WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 01:16:22.000 [JITESH JAGGI]: So, this is Jitesh Jaggi for the National Indo-American Museum’s Oral History project. Can you please state and spell your name? 00:00:00.001 --> 01:16:22.001 [UPENDRANATH NIMMAGADA]: Upendranath Nimmagadda. U p e n d r a n a t h. N i m m a g a d d a. 00:00:00.002 --> 01:16:22.002 [JJ]: And when and where were you born? 00:00:00.003 --> 01:16:22.003 [UN]: I was born in a town called Tenali, Andhra Pradesh, India. 00:00:00.004 --> 01:16:22.004 [JJ]: And what year? 00:00:00.005 --> 01:16:22.005 [UN]: 1942. 00:00:00.006 --> 01:16:22.006 [JJ]: What languages did you speak growing up? 00:00:00.007 --> 01:16:22.007 [UN]: Telugu. 00:00:00.008 --> 01:16:22.008 [JJ]: And that’s it? Telugu was the— 00:00:00.009 --> 01:16:22.009 [UN]: Telugu, English, and little bit of Hindi. 00:00:00.010 --> 01:16:22.010 [JJ]: How come Hindi? 00:00:00.011 --> 01:16:22.011 [UN]: No, at the time there was a movement for the people to learn Hindi in southern states. 00:00:00.012 --> 01:16:22.012 [JJ]: I see, this is just pre-independence. 00:00:00.013 --> 01:16:22.013 [UN]: Little bit, yeah. 00:00:00.014 --> 01:16:22.014 [JJ]: And English because of the school structure. Did your family practice a certain religion? And how about you? 00:00:00.015 --> 01:16:22.015 [UN]: Yeah, we practiced Hindu religion. (inaudible) Vaishnavites. 00:00:00.016 --> 01:16:22.016 [JJ]: So, tell me about how your experience was growing up Andhra Pradesh and your particular, in Tenali you said? 00:00:00.017 --> 01:16:22.017 [UN]: Yeah. Tenali. 00:00:00.018 --> 01:16:22.018 [JJ]: How was your experience growing up? 00:00:00.019 --> 01:16:22.019 [UN]: Tenali is a kind of medium town. At that time, there was not that many people as usual. And, I grew up in a privileged family, my father was a physician at that time, he was very well-known. And he was well. I remember at that time, he used to, when we had the independence— 00:00:00.020 --> 01:16:22.020 [JJ]: Oh, you remember that? 00:00:00.021 --> 01:16:22.021 [UN]: I still remember and there was lot of celebrations going on, I didn’t know what is happening. I asked my father, What is happening. **laughs** Then he told me, I didn’t know at that time we are under somebody else, because most of, there were no British people in our area. So, completely run by the Indians at that time, just before the quit. 00:00:00.022 --> 01:16:22.022 [JJ]: You were like 5 years old at that time. 00:00:00.023 --> 01:16:22.023 [UN]: Yeah. 00:00:00.024 --> 01:16:22.024 [JJ]: And your schooling and everything? 00:00:00.025 --> 01:16:22.025 [UN]: I went to school in Tenali for early elementary schools and we used to have a tutor at home, and unfortunately my father passed away, early, when I was something like 8 years old. He had a heart attack and passed away. And my mother’s village is only three miles from Tenali. My father's village is in other direction, about five miles. My mother had a brother in, that village name is Sangam Jagarlamudi. 00:00:00.026 --> 01:16:22.026 [JJ]: Sangam. 00:00:00.027 --> 01:16:22.027 [UN]: Yeah. Jagarlamudi. So, he asked my mother to come home and we stayed with, in this house for some time. And then moved to (inaudible), my mother bought another house and then we moved there. Because my father was very well-known, even in that village. We were supported pretty well. Particularly, my mother’s relative, she used to call him Baba, that means— 00:00:00.028 --> 01:16:22.028 [JJ]: What does that mean? 00:00:00.029 --> 01:16:22.029 [UN]: It means brother’s, I mean he’s a younger person of her father. 00:00:00.030 --> 01:16:22.030 [JJ]: So other than your mother— 00:00:00.031 --> 01:16:22.031 [UN]: Like an uncle. 00:00:00.032 --> 01:16:22.032 [JJ]: Right. So, did your uncle help in raising you since the age of 8? 00:00:00.033 --> 01:16:22.033 [UN]: He’s supporting my mother. They used to live right across and his wife was very close to us too. I had at that time, we were four siblings. My sister is elder one, and I am number two, number three is Profula— 00:00:00.034 --> 01:16:22.034 [JJ]: Sister? 00:00:00.035 --> 01:16:22.035 [UN]: Sister, yeah. Number four it Loknath. And now, myself, younger sister, and brother, we are all in America now. My older sister is still in India. I went to the high school in Sangam Jagarlamudia, we have a high school there. But, it’s about three kilometers away. Used to go there by bike, or had a good time, on the way there are two small canals **laughs** Coming home, everybody has to take a dip in the (inaudible). **laughs** I mean, they’re not deep canals, irrigation canals. 00:00:00.036 --> 01:16:22.036 [JJ]: And dry off on the way. 00:00:00.037 --> 01:16:22.037 [UN]: Yeah. I remember those things still. 00:00:00.038 --> 01:16:22.038 [JJ]: That sounds fun actually for a child. And, tell us a little more about your mother. How was she and what were your relations? How was your relation with her? 00:00:00.039 --> 01:16:22.039 [UN]: She’s very kind and she tolerated a lot of mischiefs that we do. But she’s still very kind and loving, for her we are the only thing for her in her world. Always thinks about us and helps us. I was little outgoing person. Friends and go play and things like that. My, I would say grandfather, he was helping my mother. And they have a boy they helping, not helping, but they kind of took him home, what they say, they took him home or? 00:00:00.040 --> 01:16:22.040 [OTHER SPEAKER]: Adopted. 00:00:00.041 --> 01:16:22.041 [UN]: Adopted right. And his name is Hernath. 00:00:00.042 --> 01:16:22.042 [JJ]: So, he joined the family. 00:00:00.043 --> 01:16:22.043 [UN]: He also went to medical school and finally, he became family. He married my younger sister. I’ll tell later those things. And my older sister, she went to college in Guntur, women’s college. And she got married maybe in her second year of college. She two boys. They’re all in India now. Her husband passed away pretty young. So, my mother used to support them. 00:00:00.044 --> 01:16:22.044 [JJ]: Did you see any—I know you were very young, you were 8 year old. But, did you see any changes in your mother, and how she parented you after your father— 00:00:00.045 --> 01:16:22.045 [UN]: Naturally, she was kind of mourning for some time. But then, she decided it’s not good for the kids— 00:00:00.046 --> 01:16:22.046 [JJ]: She didn’t detach completely. 00:00:00.047 --> 01:16:22.047 [UN]: No, no. She dedicated her life to us all the way. Despite what kids do, she’s always—and we were, at the time, I didn't really, didn't hit me what is consequences of losing the father at that time. Used to ask, What happened, what happened. And she used to say, He has to go to Heaven. 00:00:00.048 --> 01:16:22.048 [JJ]: So, immediately for you, personally there were not many changes once your— 00:00:00.049 --> 01:16:22.049 [UN]: Not many changes yeah. I mean, she took care of us very well. Being with our uncle, her brother, they also supported us quite a bit. 00:00:00.050 --> 01:16:22.050 [JJ]: What happened after your schooling? Like what were you interested, how did you— 00:00:00.051 --> 01:16:22.051 [UN]: Well, I, at that time, SSLC they used to say. I think it’s eleventh. I finished it when I was 13. Then I joined Andhra Loyola College in Vijayawada. 00:00:00.052 --> 01:16:22.052 [JJ]: Is that early to finish that? By the time you’re 13, or is that the right age? 00:00:00.053 --> 01:16:22.053 [UN]: 1955. 00:00:00.054 --> 01:16:22.054 [JJ]: No, did you say eleventh when you were 13? 