WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:32:34.000 [MARINA LABARTHE]: Okay, alright. This is an interview with Mafat Patel as part of the Indo-American Heritage Museum's Masala Chat Oral History Project. The interview is being conducted on April 18th, 2017, in Mafat's workplace. Mafat is being interviewed by Marina Labarthe of the Indo-American Heritage Museum. Ok, so please state and spell your first and last name. 00:00:00.001 --> 00:32:34.001 [MAFAT PATEL]: My name is Mafat M a f a t Patel P a t e l. 00:00:00.002 --> 00:32:34.002 [ML]: When and where were you born? 00:00:00.003 --> 00:32:34.003 [MP]: I was born 17th January 1945. 00:00:00.004 --> 00:32:34.004 [ML]: Did you grow up in the town and city where you were born? 00:00:00.005 --> 00:32:34.005 [MP]: No--Oh yes, over there? Yes. 00:00:00.006 --> 00:32:34.006 [ML]: Where were you born exactly? 00:00:00.007 --> 00:32:34.007 [MP]: I was born in, name of the town is Bhandu, b h a n d u, Gujarat, India. 00:00:00.008 --> 00:32:34.008 [ML]: How do you spell that again? 00:00:00.009 --> 00:32:34.009 [MP]: B like boy, h a n d u. Bhandu. 00:00:00.010 --> 00:32:34.010 [ML]: Okay so what languages did you speak growing up? 00:00:00.011 --> 00:32:34.011 [MP]: Over there I was speaking only one language: Gujrati. G u j r a t 00:00:00.012 --> 00:32:34.012 [ML]: Where did you go to school in India? 00:00:00.013 --> 00:32:34.013 [MP]: Until high school, we finish in my hometown. 00:00:00.014 --> 00:32:34.014 [ML]: So, you lived in Bhandu--that's how you say it? 00:00:00.015 --> 00:32:34.015 [MP]: Yes. 00:00:00.016 --> 00:32:34.016 [ML]: You lived there until high school? 00:00:00.017 --> 00:32:34.017 [MP]: Yeah. 00:00:00.018 --> 00:32:34.018 [ML]: Oh, wow okay. What was school like there? 00:00:00.019 --> 00:32:34.019 [MP]: There was a small school. We had around 200 students and seven classes. 00:00:00.020 --> 00:32:34.020 [ML]: So, did your family practice a particular religion at all? 00:00:00.021 --> 00:32:34.021 [MP]: Oh, we are basically Hindus. No particular religions. We believe, we are Hindus, but I am Hindu but I am not strong Hindu. I believe in everything. 00:00:00.022 --> 00:32:34.022 [ML]: Oh, that's really interesting. Can you tell me a little bit more about that? 00:00:00.023 --> 00:32:34.023 [MP]: Oh I do I believe in all--see we had lot of, lot of religion: Jainism, Hinduism, Muslim, Christian, I believe everybody. I go everywhere and fond of everybody, because we are in that kind of business. Here, we need everybody. And I am not staunch religious man. 00:00:00.024 --> 00:32:34.024 [ML]: Were your parents really religious or no? 00:00:00.025 --> 00:32:34.025 [MP]: They were Hindu. But they were, basically they were religion, Hindu religion, that's it. 00:00:00.026 --> 00:32:34.026 [ML]: So, what did you parents do for a living in India? 00:00:00.027 --> 00:32:34.027 [MP]: They are farmers. 00:00:00.028 --> 00:32:34.028 [ML]: Oh, really? 00:00:00.029 --> 00:32:34.029 [MP]: Yeah 00:00:00.030 --> 00:32:34.030 [ML]: Oh, can you tell me more about that? Did you grow up on a farm? 00:00:00.031 --> 00:32:34.031 [MP]: I grew in the village, but we had a farm. See it's not like here? There's a farm and you living there--no. We had a village, separate. And the farm is separate. So, in the morning, get up in the morning, go to farm 00:00:00.032 --> 00:32:34.032 [ML]: How far away from the farm was your house? 00:00:00.033 --> 00:32:34.033 [MP]: Oh it was different, we don't have like this one, hundred acre, two-hundred-acre land, no. We are one acre, two acre, five acre. Short. So we used to go there. 00:00:00.034 --> 00:32:34.034 [ML]: Yeah, what kind of, did you have animals or plants? 00:00:00.035 --> 00:32:34.035 [MP]: We had animals, I mean there animals means cows, buffalo, ox, and horse. 