Courtesy of Picture: https://www.thehindu.com/news/resources/cauvery-issue-timeline/article11264946.ece1
It was Friday the 13th on a cool December morning in Bangalore. A “BANDH” (political lockdown protest) had been called by the Kannada chaluvalist organizations led by Vatal Nagaraj.
I was getting ready to take my first TOEFL exam that day and the test center was in the heart of the city in a missionary school. I was not sure if the exam would be cancelled because of the “BANDH” or the test might take place as it is an International exam. There were no mobile phones and the only way to find out was to go for the exam and see for your self.
As I sat down contemplating on whether to go for the exam or not, my thoughts went back to the events that propelled me towards pursuing my higher studies, and a career in USA. It was during the visit to my in-laws house a few months back for the festival of “DUSSEHRA”. I was having a casual conversation with our family doctor Rambabu, and he mentioned about his brother having a business in New York, and encouraged me to pursue a career in America. This conversation rekindled my desire to go to USA that I had put on a back burner. I was happy with my job as Scientist/Engineer at the Indian Space Research Organization for the past 4 years. I recalled my long conversations with my classmate “Cheen” , when he visited me the year before. I would say he was really the one who kick started the whole thought process of going to USA, and Dr. Rambabu just made my desire even stronger. Many of my close friends had already gone to USA to pursue higher studies and a life there. It has been 4 years after my graduation from GITAM (Now a famous college of engineering in South India), I was married and above all my wife Usha was pregnant. If I were to take this path, it had to be a mutual decision. I was a little surprised when she agreed with me and my Father-in-law agreed to support us during this phase.
It was now up to me to prove that I can take the next steps and land in the USA. I have to send letters to Universities to get application, apply and prepare for TOEFL, GRE, get good scores and finally get I-20 acceptance letter from and University in USA.
As I was lost in my thoughts, Usha shook me up saying “Hey Uday it’s time to go for TOEFL exam”. I was determined to go for the exam, so I picked my helmet, wallet and hall ticket and took off on my light green VESPA (scooter) to the test center. The test center was in a missionary school just a few miles from my house in Jeevanbhima nagar suburb. I reached the M.G Road junction after Ulsoor and would have reached the test center in 10 minutes, when I saw a mob with flags and sticks on the M.G. Road marching down in my direction. As they reached nearer, they started throwing stones at the on coming traffic, and one of the stones hit me, luckily on my helmet. Immediately, I turned my scooter into a side street and fled the scene. I was very much familiar with all the streets near M.G. Road, so I was able to find my way to the test center without getting on to the main road. When I reached the test center, I was so happy that I reached on time, but was soon disappointed to hear that the TOEFL test was cancelled because of the “BANDH”. I had my GRE exam scheduled for the next day at 8am, so I asked the administrative staff if they had any news about the GRE exam. They informed me that I should arrive at the examination center in the morning as early as possible before the roads get blocked. They told me that the TOEFL exam would be rescheduled in a few weeks. Only one thing was going through my mind, I have to at least finish the GRE test the next day. I had already sent my applications to the University of Houston (even though I should have been applying to Houghton where my friend Anup went to) , and Rutgers, and they are waiting on my TOEFL and GRE scores.
I returned home disappointed at the turn of events on that day, not knowing the nature of events the next day that would turn my life in a new direction for the next few months. Was I destined to go to USA or become a prominent scientist in ISRO, only time could tell…. (To be Continued …)
Wiki link to that day in Bangalore: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Anti-Tamil_violence_of_Karnataka
Comments
4 responses
Nice read of the beginnings of your quest to land at USA ..interesting to know further…
Will be interesting to follow you down your memory lane. A good start. Looking forward to reading the rest. 👍
Very interesting way of narrating your story. Looking forward to reading more ….
Heard them before but not in details love the narrative style & relatability
Will watch this space for more