00:00:00.055 --> 01:16:22.055 [UN]: Yeah. Because I was skipped. 00:00:00.056 --> 01:16:22.056 [JJ]: That’s what I was looking for. So, you skipped grades. Were you very good at your studies? 00:00:00.057 --> 01:16:22.057 [UN]: Yeah. I was one of youngest persons in the college, in Andhra Loyola College. That was the second year that college was established in Vijayawada. So, my mother had to pull some strings for me to get admitted where it was very demanding place. I was 13 when I go in the college. 00:00:00.058 --> 01:16:22.058 [JJ]: I was wondering because others would be like 16 year old something like that. And then what happened? What did you pursue? 00:00:00.059 --> 01:16:22.059 [UN]: My mother wanted us all first to become doctors. **laughs** My elder sister she didn’t want to go to education or anything, and then she got married. Myself, around when I finished my intermediate, at that time, is intermediate, two years of intermediate we had. The medical college was starting the next year. But, we thought I’ll go there, but I was underaged, at that time. So, I did BSC at the same college. And I joined medical college in Kakinada called Rangaraya Medical College at that time. 00:00:00.060 --> 01:16:22.060 [JJ]: After BSC? 00:00:00.061 --> 01:16:22.061 [UN]: After BSC. 00:00:00.062 --> 01:16:22.062 [JJ]: So four years of that. 00:00:00.063 --> 01:16:22.063 [UN]: Four years at Vijayawada. 00:00:00.064 --> 01:16:22.064 [JJ]: So you had to compensate for being extra smart earlier. 00:00:00.065 --> 01:16:22.065 [UN]: No, that helped for me. Because, I took chemistry in BCS. 00:00:00.066 --> 01:16:22.066 [JJ]: Oh, so it gave you a more well-rounded education you’re saying. 00:00:00.067 --> 01:16:22.067 [UN]: In medicine also, the first year, you have to take bio-chemistry. 00:00:00.068 --> 01:16:22.068 [JJ]: By then, you knew everything. 00:00:00.069 --> 01:16:22.069 [UN]: Yeah. 00:00:00.070 --> 01:16:22.070 [JJ]: Did that make it easy for you? Or like— 00:00:00.071 --> 01:16:22.071 [UN]: It was easy. 00:00:00.072 --> 01:16:22.072 [JJ]: So, what happened after medical— 00:00:00.073 --> 01:16:22.073 [UN]: I mean, the usual medical courses where they do the dissections and to me it was not a problem to go through those things. 00:00:00.074 --> 01:16:22.074 [JJ]: Were you interested in it? Because it came from your mother, so I— 00:00:00.075 --> 01:16:22.075 [UN]: No, I was interested. One of my uncles in Vijayawada’s house they wented to a public hospital. And they used to do surgeries there, I used to go through the windows and look in. At that time, there was no concept of sterilization, all these things **laughs** 00:00:00.076 --> 01:16:22.076 [JJ]: Oh my god, people tour an actual open surgery. primary education is starting from Montessori to first standard, we had several vernacular groups, classes, in between. So, for four years after Montessori, I was at a local Gujarati school, local Parsi school, primarily for girls. And, so they would that take boys until they were about 8 or 9 years of age and then we moved on to a boy’s school. And so, I was there at the Parsi school, our community school, close to where we lived, for four years till I was age of 8 or so. And then moved on to another same kind of school, missionary school, called the Don Bosco High School. St. John Don Bosco. And they had a school that was newly opened, when I first started there. And that's where I graduated from high school, we call that secondary school certificate, SSC, at that time. So, that is my earlier scholastic life. inaudible 00:00:00.077 --> 01:16:22.077 [UN]: No, I didn't, I was watching. Not everyone here (inaudible) small type of. 00:00:00.078 --> 01:16:22.078 [JJ]: I wonder if for your mother, it was to pass on, sort of your father's legacy to her kids. Or was it because doctor, being doctor is kind of esteemed profession. 00:00:00.079 --> 01:16:22.079 [UN]: She wanted all of us to become doctors. 00:00:00.080 --> 01:16:22.080 [JJ]: She said that outright to everybody? 00:00:00.081 --> 01:16:22.081 [UN]: Yeah. 00:00:00.082 --> 01:16:22.082 [JJ]: I see. And you said your elder sister couldn’t because of the marriage. And then what happened after you graduated? 00:00:00.083 --> 01:16:22.083 [UN]: The medical college. I joined late in ’59, 1959, and 1964 we completed things. 00:00:00.084 --> 01:16:22.084 [JJ]: And then what brought you to United States? 00:00:00.085 --> 01:16:22.085 [UN]: I was planning on coming to United States when I was in the second or third year of MBBS. At that time it just opened. The Medicare came into effect here in this country, and they needed more doctors. So, they opened the gates. And at the same time, they had kind of a examination you had to go through. At that time it’s called ECFMG. And I took that exam when I was in the fourth year of MBBS and I got through. 00:00:00.086 --> 01:16:22.086 [JJ]: How did you hear about all of these transitions in your second and third year? Did you know someone else who— 00:00:00.087 --> 01:16:22.087 [UN]: You know, at that time, they used to advertise in the Indian Medical Journals **laughs** 00:00:00.088 --> 01:16:22.088 [JJ]: I see. So it’s like the temptations was already there. So, before coming to the U. S., did you have any ideas of America? What it would be like, had you ever seen— 00:00:00.089 --> 01:16:22.089 [UN]: No, I heard about it, but main thing that really bothered me is India at that time, the hospitals were just like a courthouse. They give some medicines which are not that effective or anything, and there is no—in our hospital, which was supposed to be general hospital for the whole district, basically there is no biochemical analysis being done. But later on when I was, when I became finally, they had the good lab and things set up. 00:00:00.090 --> 01:16:22.090 [JJ]: So, it was for lack of resources you think? 00:00:00.091 --> 01:16:22.091 [UN]: Lack of resources mainly. People are also not that educated about medicine at that time. So, whatever the doctor gives, they think that (inaudible) they just take it (inaudible). 00:00:00.092 --> 01:16:22.092 [JJ]: Do you think this informed your ambition to go to America and practice medicine? 00:00:00.093 --> 01:16:22.093 [UN]: Yeah. But even then, I know that America is the most advanced country, particularly in medicine at that time, we used to get journals. 00:00:00.094 --> 01:16:22.094 [JJ]: So, what year did you come, and did you come about? 00:00:00.095 --> 01:16:22.095 [UN]: In 1964, I got married to my colleague. **laughs** Her name is Usha Rani, and I am Upendranath, and we both are next, seated, I mean, even in the experiments or something you do, take care of the patients, we both are together, most of the time. Because U, they go by the first initials. So, we got close together and then 1964 we got married. 00:00:00.096 --> 01:16:22.096 [JJ]: This is very refreshing to hear because I hear so many stories of arranged marriage, but this looks like a love marriage ahead of its time. 00:00:00.097 --> 01:16:22.097 [UN]: **laughs** It was smooth because, you know there, at that time, I don’t know if it’s still there, caste is very dominant, belong to the same caste and yeah, so there’s no big problems at that time. 00:00:00.098 --> 01:16:22.098 [JJ]: So, her family did not object, also. 00:00:00.099 --> 01:16:22.099 [UN]: No, they were very happy. **laughs** 00:00:00.100 --> 01:16:22.100 [JJ]: The kids took care of themselves. Okay, so you got married in 1964, and then. 00:00:00.101 --> 01:16:22.101 [UN]: We joined—I didn’t want to leave immediately, I wanted to see something, India, all this and that. We got appointments in the Indian Railway Medical Services. And was posted in— 00:00:00.102 --> 01:16:22.102 [OS]: Guntakal 00:00:00.103 --> 01:16:22.103 [UN]: Guntakal first. By the time she came up. 00:00:00.104 --> 01:16:22.104 [JJ]: We are helped today by Dr. Nimmagada’s daughter today, Madhvi. 