00:00:00.036 --> 00:32:34.036 [ML]: Did you like growing up on a farm? 00:00:00.037 --> 00:32:34.037 [MP]: We're not growing up on a farm, in the village, yes. 00:00:00.038 --> 00:32:34.038 [ML]: Well, did you like growing up with parents who farmed? 00:00:00.039 --> 00:32:34.039 [MP]: Yes. 00:00:00.040 --> 00:32:34.040 [ML]: Did you help them out a lot? 00:00:00.041 --> 00:32:34.041 [MP]: Oh yeah 00:00:00.042 --> 00:32:34.042 [ML]: Well that's wonderful. I also grew on a farm actually, in Peru. 00:00:00.043 --> 00:32:34.043 [MP]: Oh, you're from Peru? 00:00:00.044 --> 00:32:34.044 [ML]: Yeah, and I love everything about the farm. Just the animals and waking up early and, you know, getting the milk, the eggs. It's a great lifestyle 00:00:00.045 --> 00:32:34.045 [MP]: Yep 00:00:00.046 --> 00:32:34.046 [ML]: So, do you have any siblings? Brothers or sisters? 00:00:00.047 --> 00:32:34.047 [MP]: I got, we are six, three brothers three sisters. Including me, three brothers, including me. 00:00:00.048 --> 00:32:34.048 [ML]: What are their names and their ages? 00:00:00.049 --> 00:32:34.049 [MP]: I’m oldest brother. We are three brothers; I am the oldest. The second brother is Talashi, T a l a s h i. I think you know Susie? Susan 00:00:00.050 --> 00:32:34.050 [ML]: I have not met Susan. I don’t think. Has someone else interviewed her? 00:00:00.051 --> 00:32:34.051 [MP]: No, no. Susan, that’s my niece. 00:00:00.052 --> 00:32:34.052 [ML]: Oh, is she working there? 00:00:00.053 --> 00:32:34.053 [MP]: Not today. That’s my brother’s daughter and the third brother is Amrit, A m r i t. Amrit Patel. 00:00:00.054 --> 00:32:34.054 [ML]: Okay. So, there’s six of you. 00:00:00.055 --> 00:32:34.055 [MP]: And the three sisters. Those are older than me. One is—they all are in India right now. You need name? 00:00:00.056 --> 00:32:34.056 [ML]: What are their names? 00:00:00.057 --> 00:32:34.057 [MP]: (inaudible) my older sister name is Sharda, s h a r d a. Sharda Patel. Second name is Hira, h i r a. Third name is Mangu, m a n g u, Patel. All Patels. 00:00:00.058 --> 00:32:34.058 [ML]: So, they all live in India right now? 00:00:00.059 --> 00:32:34.059 [MP]: They were here. But, looking this kind of life, they don’t like it. So, they live over there. 00:00:00.060 --> 00:32:34.060 [ML]: When did they move back to India? 00:00:00.061 --> 00:32:34.061 [MP]: Oh they come and out. They come and go. Because everybody their own families here. 00:00:00.062 --> 00:32:34.062 [ML]: Are there aspects, are you ever like, I wish that I was in India instead of here? 00:00:00.063 --> 00:32:34.063 [MP]: See, right now, if you think (inaudible) my body’s here but my soul is there. I was there 2 months, I just came back. 00:00:00.064 --> 00:32:34.064 [ML]: So, where is Bhandu and what part of India, Northern— 00:00:00.065 --> 00:32:34.065 [MP]: No, it’s 150 miles southwest of Pakistan. Now, from Bombay, there’s a 400-mile North of Bombay,500 mile south of Delhi. So we are western part of India. 00:00:00.066 --> 00:32:34.066 [ML]: I spend two months in Mysore— 00:00:00.067 --> 00:32:34.067 [MP]: Oh that’s down 00:00:00.068 --> 00:32:34.068 [ML]: Yeah, very down south, but II really want to go back and I love it so much. 00:00:00.069 --> 00:32:34.069 [MP]: You should visit my state, Gujrat. I was watching today, (inaudible) Gujrati, number three. Mysore, they are saying is the fifth. I mean, security, and everything wise. 00:00:00.070 --> 00:32:34.070 [ML]: Tell me a little bit about your life in India. 00:00:00.071 --> 00:32:34.071 [MP]: My life, I came at age of 23 here. After graduating high-school, I graduate from there. And college, I made electrical and mechanical engineering, and came here. I came 1968.I did my master’s MBA here, work for around 15 is 16 years in this country. Then, we had a business. 