Friday was a mixed day. I was a little bit absent minded, as I was seeing great visions. I went to interview an internship candidate at a Starbucks. I arrived a little early. I asked the barista how his day is going. He said not so well. I quickly offered him to swap his job with mine. First telling him that I am a CEO of a major corporation and I would love his job as he has so much contact with people. Then I corrected myself, telling him that I am a struggling entrepreneur and I love working towards the purpose of my life. There was a guy that I had interviewed before; Recently, he gave me a contact in Boeing. Strange.. but he seems to be a great guy. He bought with him Fedrick Miles, a very handsome young black gentleman. I recorded his interview on camera and encouraged him to work for me for FREE. I told him just like he does not get paid to go to church, he can create a documentary for me for FREE and fulfill his passion for film and music. For some reason, I decided to tell them the secret of my life. I told them that I am seeing the "Impossible Dream".
I had an appointment with my doctor and my wife and I went to see him. While waiting, there were two women who were having an argument about their insurance. One of them was taking deep breaths and almost crying. I was reading a magazine and deep down inside, I wanted to help. But I was helpless, as I knew if I tried to help her, my wife would intervene. After a few minutes, I got up and tried to talk to this woman. My wife and I had a small argument. I told her that I have a bigger purpose in my life and I termed her as selfish. Then I apologized to her for hurting her feelings.
The next day, we had an open house, as our home is up for sale and we needed to leave the house for a while. I had suggested that we go to the Carter Center and King Center. However, my wife didn’t want to go to either of them. I told her that we could go to The World of Coca Cola and then she was excited. We went to Avondale MARTA station, once again I was feeling joyful. I saw an American man doing work and I smiled at him. At the vending machine, I was a little disappointed about the daily MARTA pass being $8 and worried about how employees with lower wages can survive. While waiting for the train, I got an idea..I told my wife that I will buy a house in good location and not so good neighborhood. I told her that I am confident that I can improve the neighborhood and increase house values.
We arrived at King Memorial Station and I was figuring out how to go the King Center, when an young black man gave us directions. Then he politely asked for some money for food. I asked him if he could work, while my wife was brushing him off. As I was talking to him, my wife was losing patience with me and was mad. I apologized to him and I was again mad at my wife but maintained calmness. My wife doubted his directions, but I followed them and reached the King Center. The first thing I noticed was that the gift store where I had shared the beef burger was closed. I was disappointed. My wife was in a hurry and was upset with me as I was making eye contact and smiling at people.
After seeing the King memorial, We decided to walk to the World of Coca Cola. I was smiling at everyone and enjoying the beauty while she was asking me repeatedly where is World of Coke. I remember seeing a black party and wanted to go and talk to them, but restrained myself from it. As we reached Woodruff Park, we saw a festive occasion with some stalls. I had forgotten to take money and only had three dollars left. I knew that it is cash and carry in most stalls yet approached some young girls, saying that I will pay them back. The girls were thinking when an older man brushed us off telling us that there was an ATM close by. We found there was none.
I saw a campaign against alcoholism and I was talking to someone when my wife lost her patience. I was telling her that having money was a temporary thing and that you may be in a strange city in a third world country with no money and the credit card won’t work. I told her that the technology exist so that through your mobile, you could pay someone and they can check the payment using their mobile.
As we walked to the World of Coke, we saw a big festival at Centennial park. I recorded many children playing in the water fountain with my video camera. We walked and saw someone sponsored by the Statefarm insurance standing to take pictures. As we were posing for the picture, I asked the woman having a young child if I can hold her child to take a picture with my wife and myself. My wife went ballistic. She was impatiently asking for the World of Coca Cola and I took her there. As we stood in line, I was able to communicate with perfect strangers. After we bought the ticket, we had to wait more than one hour. I was able to communicate with my wife on a personal level yet a little disappointed as I was not allowed to talk to the strangers or smile at them. We had great fun at the World of Coke. I was telling her that I would like Thumbs Up as a name for a soft drink. I liked the name Thumbs Up because it symbolizes the spirit of victory. Afterwards, my wife wanted to go to the CNN center.
On our way to the CNN center I saw a Van with King Dream Center painted on it and I wanted to talk to the driver. I also wanted to take a photograph of a white young girl carrying a black baby of couple of years but my wife stopped me. We went to the CNN center and saw an amateur shooting that I still remember. We decided not to wait for the 5:45pm tour and walked back to the MARTA station. There was a MARTA train waiting, but I had to wait for my wife and I missed the train. I told my wife that sometimes if you have to wait for other people, you will miss the train. I gave her an example, if you focus on the educated privileged section of society, we can easily go farther than if you have to wait for less privileged people. But it is all worth it. I also mentioned how on Indian trains people share food, hold each other’s babies and pass 30 hour long journeys. We entered to a very crowded train. After sometime, there were few people on the train. I asked my wife, what does that tell you? I explained to her that in life, people will come and go., but at the end of the life train, you will be the only person left to go to your ultimate destination.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
I have a Dream…
Atlanta has been branded as a city that cherishes “Opportunity, Openness and Optimism”. On one cold January day (Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday), I decided to wear a T-shirt that I received from my professor (which said ATL "Opportunity, Openness and Optimism") and attend the memorial service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy.