00:00:00.105 --> 01:16:22.105 [MADHVI NIMMAGADA]: Hello. 00:00:00.106 --> 01:16:22.106 [UN]: She was born in 1966. 00:00:00.107 --> 01:16:22.107 [JJ]: Okay, three years later. And still in India? 00:00:00.108 --> 01:16:22.108 [UN]: Yeah, we were still in India at that time, yeah. 00:00:00.109 --> 01:16:22.109 [JJ]: So, did you apply for the railway services at the medical side of it, to be able to travel? 00:00:00.110 --> 01:16:22.110 [UN]: Yeah. At that time, the hospitals here are looking for more doctors, certified and I already passed the exams at that time. But, I still wanted to spend some time in India, we used to go around and see the places. And also, my mother was insisting on ‘til my younger sister gets married, I should not leave. The wedding was in 1966 and married to my brother-in-law, Hernath, he’s also a doctor, he’s here. They both are in— 00:00:00.111 --> 01:16:22.111 [JJ]: In Chicago you mean? 00:00:00.112 --> 01:16:22.112 [UN]: Chicago area. 00:00:00.113 --> 01:16:22.113 [JJ]: And that just happened by coincidence? 00:00:00.114 --> 01:16:22.114 [UN]: No, because we are here. We came earlier— 00:00:00.115 --> 01:16:22.115 [JJ]: Joined afterwards. 00:00:00.116 --> 01:16:22.116 [UN]: We asked them to come. And not only them also, my uncle, younger uncle, Hernath, he was my classmate also. 00:00:00.117 --> 01:16:22.117 [JJ]: And was your sister studying medicine too? 00:00:00.118 --> 01:16:22.118 [UN]: Yeah, my sister finished medicine in Calcutta. 00:00:00.119 --> 01:16:22.119 [JJ]: So, they also met while studying? Your sister and her husband? 00:00:00.120 --> 01:16:22.120 [UN]: No, no, they grew together in the village. 00:00:00.121 --> 01:16:22.121 [JJ]: And when did you come to the U. S.? What year? 00:00:00.122 --> 01:16:22.122 [UN]: We came here in 1967. 00:00:00.123 --> 01:16:22.123 [JJ]: After your sister’s wedding. 00:00:00.124 --> 01:16:22.124 [UN]: Yeah. And she was just one year something. **laughs** 00:00:00.125 --> 01:16:22.125 [MN]: 11 months old. 00:00:00.126 --> 01:16:22.126 [UN]: We came in June. 00:00:00.127 --> 01:16:22.127 [MN]: June, I thought you said February was snowing when we came. 00:00:00.128 --> 01:16:22.128 [UN]: No, no June. 00:00:00.129 --> 01:16:22.129 [MN]: Okay, so just over a year. 00:00:00.130 --> 01:16:22.130 [UN]: Internships starts in July, most of the time, so we came a month before. 00:00:00.131 --> 01:16:22.131 [JJ]: So, you were talking about your career progression and your advancements of how did you grow in your career over the years. 00:00:00.132 --> 01:16:22.132 [UN]: At that time, our training period is four years. I mean, actually, one year is intern, and then four years of surgery, and just before I completed the fourth year, one of the surgeons asked me to join him as a junior to his private practice. 00:00:00.133 --> 01:16:22.133 [JJ]: So, you went ahead with that. So, no longer with the masonic hospital. 00:00:00.134 --> 01:16:22.134 [UN]: No, he works at masonic and also in Skokie hospital, both places. We have an office in—it’s a group practice, have an office in Skokie. So, I started my career there, with him, Dr. Elliot Golding was my partner at that time. 00:00:00.135 --> 01:16:22.135 [JJ]: Was it good working for him? 00:00:00.136 --> 01:16:22.136 [UN]: Oh yeah. 00:00:00.137 --> 01:16:22.137 [JJ]: You think he appreciated your work and talent. 00:00:00.138 --> 01:16:22.138 [UN]: Yeah. 00:00:00.139 --> 01:16:22.139 [JJ]: And how long did you stay working with him? 00:00:00.140 --> 01:16:22.140 [UN]: I worked with him like 10 years or something. But I still stayed with the group called North Suburban Clinic. Think in Skokie and there’s one out west. 00:00:00.141 --> 01:16:22.141 [JJ]: And you were in Skokie? 00:00:00.142 --> 01:16:22.142 [UN]: Skokie. 00:00:00.143 --> 01:16:22.143 [JJ]: And how was working there? And over the years, how did you see the transition of your career advancing? 00:00:00.144 --> 01:16:22.144 [UN]: We worked together very closely. And he kind of respects me and I respects him. We had a good relationship, not only with him but all the other 30 physicians there in that group. From all specialties, in terms of medicine and orthopedics. 00:00:00.145 --> 01:16:22.145 [JJ]: And did your wife also transition or did she work with masonic, continue to work with them? 00:00:00.146 --> 01:16:22.146 [UN]: She finished her residency about the same time I finished. Only three years for them and surgery is four years. 00:00:00.147 --> 01:16:22.147 [JJ]: And where did she continue working? 00:00:00.148 --> 01:16:22.148 [UN]: She was given the position of anesthesia, same hospital. 00:00:00.149 --> 01:16:22.149 [JJ]: At masonic? 00:00:00.150 --> 01:16:22.150 [UN]: Masonic, yeah. And, she stayed there ‘til end. 00:00:00.151 --> 01:16:22.151 [MN]: The longest serving physician at Illinois Masonic. 00:00:00.152 --> 01:16:22.152 [JJ]: Oh really, do you know how many years? 00:00:00.153 --> 01:16:22.153 [MN]: 48 years. ‘Til she passed away in 2018. 00:00:00.154 --> 01:16:22.154 [JJ]: So, during all this time, how many children do you have? 00:00:00.155 --> 01:16:22.155 [UN]: We had two. There was a boy after Madhvi, and he got into more— 00:00:00.156 --> 01:16:22.156 [MN]: He passed away when he was 28. 00:00:00.157 --> 01:16:22.157 [JJ]: How was raising the boy along with the girl? Was it difficult, or? 00:00:00.158 --> 01:16:22.158 [UN]: It was not difficult. The grandmother used to— 00:00:00.159 --> 01:16:22.159 [MN]: My grandma spent a lot of time with us. Infinite amount of patience from grandma. 00:00:00.160 --> 01:16:22.160 [UN]: She’s very close to her than to us, because we are busy **laughs** 00:00:00.161 --> 01:16:22.161 [JJ]: Absent for 36 hours at a stretch. I can imagine. So, how did you establish a bond with the kids, like maybe on the weekends, or, did you enjoy playing with them or something like that? 00:00:00.162 --> 01:16:22.162 [UN]: (inaudible) **laughs** 00:00:00.163 --> 01:16:22.163 [MN]: Very busy. But we travelled a lot, we’d take road trips. 00:00:00.164 --> 01:16:22.164 [JJ]: Where did you go? 00:00:00.165 --> 01:16:22.165 [UN]: Went to Florida once with other group. 00:00:00.166 --> 01:16:22.166 [MN]: With Mali Uncle and Sacha Auntie, actually. And Yellowstone. 00:00:00.167 --> 01:16:22.167 [JJ]: Was it hard for you and your wife to kind of— 00:00:00.168 --> 01:16:22.168 [UN]: No, no. 00:00:00.169 --> 01:16:22.169 [JJ]: But like, staying busy because you loved your work, but also like, was it hard for you to wife to stay away from the kids for so long? 00:00:00.170 --> 01:16:22.170 [UN]: Because my mother was there, she used to take care of them. She started school, by the time we moved to, when I joined the Skokie, we moved to— 00:00:00.171 --> 01:16:22.171 [MN]: Riverwoods. 00:00:00.172 --> 01:16:22.172 [UN]: No, no. 00:00:00.173 --> 01:16:22.173 [MN]: Glenview. 00:00:00.174 --> 01:16:22.174 [UN]: Glenview. 00:00:00.175 --> 01:16:22.175 [JJ]: The whole family moved to Glenview. So, how did you and your wife kind of manage the transition--the kids were mostly with the grandma, but once they were grown up, like teen years, late high school, did you have to be more involved? How was that? 00:00:00.176 --> 01:16:22.176 [UN]: No, they were good. Well, they used to go to a school, Stevenson. 