00:00:00.072 --> 00:32:34.072 [ML]: So, you started this business, that was when you started this particular business? 00:00:00.073 --> 00:32:34.073 [MP]: Food business, across street. The Patel Brothers 00:00:00.074 --> 00:32:34.074 [ML]: Oh, the food one across the street? 00:00:00.075 --> 00:32:34.075 [MP]: That is ours. 00:00:00.076 --> 00:32:34.076 [ML]: Wow, I saw on the business card. Patel Brothers, that’s you. **laughs**So, tell me why did you come to the U. S.? 00:00:00.077 --> 00:32:34.077 [MP]: I came, further study. 00:00:00.078 --> 00:32:34.078 [ML]: You came for your MBA, no? 00:00:00.079 --> 00:32:34.079 [MP]: I came for MBA 00:00:00.080 --> 00:32:34.080 [ML]: What did you study? 00:00:00.081 --> 00:32:34.081 [MP]: First I studied engineering. I (inaudible)start working. And then I did MBA. 00:00:00.082 --> 00:32:34.082 [ML]: And what was that like coming from a different country to the U. S. to study, what was it like? 00:00:00.083 --> 00:32:34.083 [MP]: Oh that was strange. We thought, we made a mistake to come here. Didn’t have population. When I came here, we had only 150 families here. 00:00:00.084 --> 00:32:34.084 [ML]: That’s a common theme, it seems, with the people that I've been interviewing. When they came here, there weren't that many people from India living here, and it was hard for them to find communities. Do you feel like it was--what was it like finding a community here where you felt comfortable? What was that like? 00:00:00.085 --> 00:32:34.085 [MP]: We used to get together every weekend. See the movie, get together for dinner. Used to do that. 00:00:00.086 --> 00:32:34.086 [ML]: So, you got together with people that you had--how did you meet these people? 00:00:00.087 --> 00:32:34.087 [MP]: Oh that—if I know you, you know somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody. Yeah. 00:00:00.088 --> 00:32:34.088 [ML]: So, when you came to the United States, what did you expect your life would be like here? 00:00:00.089 --> 00:32:34.089 [MP]: I wasn't expecting anything. I thought, I’m here, I’ll stay few five, ten years, and I'll go back. But then, we cannot go back. 00:00:00.090 --> 00:32:34.090 [ML]: Why, how come? 00:00:00.091 --> 00:32:34.091 [MP]: Because we are all settled. I brought my wife here, came here. My sons came here and we started, 1974, we started the business. Then my brother came, his wife came. So, all family came. So, nobody wants to go back. 00:00:00.092 --> 00:32:34.092 [ML]: So, you're saying you didn't have that many expectations coming here, and you really weren't, you didn’t mean to stay that long. But, then you got comfortable right? 00:00:00.093 --> 00:32:34.093 [MP]: Yes. 00:00:00.094 --> 00:32:34.094 [ML]: What would you say was the biggest challenge when you first got here? 00:00:00.095 --> 00:32:34.095 [MP]: Biggest challenge was to settle here. Accommodation. 00:00:00.096 --> 00:32:34.096 [ML]: Talk to me more about that. What kind of things did you have to accommodate to? 00:00:00.097 --> 00:32:34.097 [MP]: We have—basically, I am vegetarian. We didn’t find the food, vegetarian food. So, we were looking something, something, somewhere, and find the vegetarian food. And try to eat the vegetarian food. Cook ourself. 00:00:00.098 --> 00:32:34.098 [ML]: What else? 00:00:00.099 --> 00:32:34.099 [MP]: Make friends, go to movies, go for—we didn’t have car that time, we were travelling in the city anyway, in the bus and train. 00:00:00.100 --> 00:32:34.100 [ML]: How about the language. Was it difficult at all? 00:00:00.101 --> 00:32:34.101 [MP]: It was little bit difficult. But when I came, we had education in English over there. College education was in English. I can read and write it, but not speaking. So, after coming here, we start speaking also, so won’t have any problem. We had a problem, but not that much. 00:00:00.102 --> 00:32:34.102 [ML]: That makes sense, since you learn English in school, so you were already, yeah. Okay. Was it a culture shock like just a very different— 00:00:00.103 --> 00:32:34.103 [MP]: Different culture, yes. It was totally different. 