That day, my wife said that she was not happy with my erratic behaviors (like smiling at strangers, talking to children and asking if they were feeling any different etc.) so she asked me to stay home. Determined to make me stay, she took my car keys. I told her that I was just going to run to the King center and at that point she returned my car keys, took all my credit cards and all my money with the exception of $10. I drove my car to a church and walked to the Marta station. I walked the same path that I used to walk when I was a student.
That day, I was feeling joyful and a kind of true love that is very difficult to explain. The world seemed so beautiful. A MARTA bus passed with an Advertisement on it that read “Today could be the day” . I was ecstatic. For a moment, I forgot that it was just the advertisement for the Georgia Lottery. I was carrying three holy books with me: a bible given to my wife by her Sunday school teacher on the day that I was born, Mahatma Gandhi’s interpretation of Bhagvad Gita (Hindu faith) and Holy Quoran that I borrowed from a friend at Georgia State Univ. As I approached Avondale MARTA station, I saw some construction workers. I instantly got an idea to ask someone about the holy books that I was carrying. I asked a construction worker but he could not read or speak English. I showed him the three holy books and he picked up the Bible, opened a page and just said “Peter”. That was enough religion for that day. I briefly looked at the book and read the verse about Peter.
I decided to take MARTA that day, as my wife was not with me and it was the perfect opportunity for me to smile and sing Hindi songs. I felt very connected. When I arrived to King Memorial Station, I had another great idea. The idea was about “Made In USA”. I visualized that a great company could be built in the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Atlanta that would make T-shirts which would cherish “Love, Hope and Non-violence”. This together with the non-violence teachings of Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi along with real stories of real people with real experiences could differentiate this product, commanding a higher price in the global market. I also thought about the practice of begging, which has been outlawed by city legislatures. I wanted to differentiate the King Center from the Georgia Aquarium or World of Coca Cola by bringing in the human touch. I envisioned putting selective beggars in a training class on selling, so that they can sell these T-shirts to the tourists to the King Center.
I imagined that millions of tourist will flock to King Center from every corner of the globe. I talked about this to a reporter from a European country. I kept on dreaming, thought that if leaders of the world believe in non-violence; the most major problems of the world can be solved. As I got closer to the King Center, there was tight security and ample people from the media. For a short moment, I remembered "Today could be the day" and believed I could get an opportunity to communicate with the world. Then I noticed the media giving too much attention to the VVIPs (Very, Very Important People) and had absolutely no creative juices flowing to cover something different. In my own way, I tried to influence a person holding a cross, asked him some questions, went inside a gift store and talked to the owner. I had a very interesting conversation with him and shared a bite of his beef burger. Being Hindu I usually don't take beef, but taking a bite with the spirit of universal brotherhood was like taking my Mahaprasad.(Divine food that is offered to my lord, Jagannath).
I went inside Ebenezer Baptist Church and for a short time saw the memorial service. Then I got up and wanted to feed the homeless, went out asked the police man where is the Turner Field Stadium. I had the great opportunity to walk to Turner Field Stadium. I stood in line to feed the hungry. Asked questions to people standing in line, asking them if they actually thought Atlanta was the city of opportunity, optimism and openness. I also met someone from Morehouse School of Medicine. I remember telling him that I would like to talk to the professor of psychiatry to see if he could disclose the names of students who have asked the questions like: What if the so called schizophrenia patient is hearing the sounds of faith, seeing the light of knowledge that we are not able to see or experience?
Had lot of fun actually making the plates to be served to the homeless. I casually mentioned that I was not allowed inside a church and my wife was not allowed inside a temple. And even said that today I will create a "new religion", the religion of "love". I even remember mentioning something which will make me a target of homeland security. I said that on the perspective of the terrorists, they are fighting a holy war just like we believe our soldiers are fighting for our Freedom. I had mentioned that speeches of most of our leaders are all talk. I asked if George Bush would let his own daughter go to Iraq to spread the message of goodwill. I mentioned that I am willing to go to Iraq to spread the message of goodwill and die for the cause of mankind. My only condition is that I find a company who will write my life insurance policy so that it will benefit my family and the causes that are dear to my heart.
That day, my wife said that she was not happy with my erratic behaviors (like smiling at strangers, talking to children and asking if they were feeling any different etc.) so she asked me to stay home. Determined to make me stay, she took my car keys. I told her that I was just going to run to the King center and at that point she returned my car keys, took all my credit cards and all my money with the exception of $10. I drove my car to a church and walked to the Marta station. I walked the same path that I used to walk when I was a student.