00:00:00.177 --> 01:16:22.177 [MN]: Yeah, Stevenson High School up in (inaudible). It was a good school. Kept us very busy with sports and extracurricular activities. 00:00:00.178 --> 01:16:22.178 [JJ]: That’s good for you. 00:00:00.179 --> 01:16:22.179 [MN]: Yeah. 00:00:00.180 --> 01:16:22.180 [UN]: It was good group of friends for them. 00:00:00.181 --> 01:16:22.181 [JJ]: So, if you're comfortable, talk about your son then, just what your relationship with your son, what kind of relationship was it? 00:00:00.182 --> 01:16:22.182 [UN]: It’s okay. It’s not very close, but it's okay. Used to complain what he’s not studying, things like that. And he wanted to, after finish his high school, he went to California. He wanted to be there. 00:00:00.183 --> 01:16:22.183 [JJ]: For his career, or? 00:00:00.184 --> 01:16:22.184 [MN]: After college. 00:00:00.185 --> 01:16:22.185 [UN]: College, yeah. There and, something happened, we lost him. 00:00:00.186 --> 01:16:22.186 [JJ]: I’m sorry about that. Was it an accident, or? 00:00:00.187 --> 01:16:22.187 [MN]: Suicide. 00:00:00.188 --> 01:16:22.188 [JJ]: I’m sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about that day, and how did you process that emotion with your wife? 00:00:00.189 --> 01:16:22.189 [UN]: Yes, but we can’t do much about it. We came to know about it. We went there, and nobody has any answer for that. He’s very giving type person. He used to help the local, even at that time, there lot of poor people used to come to California, and he was at-- 00:00:00.190 --> 01:16:22.190 [MN]: Santa Barbara. 00:00:00.191 --> 01:16:22.191 [UN]: Santa Barbara. Let’s say attraction for lot of people to come there. He used to help them, supply food for them and all these things. We don’t know exactly what’s the reason for it. 00:00:00.192 --> 01:16:22.192 [JJ]: So, he chose a very different trajectory in life than you would have imagined. I can only imagine it must be a very terrible shock for you that day, when you hear. 00:00:00.193 --> 01:16:22.193 [UN]: It was. 00:00:00.194 --> 01:16:22.194 [JJ]: Whom did you lean on most, how did you manage just to— 00:00:00.195 --> 01:16:22.195 [MN]: (inaudible) brother, and also—your brother, Lokh. Lujji Uncle. 00:00:00.196 --> 01:16:22.196 [JJ]: Did you lean on your brother? 00:00:00.197 --> 01:16:22.197 [UN]: Along with my sister, my uncle Hernath, he came here and my brother also after finishing his medicine, he came here. And he was very, they all supportive for us at that time. 00:00:00.198 --> 01:16:22.198 [JJ]: How do you think your wife took the news? 00:00:00.199 --> 01:16:22.199 [UN]: Like any mother. It took a while for her to. But she was strong. 00:00:00.200 --> 01:16:22.200 [JJ]: And your daughter, did you have to kind of reinstate some relationship building with your daughter, or how did that go about? 00:00:00.201 --> 01:16:22.201 [UN]: Well, we had fairly good relationship. 00:00:00.202 --> 01:16:22.202 [MN]: No, there’s never been—we’re close. Very close. 00:00:00.203 --> 01:16:22.203 [UN]: Close relationship. 00:00:00.204 --> 01:16:22.204 [JJ]: And then how old were you at that time? 00:00:00.205 --> 01:16:22.205 [MN]: My brother was almost five years younger than me, so I was 34. And my first son was just born. So, we had a little joy there, the new grandbaby. 00:00:00.206 --> 01:16:22.206 [JJ]: Yeah, the cycles. Talk about then, I think a good question would be at this time, just about your grandson— 00:00:00.207 --> 01:16:22.207 [MN]: He has two of them. 00:00:00.208 --> 01:16:22.208 [JJ]: Grandsons. So, did that make you kind of like— 00:00:00.209 --> 01:16:22.209 [UN]: Oh yes. 00:00:00.210 --> 01:16:22.210 [JJ]: Delve deeper into just spending time with family? 00:00:00.211 --> 01:16:22.211 [UN]: A lot. They used to be with us quite a bit. They both, she and her husband used to work. They stayed with us, we moved to 400 E. Randolph that time. 00:00:00.212 --> 01:16:22.212 [JJ]: Is that for work reasons? 00:00:00.213 --> 01:16:22.213 [MN]: My mom got sick, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. And so, a little downsizing was appropriate. 00:00:00.214 --> 01:16:22.214 [UN]: We used to be in a mansion in River Forest, about five, six years— 00:00:00.215 --> 01:16:22.215 [MN]: 12 years we were there. It was a lot of work. So, when mom got sick, it was time to downsize and take stock. 00:00:00.216 --> 01:16:22.216 [JJ]: Was that transition hard for you? Or did that come naturally to downsize? Especially because, I think it’s interesting, you were born in India, but you lived most your life here, but to Mr. Nimmagada— 00:00:00.217 --> 01:16:22.217 [UN]: The kids were born there. Both of, grandchildren. 00:00:00.218 --> 01:16:22.218 [JJ]: But for you, like transitioning from, like you were saying, it’s almost like a mansion in River Forest, and then transitioning here, but you were born in Andhra Pradesh, so, did this transition come as a shocker or was it natural adjustment? 00:00:00.219 --> 01:16:22.219 [UN]: More practical (inaudible) **laughs** Not worried about what happened. 00:00:00.220 --> 01:16:22.220 [MN]: I think it was just a transition. You know, we go with the flow, kind of. 00:00:00.221 --> 01:16:22.221 [UN]: She was not able to take care of that big house, and she's very meticulous, everything has to be spic and span. 00:00:00.222 --> 01:16:22.222 [MN]: Anesthesiologist, very clean. 00:00:00.223 --> 01:16:22.223 [JJ]: Sterile. 00:00:00.224 --> 01:16:22.224 [MN]: Sterile, yes. 00:00:00.225 --> 01:16:22.225 [JJ]: Again, only if you’re comfortable answering, did you, at any point, feel any sort of regrets for thinking back in hindsight, if you could have spent more time with your son or any of those things? You and your wife had ever had that discussion? 00:00:00.226 --> 01:16:22.226 [UN]: We never had any discussion. We know that we could have spent more time, but our work timings were little difficult— 00:00:00.227 --> 01:16:22.227 [MN]: And we were really fortunate to have my Nayanamma, my dad's mom was always with us. So, there was always this sense of family around, all the time. One of the things that a lot of Indian American families talk about is the lack of community, as compared to growing up in some place in India. It seems your family unit was more cohesive because of you sister and your mother being here. Did that affect, in some way, did you like, miss India still? Or, had you completely transitioned like this is my home? 00:00:00.228 --> 01:16:22.228 [UN]: I didn't miss India, but at the same time, I do have some good feelings about India. Got to do something in India. 00:00:00.229 --> 01:16:22.229 [JJ]: So, how did you maintain connection with your Indian tradition, your roots? 00:00:00.230 --> 01:16:22.230 [UN]: There are associations here, both in local Illinois associations and Chicago association, National association. We used to meet— 00:00:00.231 --> 01:16:22.231 [JJ]: What is it called? 00:00:00.232 --> 01:16:22.232 [UN]: The one here in Illinois. 00:00:00.233 --> 01:16:22.233 [JJ]: What decade are we talking about? 00:00:00.234 --> 01:16:22.234 [MN]: ‘70s. 00:00:00.235 --> 01:16:22.235 [UN]: ‘70s. Indo-American Cultural Centers are there. There is a Telugu Association, Telugu Association of— 00:00:00.236 --> 01:16:22.236 [MN]: North America. 