00:00:00.104 --> 00:32:34.104 [ML]: Yeah, and the vegetarianism, I’m sure that was very difficult. Can you think of any other things that might have been difficult at the time, or? 00:00:00.105 --> 00:32:34.105 [MP]: Not really. 00:00:00.106 --> 00:32:34.106 [ML]: How about today? Do you feel like--what do you miss about India the most? 00:00:00.107 --> 00:32:34.107 [MP]: I miss-- I don’t miss anything in India. I live here, but don't miss anything. I don't have anybody there. See then if you had a family, you miss the family. But, I don’t have any family over there. 00:00:00.108 --> 00:32:34.108 [ML]: When you first came from India, I'm sure you know there was, it was a long trip, what did you feel like--what was the most painful thing you had to leave behind in that— 00:00:00.109 --> 00:32:34.109 [MP]: Parents. I was calling every day. Not calling, but when you calling that time, it was getting call for three days. You book today, you’ll get a line in three days. Crying with mom, dad, every night. Me and my friends together, we were crying together. And writing letters. They sending letter, we send. 00:00:00.110 --> 00:32:34.110 [ML]: Yeah, you miss them a lot. So that was the hardest part. When you first moved here, were you able to go back and visit sometimes or no? 00:00:00.111 --> 00:32:34.111 [MP]: Oh yeah, I went after—I came ’68, I went back ’72. And my wife, and they came ’71. My one son was born in ’71. 00:00:00.112 --> 00:32:34.112 [ML]: So, your wife came in ‘71 with your son and you guys—so, you left to come to do your MBA here, and they came three years later. 00:00:00.113 --> 00:32:34.113 [MP]: Yeah. 00:00:00.114 --> 00:32:34.114 [ML]: So, what did you first notice, or what was the most striking thing upon your arrival here? 00:00:00.115 --> 00:32:34.115 [MP]: Striking? You’ll be surprising. Because we are very cultured and I came land here, I land in Boston. So, people were kissing on the road. I said, “What is this?” … I got surprised, because it's very difficult—in India, it’s very difficult to kiss each other. So, that was surprising. 00:00:00.116 --> 00:32:34.116 [ML]: Yeah, you’re like woah, what’s going on there **laughs** 00:00:00.117 --> 00:32:34.117 [MP]: **laughs** 00:00:00.118 --> 00:32:34.118 [ML]: That’s really interesting. What other kinds of things? 00:00:00.119 --> 00:32:34.119 [MP]: Other than cars and everything, there was different roads, and cars and everything. That was different world. … 00:00:00.120 --> 00:32:34.120 [ML]: Where and how did you find your first place to live? 00:00:00.121 --> 00:32:34.121 [MP]: I had my distanced cousin, he used to live in Pittsburg. So, from Boston, I came to Pittsburg. And Pittsburg, I went Youngstown. I studied there. In summertime, I came for job here. Summer job. Then I start here. 00:00:00.122 --> 00:32:34.122 [ML]: So, why did you move from Pittsburgh to here? What brought you here? 00:00:00.123 --> 00:32:34.123 [MP]: Oh, I went in college in Youngstown State University, Ohio. And then I came here in summer job. My few friends were working here in summertime. So, we moved here. 00:00:00.124 --> 00:32:34.124 [ML]: What experiences or individuals from those early years in the U. S. have had a long-lasting effect on your life? 00:00:00.125 --> 00:32:34.125 [MP]: Life changed, totally changed. 00:00:00.126 --> 00:32:34.126 [ML]: Did you meet anyone during the first few years that you came here, that you’re still friends with or you still talk to? 00:00:00.127 --> 00:32:34.127 [MP]: Oh no, still we are friends. My roommate, he was in India also roommate, here also roommate. And still I’m with him. 00:00:00.128 --> 00:32:34.128 [ML]: He was your roommate in India too. And you guys are still friends? 