get a better job. Now, they’re all computer trained. And my brother is no longer--You know, although he died about ten years ago. But his son is another big success story. He was the chairman of Little Caesar Pizza, Domino's. Now recently retired. 00:52:28.740 --> 00:52:57.560 He’s young guy as the chairman of Crawford Insurance Company. They insure up to $150 billion. And then he’s a very well known guy, in fact B’nai B’rith organization, the Jewish organization, they gave him award. I went to New York in, what was that called, Lifetime Achievement Award for him. So he’s a very--he lives in Atlanta. 00:52:58.090 --> 00:53:09.770 So he has his own private equity company now. So he owns lot of businesses, you know. He has tons of money **laughs** 00:53:09.920 --> 00:53:16.720 [JJ]: So coming back to the question of the college, what was your role in that educational set up and-- 00:53:17.650 --> 00:53:25.170 [LA]: I didn’t have much role, my brother had. But I did donate some money and set up a scholarship in my father’s name and mother’s name. 00:53:25.230 --> 00:53:26.060 [JJ]: Was gonna ask that. 00:53:26.100 --> 00:53:58.020 [LA]: Yeah, and then I went and planted some trees there. I went and visited, spoke to the, in the beginning, to the professors and students. And encouraged them, Hey guys, if you set your mind, anything is possible, you know. I'm a strong believer in that. You have to have a goal and objective. If you don’t have that, just don’t while away, waste your time. Because time is, time is life. Don’t waste your time in small, silly things, you know. 00:53:58.590 --> 00:54:13.670 Go for a big thing. Think big. Dream big. Then it is possible, you see. Because your goal should be this high, then at least you will achieve something here, which is better than here, right? That is how I used to encourage the students in the college. 00:54:13.960 --> 00:54:15.100 [JJ]: Yeah, that’s perfect. 00:54:15.130 --> 00:54:25.630 [AA]: And, thank you, Lakshman for your time today. As a final question, what are your plans for the future? What are your own goals and goals for Medgyn? 00:54:26.280 --> 00:54:35.860 [LA]: Oh, I want to grow big. First of all, I want to get this building organized and then give a better outlook outside, you know we have to rebuild the whole thing. And-- 00:54:35.510 --> 00:55:36.810 [JJ]: What’s the building you’re talking about? 00:54:36.980 --> 00:54:37.230 [LA]: Hm? 00:54:37.360 --> 00:54:38.330 [JJ]: What’s the building? 00:54:38.620 --> 00:54:39.500 [LA]: This building here. 00:54:39.740 --> 00:54:41.240 [JJ]: You wanna talk about it? 00:54:41.350 --> 00:55:14.780 [LA]: Yeah. I want to expand it, I mean you know, want to completely renovate it. So that will keep me busy, and I want to hire at least another 20, 30 people. At least we should have more than a hundred people before I retire. I don’t think I’ll retire, but, and then I have other interests like investments and, you know, so many other activities that I am very busy with. Then I also still donate a lot of money to all charities that you think of. Unicef, Heifer, and then, you know, Mercy’s Ship. 00:55:15.670 --> 00:55:35.130 And I was donating to first all the religious organization, now I donate to non-religious organization. Then I have my own foundation, called Agadi Foundation. So we donate money out of that to poor kids and, you know, lot of other charitable organizations. 00:55:35.280 --> 00:55:36.500 [JJ]: Here? In India? 00:55:36.650 --> 00:55:37.180 [LA]: Here, here. 00:55:37.540 --> 00:55:40.220 [JJ]: Here. Talk about the foundation work. 00:55:39.790 --> 00:56:06.640 [LA]: Yeah, it’s called Dr. Vedavathi and Laskhman Agadi Foundation and I contribute every year money into that foundation. And I use that foundation to send money to their kids in India for colleges, education. And also, you know, for example, Chinmayanand last year, severe crisis because of Covid. 00:56:07.600 --> 00:56:20.750 So, they asked me, I said, okay. I do, I will donate money. Like that, you know, whenever the opportunity if somebody calls me, I never hesitate. As long as it's a good cause, I'm all for it. I’ll go out of the way to donate. 00:56:21.200 --> 00:56:28.680 [JJ]: And for Medgyn, are you taking any initiatives to make those products available? Because it’s such a woman centered, because its such a woman centric, women’s health-- 00:56:28.440 --> 00:56:59.750 [LA]: Yes, we do, we do. See, for example, as I told you, we represented 140 countries? So our products-- There are lot of good souls in the United States doctors who go to Africa, who go to South America, and they go and teach the local doctors how to do this cervical cancer treatment. So, we donate our equipment to them. So that is how we are very well known. In fact, there’s a clinic in Vietnam named after a Medgyn clinic. 00:57:00.660 --> 00:57:10.690 Because we donated all the equipment. So, we do use, whenever there’s occasion for it, when we get opportunity, we never hesitate. We donate, all the equipment. 00:57:10.890 --> 00:57:12.460 [JJ]: Including in India, I’m assuming? 00:57:13.250 --> 00:57:45.040 [LA]: India, not really, because we have, we’re doing some business there, the problem is, you know, Indian’s always price, price, price and they’re not loyal like rest of the, you know. And, it’s challenging market for us. And yes, I do donate to my brother’s hospital, lot of equipments, so we can use it there on the poor patients. But not in a big way, you know. Which I want to do, but I don't want to just sit here and throw away the money, right? 00:57:45.040 --> 00:57:54.410 I want to have the right people who really want to go out to make an impact on the person or the village. You know, I want to make real impact, then only I will give. 00:57:54.800 --> 00:58:22.410 [JJ]: Right. It’s remarkable that you keep yourself so busy. And, including in your business, but also all your charitable initiatives. It was a pleasure to speak to you today. Thank-you, and thank-you Aarthi, this is Jitesh Jaggi Oral History interview in Westmont Illinois, April 2021. Thank you Mr. Lakshman Agadi. 00:58:22.520 --> 00:58:24.900 [LA]: Thank you, thank you.