00:00:00.237 --> 01:16:22.237 [UN]: TANA. 00:00:00.238 --> 01:16:22.238 [JJ]: And did you play an active role in that? 00:00:00.239 --> 01:16:22.239 [UN]: Yeah. I was one of the founders here. 00:00:00.240 --> 01:16:22.240 [JJ]: One of the founders of Telegu Association. Any other organizations, Indian based organizations you were a part of? Or any initiatives? 00:00:00.241 --> 01:16:22.241 [UN]: The national organizations is called FIA, for national Indo-American. I was very, along with Dr. Annes (note in spreadsheet to check name) we were very intimately connected in the temple-- 00:00:00.242 --> 01:16:22.242 [MN]: In Aurora. No, sorry, Lemont. 00:00:00.243 --> 01:16:22.243 [JJ]: Talk about the initial days, like how did the idea came about. You’re talking about the temple. So, how did that idea came about and what role did you play? 00:00:00.244 --> 01:16:22.244 [UN]: There was always some interest for the Indians, particularly Telegu community to have temple of our own. And there is one Galla Ramachandra Naidu, he is engineer, and he took the lead, and along with his friends, they found a place near Lemont. Before that one, there is some discussions of how this should be. And the Sai group says, We don’t want temple, and one group says, No we have to have temple. 00:00:00.245 --> 01:16:22.245 [JJ]: And which god. 00:00:00.246 --> 01:16:22.246 [UN]: Yeah. It went into kind of a, nothing happened for a year or two. People were talking about it. And five of us met along with all Telugu people. (inaudible) is one of them, myself and Dr. Reddy was there, Dr. Ramulu, we met in Dr. Ramulu’s house and we decided that we have to get this thing off the ground. 00:00:00.247 --> 01:16:22.247 [JJ]: Did everybody being Telugu have some implication on what kind of temple was built? 00:00:00.248 --> 01:16:22.248 [UN]: No, it was, by the time, didn’t decide which is the primary deity. But, we started with Ganesh temple. The Ganesh came, but there is no place for him to stay. 00:00:00.249 --> 01:16:22.249 [JJ]: How come? 00:00:00.250 --> 01:16:22.250 [UN]: There was no impetus for the people to complete the project. That’s when we all met. And we decided we had to go (inaudible), and we donated quite a bit of money, all five of us. And along with that, I had good friends from North India, so they also joined. First we started with a small temple for Ganesh temple. The then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. T. Rama Rao, came. That really had moment for it. 00:00:00.251 --> 01:16:22.251 [JJ]: Was he invited here? 00:00:00.252 --> 01:16:22.252 [UN]: No, he was coming to America for his health problems. So, we invited him, he came here, and he kind of ignited (inaudible). 00:00:00.253 --> 01:16:22.253 [JJ]: Okay, so, I have two questions. One is, you said you also kind of collaborated with some North Indian friends, did you have to do in some negotiation on what kind of— 00:00:00.254 --> 01:16:22.254 [UN]: No, there’s no negotiation. We were friends even before. We used to meet and then when we raised the issue, they said, Yeah, we should have our own temple. And everybody decided on, by the time there is already—no, no they were not there. Other temple was not there at that time. This first one. Everybody decided Rama temple, without any— 00:00:00.255 --> 01:16:22.255 [JJ]: Because, our Rama is— 00:00:00.256 --> 01:16:22.256 [UN]: There is no Rama temple in this country at that time. There is two or three, there is one Ganesh temple in New York, Venkateshwara in Pittsburgh. 00:00:00.257 --> 01:16:22.257 [JJ]: I’m wondering if, because Lord Rama is worshipped both in North and South India, was that— 00:00:00.258 --> 01:16:22.258 [UN]: Yeah, that’s also, yeah. 00:00:00.259 --> 01:16:22.259 [JJ]: That played a factor, I see. And how did the Indian community, especially the Telugu community, do the worships and everything before this temple? Was it in people’s houses or anything? 00:00:00.260 --> 01:16:22.260 [UN]: Before, for about maybe five, six months, Ganesh was in a warehouse. People used to do some rituals, whatever is needed for it. Then, brought him to Lemont. 00:00:00.261 --> 01:16:22.261 [JJ]: Did you also have to get priests and everything? 00:00:00.262 --> 01:16:22.262 [UN]: Yeah. 00:00:00.263 --> 01:16:22.263 [JJ]: From India? 00:00:00.264 --> 01:16:22.264 [UN]: From India they came. 00:00:00.265 --> 01:16:22.265 [JJ]: You want to talk about that process? 00:00:00.266 --> 01:16:22.266 [UN]: Yeah. We had some connections with Tirumala Temple. At that time, there is one of the executive officer at that time is from my village, (inaudible). And he helped us to find (inaudible). 00:00:00.267 --> 01:16:22.267 [JJ]: Are there any other causes other than (inaudible) causes that you were involved in? Like in the community or something like that? 00:00:00.268 --> 01:16:22.268 [UN]: Well, we used to support any Indian. About three or four different committees, associations used to be here. Indo-American. 00:00:00.269 --> 01:16:22.269 [JJ]: And have you continued working with them or supporting with them at the recent years? 00:00:00.270 --> 01:16:22.270 [UN]: At that time, at that time. I was supporting. Some function we used to go do the things. 00:00:00.271 --> 01:16:22.271 [JJ]: And was your wife also equally involved? 00:00:00.272 --> 01:16:22.272 [UN]: Yeah, she was equally involved. 00:00:00.273 --> 01:16:22.273 [JJ]: Was it like, she was more involved and you followed her lead? Or both of you were just enthusiastic? 00:00:00.274 --> 01:16:22.274 [UN]: I was more involved. She is busy with the kids. 00:00:00.275 --> 01:16:22.275 [JJ]: So, how did you maintain your connection—so this is how you maintain your connection with your Indian culture and heritage. Did you also maintain connection with your country, India? Did you maintain communication or travel? 00:00:00.276 --> 01:16:22.276 [UN]: We used to go maybe once a year, with the kids. And actually, my daughter, she stayed with my mother in India. My mother wanted to go back and sometimes she took, both my son also was 2 years, 3 years old at that time, they both went there for two years and came back. 00:00:00.277 --> 01:16:22.277 [JJ]: I never asked, was it hard for your mother adjusting here in Chicago? 00:00:00.278 --> 01:16:22.278 [UN]: No. 00:00:00.279 --> 01:16:22.279 [JJ]: Oh, she took it easy. 00:00:00.280 --> 01:16:22.280 [UN]: It was cold, but she never comes out. She’s very—only if there is some gathering, friends gather, she used to come. But she devoted everything to our kids. 00:00:00.281 --> 01:16:22.281 [JJ]: So, I know you already touched the point of a difficult subject, but tell me about your wife. I know she recently passed. How did it happen and also how were the years being alongside her? 00:00:00.282 --> 01:16:22.282 [UN]: She is very much dedicated to her work at the hospital. She’s also given certification for being the best teacher in the department. 00:00:00.283 --> 01:16:22.283 [JJ]: So, she taught also? 00:00:00.284 --> 01:16:22.284 [UN]: Yeah. Because there are students that, residents like we went through, there also some medical students used to come from University of Illinois. And she was active in their association, Anesthesia Association. And she was president of the local anesthesia, and also she became for state, she became the president of state anesthesia association. 00:00:00.285 --> 01:16:22.285 [JJ]: Was she also a very social person? 00:00:00.286 --> 01:16:22.286 [UN]: She was, yeah, social. Outgoing. She also wrote several chapters in textbooks. Her name is. 00:00:00.287 --> 01:16:22.287 [JJ]: Did her decline in health begin with that pancreatic cancer? 