00:00:00.129 --> 00:32:34.129 [MP]: Yeah. 00:00:00.130 --> 00:32:34.130 [ML]: Can you tell me a little bit about him? 00:00:00.131 --> 00:32:34.131 [MP]: We are all good friends. He had a motel business. He lives in St. Louis. One other friend is in Atlanta. So, we were roommates, one lives in Memphis. So, we all were together, we came over here. But lot of other friend lives surrounding. Sometimes, they call, but if you go anywhere in the country, everybody knows me, because of Patel Brothers. So they say, Oh I was studying with him. He was my good friend, this (inaudible). So, we know each other long time. 00:00:00.132 --> 00:32:34.132 [ML]: How do you spend your leisure time? 00:00:00.133 --> 00:32:34.133 [MP]: Meet the people, go to sometime movie, go to social meetings. 00:00:00.134 --> 00:32:34.134 [ML]: Do you have an anecdote that represents what you had to deal with as you learned the ropes about living and working in the U. S.? 00:00:00.135 --> 00:32:34.135 [MP]: No. 00:00:00.136 --> 00:32:34.136 [ML]: Can you think of any stories from when you first came here that you'll never forget?… 00:00:00.137 --> 00:32:34.137 [MP]: No, I don’t— 00:00:00.138 --> 00:32:34.138 [ML]: We can come back to it. If you think of anything, let me know. So, what were the challenges that you faced when trying to make friends here? 00:00:00.139 --> 00:32:34.139 [MP]: I don't have any problem to make a friends. I had lot of friends, here also. I got man and woman, all are friends. Don’t have any difference. 00:00:00.140 --> 00:32:34.140 [ML]: So, you mentioned your cousin was living in Pittsburgh. Did you have--I’m sure your cousin was very helpful when you moved. Did you have any other people that were helping you and how did they help you? 00:00:00.141 --> 00:32:34.141 [MP]: Oh in the finance, before, he was helping me financially. Because, he cannot transfer the money at that time from India. So, he supported me for the tuition and everything. And every weekend or trip to India, they used to drive and pick me up, staying their home. … 00:00:00.142 --> 00:32:34.142 [ML]: That’s wonderful, support system. So tell me about your first job in the U. S. 00:00:00.143 --> 00:32:34.143 [MP]: My first job, it was very bad job. That’s when I was going college here. I was going to college from seven in the morning to one o’clock, afternoon. And from four o’clock to ten o’clock, I was working part-time as a molder. Molding machine, plastic molding. 00:00:00.144 --> 00:32:34.144 [ML]: Tell me about that job. 00:00:00.145 --> 00:32:34.145 [MP]: Oh, plastic molding that’s a, you have to to carry that mold and put in the dye. Or sometimes, it touch here, sometimes it touch here. And it’s a lot of dots on the hand. 00:00:00.146 --> 00:32:34.146 [ML]: It’s like the typical first job. 00:00:00.147 --> 00:32:34.147 [MP]: But, I need it. 00:00:00.148 --> 00:32:34.148 [ML]: How were you treated in terms of opportunities to advance in your work? 00:00:00.149 --> 00:32:34.149 [MP]: After that one, I just got a job as an electrical engineer. I had a good job, no problem at all. Because, that time, I think they had a problem with the country. You have to have some minority (inaudible). So, I was the minority engineer. So, I don’t have any problem. While I was working, we had a 1200 people in the company. No problem at all. But, face to face, no problem. Behind back, there were problem. Everywhere is same thing. You may be facing same kind of problem. Even though, you’re white, but still they feeling that way. 00:00:00.150 --> 00:32:34.150 [ML]: That’s a great way of putting it. So, what was your interaction, what were your interactions like with your bosses when you first came here? 00:00:00.151 --> 00:32:34.151 [MP]: My boss was very nice, he was Jewish. And very nice. He was taking care of me properly, he knew that, (inaudible) don't have anybody here. So, he was nice and taking care of me. 00:00:00.152 --> 00:32:34.152 [ML]: That’s wonderful. It sounds like you had a very good support system. 