00:00:00.288 --> 01:16:22.288 [UN]: Pancreatic cancer that, she, this was in 2000— 00:00:00.289 --> 01:16:22.289 [MN]: One, or two? 00:00:00.290 --> 01:16:22.290 [UN]: Two, I think. 2002. She started having some pains. The tests revealed that she had pancreatic cancer, so she had surgery. And she did very well for five years, no problem at all. And during that time, we lost our son. And she was kind of depressed, little bit, at that time. Then later on, she was doing well, she’s going to pediatric medical check-ups. We went to Jamaica. 00:00:00.291 --> 01:16:22.291 [JJ]: Just vacation? Just to get away from all of that? 00:00:00.292 --> 01:16:22.292 [UN]: We used to go trips once in a while. That time she suddenly felt very tired. She’s always a go, go, go, I want to go here, where, where. 00:00:00.293 --> 01:16:22.293 [JJ]: She’s energetic. 00:00:00.294 --> 01:16:22.294 [UN]: Even to walk. We got little suspicious, problem is there. It was in 2016 I think, 16 o 15. 00:00:00.295 --> 01:16:22.295 [JJ]: And she had already beat pancreatic cancer for many years. 00:00:00.296 --> 01:16:22.296 [UN]: And in between, she also had intestinal obstruction from (inaudible) inside, so she had another small surgery, but she recovered from that. In 2015, or ’16, she was going downhill. When we checked, she had another cancer in her liver, Cholangiocarcinoma. We used to go and see the physician regularly for the last two, three years before—the doctors say, everything is fine, you don’t need anything else to be done. Everything is fine. And before that, they used to do at least once every two years CT, but he said, Oh we don’t need to. 00:00:00.297 --> 01:16:22.297 [JJ]: I was wondering, both of you being doctors, you had access to— 00:00:00.298 --> 01:16:22.298 [UN]: Yeah, we asked them, but they said, Oh there is no need, all the test looks good. No need, don’t take too much of radiation, those kind of thing that has happened. But, when we came, back from Jamaica, she had a test, CT actually done. And it showed tumor in the left side of her. Already, (inaudible), so can not be operated at that time. She was put on chemotherapy for year and a half, that gradually went down the hill. Lost her in 2018. 00:00:00.299 --> 01:16:22.299 [JJ]: I’m sorry to hear that. Especially, it seems like losing her son kind of had an understandable huge impact on her health. How was it for you, starting 2016, after that trip in Jamaica, just to be by her side? How did you manage that? 00:00:00.300 --> 01:16:22.300 [UN]: During this time, we started a medical college in India, some of my friends. And she used to, that was started in 2003. 00:00:00.301 --> 01:16:22.301 [JJ]: You started that college in 2003? 00:00:00.302 --> 01:16:22.302 [UN]: 2003, we established that college, 30 of us all. 30 of particulars from that hospital, college there, all Indian. 00:00:00.303 --> 01:16:22.303 [JJ]: This is in Andhra Pradesh? 00:00:00.304 --> 01:16:22.304 [UN]: In Andhra Pradesh, yeah. 00:00:00.305 --> 01:16:22.305 [JJ]: Where there? 00:00:00.306 --> 01:16:22.306 [UN]: Near Vijayawada. 00:00:00.307 --> 01:16:22.307 [JJ]: Near the college you studied at. What is this college called? 00:00:00.308 --> 01:16:22.308 [UN]: NRI. Academy of sciences. 00:00:00.309 --> 01:16:22.309 [JJ]: Is it specifically to train medical— 00:00:00.310 --> 01:16:22.310 [UN]: Medical, yeah. We started with medical, and then we added nursing and physiotherapy college is also there. 00:00:00.311 --> 01:16:22.311 [JJ]: Whose idea was this? 00:00:00.312 --> 01:16:22.312 [UN]: There was a person that, he started it in 2002, and he came here and tried to get funds. So we joined him basically, about five or six of us. We had some differences of opinion, and he left, it fell on our shoulders— 00:00:00.313 --> 01:16:22.313 [JJ]: So this is you and this other person, and then it just became you and your wife? 00:00:00.314 --> 01:16:22.314 [UN]: No, no, the five of us. My wife was not interested in that. You want some coffee? 00:00:00.315 --> 01:16:22.315 [JJ]: No, thank-you. **laughs** So, you were talking about five founders, and then one of them left? 00:00:00.316 --> 01:16:22.316 [UN]: Originally one founder, and then he came here to get financial things here, so five of us joined with him. After we joined, there is another 12 people came, altogether, 17 people originally. 00:00:00.317 --> 01:16:22.317 [JJ]: All doctors. 00:00:00.318 --> 01:16:22.318 [UN]: All doctors. Doctors and spouses. And eventually it became 30 people. It’s a big project, so we needed everybody’s help. 00:00:00.319 --> 01:16:22.319 [JJ]: How did this come about? Was this a meeting? Was this a gathering that someone proposed the idea? 00:00:00.320 --> 01:16:22.320 [UN]: No, the person who came here, he called few people in Chicago area. And five of us who are here, and there is one from Flint, Michigan, who said we will join with him. And we sent some money, and a year later, we have some difficulties to deal with this person. And he decided, Okay then I will leave, you pay me so much. And we paid him and he left. And I got very deeply involved with that. 00:00:00.321 --> 01:16:22.321 [JJ]: And what was your role? How did you get involved? 00:00:00.322 --> 01:16:22.322 [UN]: I was given the post of treasurer. And the person from Flint was the president. We had good relationship, we would communicate, and the buildings were not completely ready. 00:00:00.323 --> 01:16:22.323 [JJ]: So, you had to start from scratch. 00:00:00.324 --> 01:16:22.324 [UN]: There is only one building was there at that time. 00:00:00.325 --> 01:16:22.325 [JJ]: Was it in a village or a medium-sized town? 00:00:00.326 --> 01:16:22.326 [UN]: Medium-sized town called Mangalagiri. I used to spend lot of time, and every time I go there, I used to be there for couple of weeks and come back. I slowly cut down on my practice. 00:00:00.327 --> 01:16:22.327 [JJ]: To be involved with them. Did your wife join you in building this? 00:00:00.328 --> 01:16:22.328 [UN]: No, she said, You do, I’m not interested in doing those things. But, she supported me whenever said we have to put in some money, she said, Okay. Because we had our roots are there. We are all coming from that area. She’s also same area. It helps our own people. And it took three years for all the buildings to come through. First batch of students came in 2003. Medical students, 100 seats. And gradually, we are full-fledged hospital. 900 beds. 00:00:00.329 --> 01:16:22.329 [JJ]: Oh, this came after the idea of the school. The hospital— 00:00:00.330 --> 01:16:22.330 [UN]: It has to be. It’s an integrated thing. Unless you have a hospital, you don’t have medical college. 00:00:00.331 --> 01:16:22.331 [JJ]: But, this also became a hospital that locals could benefit from. 00:00:00.332 --> 01:16:22.332 [UN]: We used to go around and kind of like propaganda. We have medical college here, good hospital, please come **laughs** 00:00:00.333 --> 01:16:22.333 [JJ]: I wonder if you also had to coordinate with local authority, state government. And were they supportive? 00:00:00.334 --> 01:16:22.334 [UN]: They were very supportive. Because, we had 50 acres land we bought. And big buildings that were going up that time, so people are happy. There is no big hospital close by, specialty hospital at all. 00:00:00.335 --> 01:16:22.335 [JJ]: I’m sure the state also was happy with that. 00:00:00.336 --> 01:16:22.336 [UN]: We had to get permission from here, from them, so they’re happy. 00:00:00.337 --> 01:16:22.337 [JJ]: It’s still functioning? 