00:00:00.153 --> 00:32:34.153 [MP]: Well, it has to be two ways. If I support you, you have to support me. 00:00:00.154 --> 00:32:34.154 [ML]: So, you supported them too. Can you tell me a little bit more about that? 00:00:00.155 --> 00:32:34.155 [MP]: I was working hard. (inaudible) In this country, Indians are working out of eight hours, they work six and half hour. White working five hours. Black working three hours. You know that. So, they love us—they don’t love us, they love our work. But, don’t have problem. So, if you come here to work, if you don’t work, if you don't work hard, you don’t get anything to make yourself success, you have to work. 00:00:00.156 --> 00:32:34.156 [ML]: Yeah, it’s true, exactly. So you changed careers a few times, why did you? 00:00:00.157 --> 00:32:34.157 [MP]: Oh, after 15, 16 years, we came here, my brother came, his wife came, my wife came with our kids. Then, we thought, we don’t have food here, we cannot find the food. 00:00:00.158 --> 00:32:34.158 [ML]: Because you were vegetarian— 00:00:00.159 --> 00:32:34.159 [MP]: Vegetarian. So, we say, well, let’s start some food business. So, we started 1974, we started food business. 00:00:00.160 --> 00:32:34.160 [ML]: That’s very cool. I actually, after our interview, I think I'll go across the street and do grab some groceries. So, are you a US citizen? 00:00:00.161 --> 00:32:34.161 [MP]: Yeah 00:00:00.162 --> 00:32:34.162 [ML]: So, what prompted you to become a citizen? 00:00:00.163 --> 00:32:34.163 [MP]: Because, that’s main thing that if you are citizen, you can bring your relatives here. And be secure for yourself, you have to be citizen. 00:00:00.164 --> 00:32:34.164 [ML]: So, what was the process like becoming a citizen for you? 00:00:00.165 --> 00:32:34.165 [MP]: Well, you have to study the history of the country. You have to know how to read and write in English, and you have to know the Constitution of the country. How to live, who’s the president, who’s the senator, who’s the alderman. 00:00:00.166 --> 00:32:34.166 [ML]: I took the test like four years ago, so I remember, I listened to the CD in my car every day. But was it pretty easy for you? Was it difficult? 00:00:00.167 --> 00:32:34.167 [MP]: No, it was difficult for me. 00:00:00.168 --> 00:32:34.168 [ML]: And you did it, so that you could bring your family here. 00:00:00.169 --> 00:32:34.169 [MP]: Yeah. My time, it wasn’t there but, read and writing. When you go there, what is your name? Write down where do you live? That’s it. Now, it’s very difficult. They asking lot of questions. 00:00:00.170 --> 00:32:34.170 [ML]: In what ways do you think that you, as an individual, have contributed to or had an impact on American Life? 00:00:00.171 --> 00:32:34.171 [MP]: See, I'm in a lot of things, lot of organizations, educational, religious, social. I’m involved in all kind associations. I work with them. 00:00:00.172 --> 00:32:34.172 [ML]: You’ve made a huge impact. With your business as well. That's wonderful. What do you think the most important contribution is that Indo-Americans have made to Chicago? 00:00:00.173 --> 00:32:34.173 [MP]: Indo-American Center, center was totally Indo-American. 00:00:00.174 --> 00:32:34.174 [ML]: I guess, just in general, like Indian Immigrants, what kind of impact do you think they have made on Chicago? 00:00:00.175 --> 00:32:34.175 [MP]: See, I don't know whether you know or not, the highest income is Indian. 00:00:00.176 --> 00:32:34.176 [ML]: Excuse me, sorry? 00:00:00.177 --> 00:32:34.177 [MP]: Highest income— 00:00:00.178 --> 00:32:34.178 [ML]: is Indian. 00:00:00.179 --> 00:32:34.179 [MP]: There are maximum, doctors are here, my generation we are engineer, doctor, accountant, all professionals. 00:00:00.180 --> 00:32:34.180 [ML]: Huge contribution 00:00:00.181 --> 00:32:34.181 [MP]: It is big, huge contribution. We are three million people here, Indians. And almost, most of the people, they are well to do. 00:00:00.182 --> 00:32:34.182 [ML]: That’s very cool, so do you maintain connections with your Indian heritage? 00:00:00.183 --> 00:32:34.183 [MP]: Yes, I do. 00:00:00.184 --> 00:32:34.184 [ML]: How so? 00:00:00.185 --> 00:32:34.185 [MP]: See that, recently that’s the whole group is coming from India, this one, the whole group is coming from India. And I’m going to work with them. 00:00:00.186 --> 00:32:34.186 [ML]: What kind of work are you going to do with them? 00:00:00.187 --> 00:32:34.187 [MP]: No, they just come for the community work. Not business-wise, social work. They’re coming here. And so, we’re all going to get together. 00:00:00.188 --> 00:32:34.188 [ML]: Okay, fantastic. So, what do you find rewarding beyond work? So, work seems to be very rewarding for you, but what about beyond work? What things are rewarding for you? 00:00:00.189 --> 00:32:34.189 [MP]: Peace. 00:00:00.190 --> 00:32:34.190 [ML]: Peace. Tell me more. 00:00:00.191 --> 00:32:34.191 [MP]: Peace. I don’t have no problem, I’m peaceful, I'm happy life. Helping the people, I must help here. After I become citizen, I invited, I got the people here on more than 300 plus families from India. So, that’s my peace and that’s my award. God gave me that way, all are doing good, they all settle. 00:00:00.192 --> 00:32:34.192 [ML]: So, what are you, what do you think are some contrasts between India and the U. S.? 00:00:00.193 --> 00:32:34.193 [MP]: Politics. I don't care Politician any politics any politician they are all dirty. Even is Indian, Pakistani, or American, they all politics have (inaudible). So, we not involved in the politics. 00:00:00.194 --> 00:32:34.194 [ML]: What else. What other contrasts? 00:00:00.195 --> 00:32:34.195 [MP]: Economics. Before (inaudible), before Obama came, they were not considered India is a country even. Now, I think there’s a, they know that India is part of the growing country. 00:00:00.196 --> 00:32:34.196 [ML]: Does anything stick out in your mind as a defining experience or a special significance in your life as an Indian living in America? 00:00:00.197 --> 00:32:34.197 [MP]: No, I don’t. Not at all. … 00:00:00.198 --> 00:32:34.198 [ML]: I forgot my memory card so I can't **laughs** So, are there any memories that you would like to make sure future generations know about? 00:00:00.199 --> 00:32:34.199 [MP]: Future generation knows that we are good at work. You have to work hard. Honesty and hard work, it pays in long-term. 00:00:00.200 --> 00:32:34.200 [ML]: Honesty and hard work, yeah. 00:00:00.201 --> 00:32:34.201 [MP]: That’s basically, you have to work hard, be honest. So God will help you anyway. So whatever you do here, you have to finish here. You’re not going to take anything with you, once you die, you go empty hand. 00:00:00.202 --> 00:32:34.202 [ML]: Is there anything else that you would like to add that we haven't talked about? 00:00:00.203 --> 00:32:34.203 [MP]: Nothing else, you asked me everything. But you can have, see this is the article given this week. You can take this paper. 00:00:00.204 --> 00:32:34.204 [ML]: I would love to take a picture of it. 00:00:00.205 --> 00:32:34.205 [MP]: You can take it. Here. Whole article of Patel Brothers. Yeah you can take the paper. 00:00:00.206 --> 00:32:34.206 [ML]: Wow, thank-you so much for the interview.