00:00:00.338 --> 01:16:22.338 [UN]: it’s still functioning. And, slowly, originally it was 100 students, now it’s 200 students per year that graduate. And, have all super specialty, up to specialty, we have specialties. 00:00:00.339 --> 01:16:22.339 [JJ]: Have any students, I wonder, have any students come to America also? 00:00:00.340 --> 01:16:22.340 [UN]: Quite a few. 00:00:00.341 --> 01:16:22.341 [JJ]: And those students they know the group responsible? And you have met them? 00:00:00.342 --> 01:16:22.342 [UN]: Yes. 00:00:00.343 --> 01:16:22.343 [JJ]: How does that make you feel? How does this whole coming full circle, to see a doctor in America, graduating from college you helped set up? 00:00:00.344 --> 01:16:22.344 [UN]: It was good feeling that we were able to do it. But, unfortunately, we started having problems with the groups. That’s the big sad thing for all of us. 00:00:00.345 --> 01:16:22.345 [JJ]: Is it like a recognition problem? 00:00:00.346 --> 01:16:22.346 [UN]: No, just, ego problems. Groups. 00:00:00.347 --> 01:16:22.347 [JJ]: So, how many people are involved now? 00:00:00.348 --> 01:16:22.348 [UN]: Still the same people, 30. And there’s outsiders started getting in, interfering with the operations, things like that. Supporting one group, supporting the other group. 00:00:00.349 --> 01:16:22.349 [JJ]: Outsiders in America or in India? 00:00:00.350 --> 01:16:22.350 [UN]: In India. Americans they don’t care. 00:00:00.351 --> 01:16:22.351 [JJ]: Outsiders meaning like other doctors, other colleges? 00:00:00.352 --> 01:16:22.352 [UN]: No, politicians or another peoples, local. 00:00:00.353 --> 01:16:22.353 [JJ]: And you still have to deal with that? 00:00:00.354 --> 01:16:22.354 [UN]: Yeah, dealing with that. **laughs** 00:00:00.355 --> 01:16:22.355 [JJ]: Are you still deeply involved? 00:00:00.356 --> 01:16:22.356 [UN]: Yeah, I’m still deeply involved. I was president for several years, and now I am vice president. My close friend, he’s the president. 00:00:00.357 --> 01:16:22.357 [JJ]: Who’s that? 00:00:00.358 --> 01:16:22.358 [UN]: He’s in New York, Ranga Rao. 00:00:00.359 --> 01:16:22.359 [JJ]: That actually brings me to the next point, just talk about friends, was it easy to make friends? Did you care about making friends when you came here? 00:00:00.360 --> 01:16:22.360 [UN]: …It’s easy to make friends, but you don't know their character unless you—my philosophy at least, everybody is good unless he proves himself otherwise. **laughs** I never said anything to anybody but unless there’s something problem, I'm very strict with them. 00:00:00.361 --> 01:16:22.361 [JJ]: Was it easy in the beginning also, you being— 00:00:00.362 --> 01:16:22.362 [UN]: Very easy. 00:00:00.363 --> 01:16:22.363 [JJ]: And friends with Indians and non-Indians alike? 00:00:00.364 --> 01:16:22.364 [UN]: Local politicians started getting involved, they want to take control. They started encouraging one side, Okay, we will be with you, you do this, you do that. 00:00:00.365 --> 01:16:22.365 [JJ]: I’m wondering about your journey to America, when you were in America, was it easy to make friends here, when you came here? 00:00:00.366 --> 01:16:22.366 [UN]: Fortunately, we were in an atmosphere where they need us. So they didn’t have any problem accepting. 00:00:00.367 --> 01:16:22.367 [JJ]: Did you stick to meeting other Indian Americans, or did you kind of have friends from other— 00:00:00.368 --> 01:16:22.368 [UN]: Mostly Indian Americans. As the days goes by, the next five years, lot of Indians were here. 00:00:00.369 --> 01:16:22.369 [JJ]: So, you made a whole community in Chicago. 00:00:00.370 --> 01:16:22.370 [UN]: In 1970s I think, the immigration rules have changed, that lot of people were able to come here. 00:00:00.371 --> 01:16:22.371 [JJ]: Over the years, what kind of impact do you think Indian Americans have made in America and in Chicago in particular? 00:00:00.372 --> 01:16:22.372 [UN]: What kind of? 00:00:00.373 --> 01:16:22.373 [JJ]: What kind of impact? Do you think Indian Americans have made impact here— 00:00:00.374 --> 01:16:22.374 [UN]: Yes, particularly in medicine. 00:00:00.375 --> 01:16:22.375 [JJ]: You want to talk about that? 00:00:00.376 --> 01:16:22.376 [UN]: Originally, with the medicine and then, I think I have to give credit to our Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, he really pushed the IT. 00:00:00.377 --> 01:16:22.377 [JJ]: Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh? 00:00:00.378 --> 01:16:22.378 [UN]: Yeah, Chandrababu Naidu. 00:00:00.379 --> 01:16:22.379 [JJ]: I wasn’t aware of that. Did he— 00:00:00.380 --> 01:16:22.380 [UN]: Started colleges with Information Technology, and computer science, everything. And, then there was a need for programmers as the IT has exploded. Lot of Indians came, most of them are non-medical people. Originally, medical school people were here, and then later on these engineers. And whoever have come here, they established themselves and they became very successful. And they said they are about 10 or 15 big companies, CEOs are Indian CEOs. 00:00:00.381 --> 01:16:22.381 [JJ]: Yeah, that is surprising. Or, maybe to you it’s not surprising. Maybe you’re seeing the— 00:00:00.382 --> 01:16:22.382 [UN]: Gradually, gradual. 00:00:00.383 --> 01:16:22.383 [JJ]: You’ve lived in Chicago for so long, have you seen the city change over time? Like have you seen changes in the city— 00:00:00.384 --> 01:16:22.384 [UN]: Lot of. 00:00:00.385 --> 01:16:22.385 [JJ]: Yeah, you want to talk about some of it? 00:00:00.386 --> 01:16:22.386 [UN]: I worked for few, I mean, not worked, I had my training at Mount Sinai Hospital for about six months or one year, one year I think I was there. And just before that, there was riots that area. 00:00:00.387 --> 01:16:22.387 [JJ]: What year was this? 00:00:00.388 --> 01:16:22.388 [UN]: I think it was ’67 or ’68. They talk about those things, a lot at that time. As, at that time, the Blacks were kind of put down, nobody used to mingle with them. And, the leader was assassinated in ’70 something. 00:00:00.389 --> 01:16:22.389 [JJ]: Dr. King. 00:00:00.390 --> 01:16:22.390 [UN]: King, yeah. Martin Luther King. And that really exploded the things. And, always Blacks were looked down, but after that, the stature has come up, and they have good people. Very talented people in different aspects. But, unfortunately, in Chicago, there’s still lot of areas that you would not want to walk. You have to buy car or avoid it completely. But, hasn’t changed much. In fact, where it is the politicians doing or they came spontaneously to them, became very aggressive. Breaking up the, in downtown, they had (inaudible) never happened before. That kind of change is difficult to imagine, it can happen in America. 00:00:00.391 --> 01:16:22.391 [JJ]: Was that, to you as a person coming from India, was that, did that feel like scary, threatening? 00:00:00.392 --> 01:16:22.392 [UN]: Scary, yeah. They used to say, Don’t go alone into the parks. You’ll be, in the beginning, but in Chicago, there was no problem. In New York and other things, they used to mug. Chicago I never heard ‘til maybe 10 years before. 00:00:00.393 --> 01:16:22.393 [JJ]: Do you think things have improved, or taken a downturn? Over the years, do you think-- 00:00:00.394 --> 01:16:22.394 [UN]: I think it is getting worse. Almost every week, two or three people are mugged in downtown. 00:00:00.395 --> 01:16:22.395 [JJ]: So, you’ve seen the city grappling with crime problems when you came here from India. Then you saw it get better, then you’re saying it’s—I see. You’ve also lived such a fulfilled life here with your career, with your philanthropy work, etcetera. What advice would you give to an Indian person who was thinking to immigrate to America today? Learning what you have learned, what is the advice you would give? 00:00:00.396 --> 01:16:22.396 [UN]: I’d tell them, that it's not like India. If you come here, you have to put your heart and soul to work. You cannot just come here and the think that you’ll get rich, unless you show your character. And, the work, eight hours means eight hours. You have to work—India, eight hours, nobody, government official, nobody works for eight hours. **laughs** Whoever, I mean, those who come here with that kind of attitude that they want to be recognized, they do very well. But they just come here, Oh, I’ll make money, things like that, it’s not going to help. 00:00:00.397 --> 01:16:22.397 [JJ]: Coming back to something that we talked about earlier— 00:00:00.398 --> 01:16:22.398 [UN]: There are lot of opportunities here. 00:00:00.399 --> 01:16:22.399 [JJ]: In America, for sure. Now, looking back, how do you remember your wife, recently passed away, how are you dealing with that? How are you processing that? 00:00:00.400 --> 01:16:22.400 [UN]: We love each other, we had, like any family, we do have some **laughs** now and then, some discussions. But, she’s very patient. Sometimes, I may lose my, but she’s very patient. She’s great wife, good mother, took care of her. She’s more organized than me. Everything. I miss her a lot. But, 2017, there was some changes in our college there. And by the time she was diagnosed. And, I told her that, Problems are happening, but I don't think I can leave you here. She said, No, go. Go and see and come back, in two weeks. I went and came back. She got worse in 2018, in the beginning. Started taking all kinds of medicines, the chemotherapy really hurt us a lot. And during that time, on her own, she established a skill center for the doctors and nurses, things like that. And, she gave a lot of money. And that skill center is now named after her, at Illinois Masonic Hospital. 00:00:00.401 --> 01:16:22.401 [JJ]: What is it called? Oh, Usha— 00:00:00.402 --> 01:16:22.402 [UN]: Skill Center. And we are still supporting it. Continue. 00:00:00.403 --> 01:16:22.403 [JJ]: How do you manage, now? Do you lean on your daughter sometimes? 00:00:00.404 --> 01:16:22.404 [UN]: For me, support comes for me when I work at the hospital. I’m full time there. 00:00:00.405 --> 01:16:22.405 [JJ]: You’re still working— 00:00:00.406 --> 01:16:22.406 [UN]: I’m still. I know everything about, from the day it was started, the building was started, I was involved with that. 00:00:00.407 --> 01:16:22.407 [JJ]: The Masonic? 00:00:00.408 --> 01:16:22.408 [UN]: No. In India. I'm spending more time in India. 00:00:00.409 --> 01:16:22.409 [JJ]: You travel more often there. I spend more time. The last time I left America was in December of 2019. I just came back, about six weeks ago here. 00:00:00.410 --> 01:16:22.410 [JJ]: Oh, okay. I should ask you, because you were there recently, India was going through such a surge of covid. So how did your hospital play a role? 00:00:00.411 --> 01:16:22.411 [UN]: Our hospital is dedicated covid for about 10 months. 00:00:00.412 --> 01:16:22.412 [JJ]: Dedicated to covid? 00:00:00.413 --> 01:16:22.413 [UN]: They needed it. Ours is one of the biggest hospitals. 900 beds. And, altogether, we treated about 12000 covid patients during those 10 months. And mortality rate was low, we have complete diagnostic center there for covid. 00:00:00.414 --> 01:16:22.414 [JJ]: Mortality rate was low compared to other hospitals in India, you mean? 00:00:00.415 --> 01:16:22.415 [UN]: Yeah, less than 1% we had from our hospital. 00:00:00.416 --> 01:16:22.416 [JJ]: What do you think NRI hospital was doing to achieve that? 00:00:00.417 --> 01:16:22.417 [UN]: We were able to get—even before that, we had a pipe oxygen to most of our wards. I think that made quite a bit of difference. 00:00:00.418 --> 01:16:22.418 [JJ]: There was a scarcity of oxygen. 00:00:00.419 --> 01:16:22.419 [UN]: And also, whenever there is a new medicines, things that support, we used to buy them immediately. Not wait for. And, our doctors were very good. They took care of the patients well. Nursing service is good. Together, we were lucky to have that group. 00:00:00.420 --> 01:16:22.420 [JJ]: That’s admirable, I did not know you were there recently. Did you come back recently? 00:00:00.421 --> 01:16:22.421 [UN]: Yeah, came back about six weeks ago. 00:00:00.422 --> 01:16:22.422 [JJ]: How’s the situation there now? 00:00:00.423 --> 01:16:22.423 [UN]: The third wave is, one day it is (inaudible), one day it is low. It’s not really not as bad as before. We have about 70 patients now, covid patients. 00:00:00.424 --> 01:16:22.424 [JJ]: So, now that you're back here, what do you do in your leisure time? 00:00:00.425 --> 01:16:22.425 [UN]: Here? 00:00:00.426 --> 01:16:22.426 [JJ]: Yeah. How do you keep yourself busy, occupied? 00:00:00.427 --> 01:16:22.427 [UN]: Well, I have things to, which I neglected all this time. Particularly my financial issues and taxes. **laughs** Spending time on those things. 00:00:00.428 --> 01:16:22.428 [JJ]: Are there any hobbies that keep you up, that you like— 00:00:00.429 --> 01:16:22.429 [UN]: Don’t have really any. 00:00:00.430 --> 01:16:22.430 [JJ]: Your work, yeah. And when did you retire from your practice? 00:00:00.431 --> 01:16:22.431 [UN]: Medicine? 2000—I told my wife, when I am 58, I’m going **laughs** I won’t work anymore. 00:00:00.432 --> 01:16:22.432 [JJ]: Did you have that particular age in mind? And, since then, you’ve been dedicated— 00:00:00.433 --> 01:16:22.433 [UN]: 2010, or 2012. 00:00:00.434 --> 01:16:22.434 [JJ]: I see, that is amazing. Is there some work that you do here as well? Outreach work in American also? 00:00:00.435 --> 01:16:22.435 [UN]: The Indo-American Medical Association of Illinois. They started, like a dispensary, originally to start with. And, so, during that time, we lost our son. We supported it. So, we bought a building and donated it to the Peterson. 00:00:00.436 --> 01:16:22.436 [JJ]: Is that in dedication to your— 00:00:00.437 --> 01:16:22.437 [UN]: Son. 00:00:00.438 --> 01:16:22.438 [JJ]: Does that incident give you a different perspective about mental health, perhaps? 00:00:00.439 --> 01:16:22.439 [UN]: It does, but I was not much interested in. It just take it as, you know. What can we do? He never expressed any real problems. And he came, maybe two weeks before, he stayed with my mother, and he's close to my mother. Talked about it. Next thing we know, about two weeks later, that has happened. 00:00:00.440 --> 01:16:22.440 [JJ]: You didn’t see much of any signs. 00:00:00.441 --> 01:16:22.441 [UN]: No, we didn’t see anything. He was happy, used to talk to his sister. 00:00:00.442 --> 01:16:22.442 [JJ]: I'm glad that you were able to, not only be busy, be involved, but also support such a wonderful cause. Is there anything you would like to add about your life that we haven’t covered so far? 00:00:00.443 --> 01:16:22.443 [UN]: Most of it is covered. Even by, if I remember all the things. Well, we both, Usha and myself, we both support our community. There is a need, we used to be with them. So we enjoy that companies. 00:00:00.444 --> 01:16:22.444 [JJ]: Thank-you very much for this, we appreciate you opening up about your life to us. Alright, so that concludes the interview for Dr. Nimmagadda. This is Jitesh Jaggi for the National Indo-American Museums Oral History Project.