That day, I was feeling joyful and a kind of true love that is very difficult to explain. The world seemed so beautiful. A MARTA bus passed with an Advertisement on it that read “Today could be the day” . I was ecstatic. For a moment, I forgot that it was just the advertisement for the Georgia Lottery. I was carrying three holy books with me: a bible given to my wife by her Sunday school teacher on the day that I was born, Mahatma Gandhi’s interpretation of Bhagvad Gita (Hindu faith) and Holy Quoran that I borrowed from a friend at Georgia State Univ. As I approached Avondale MARTA station, I saw some construction workers. I instantly got an idea to ask someone about the holy books that I was carrying. I asked a construction worker but he could not read or speak English. I showed him the three holy books and he picked up the Bible, opened a page and just said “Peter”. That was enough religion for that day. I briefly looked at the book and read the verse about Peter.
I decided to take MARTA that day, as my wife was not with me and it was the perfect opportunity for me to smile and sing Hindi songs. I felt very connected. When I arrived to King Memorial Station, I had another great idea. The idea was about “Made In USA”. I visualized that a great company could be built in the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Atlanta that would make T-shirts which would cherish “Love, Hope and Non-violence”. This together with the non-violence teachings of Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi along with real stories of real people with real experiences could differentiate this product, commanding a higher price in the global market. I also thought about the practice of begging, which has been outlawed by city legislatures. I wanted to differentiate the King Center from the Georgia Aquarium or World of Coca Cola by bringing in the human touch. I envisioned putting selective beggars in a training class on selling, so that they can sell these T-shirts to the tourists to the King Center.
I imagined that millions of tourist will flock to King Center from every corner of the globe. I talked about this to a reporter from a European country. I kept on dreaming, thought that if leaders of the world believe in non-violence; the most major problems of the world can be solved. As I got closer to the King Center, there was tight security and ample people from the media. For a short moment, I remembered "Today could be the day" and believed I could get an opportunity to communicate with the world. Then I noticed the media giving too much attention to the VVIPs (Very, Very Important People) and had absolutely no creative juices flowing to cover something different. In my own way, I tried to influence a person holding a cross, asked him some questions, went inside a gift store and talked to the owner. I had a very interesting conversation with him and shared a bite of his beef burger. Being Hindu I usually don't take beef, but taking a bite with the spirit of universal brotherhood was like taking my Mahaprasad.(Divine food that is offered to my lord, Jagannath).
I went inside Ebenezer Baptist Church and for a short time saw the memorial service. Then I got up and wanted to feed the homeless, went out asked the police man where is the Turner Field Stadium. I had the great opportunity to walk to Turner Field Stadium. I stood in line to feed the hungry. Asked questions to people standing in line, asking them if they actually thought Atlanta was the city of opportunity, optimism and openness. I also met someone from Morehouse School of Medicine. I remember telling him that I would like to talk to the professor of psychiatry to see if he could disclose the names of students who have asked the questions like: What if the so called schizophrenia patient is hearing the sounds of faith, seeing the light of knowledge that we are not able to see or experience?
Had lot of fun actually making the plates to be served to the homeless. I casually mentioned that I was not allowed inside a church and my wife was not allowed inside a temple. And even said that today I will create a "new religion", the religion of "love". I even remember mentioning something which will make me a target of homeland security. I said that on the perspective of the terrorists, they are fighting a holy war just like we believe our soldiers are fighting for our Freedom. I had mentioned that speeches of most of our leaders are all talk. I asked if George Bush would let his own daughter go to Iraq to spread the message of goodwill. I mentioned that I am willing to go to Iraq to spread the message of goodwill and die for the cause of mankind. My only condition is that I find a company who will write my life insurance policy so that it will benefit my family and the causes that are dear to my heart.
Overcoming the Adversity
If you are denied entry into a church based on your race, arrested, beaten up in the jail, paraded in shackles, lost your job and had to live with no income for six months and with no health insurance, etc. how would you feel?
Most of you would feel angry or depressed. I was angry and depressed as well, but after a very short moment, I was joyful, as I got the opportunity to experience life and communicate with the higher power to realize the purpose of my life. You might think I am hallucinating and think I am outright crazy. But think again, if I had a comfortable six figure income job with no hurdles like this, I rarely would have ventured out living my dreams.
After I was fired from the largest airline out of Atlanta for an unjust cause during the recession, I became a full-time student and finished my MBA from Georgia State University. I graduated with a GPA of 3.74 with a dual major in Marketing and Computer Information Systems in 2002. Being a full time student I could cultivate some long lasting relationships with my professors who now serve on my advisory board. Then I founded my company EmTechPro, Inc. with only $1000 in initial investment. Since our inception, we are growing at 300%-400% every year. We have a vision of becoming a $1 billion global company by year 2020 and being among the top three players in every major market we serve.
The other thing I am thankful about is that, I realized that my wife just didn't marry for financial security... she had supported me living in a 200 sq ft filthy apartment and made the best out of it. Situations like this tests the real people in our life. Also, I am a big believer that God talks to us, only if we want to listen. I feel as if God is telling me to not only making EmTechPro a financially successful venture, but also to cultivate a culture that believes in changing the world. (I know we can not change the world alone, but collectively we can make a huge difference) I have come to the realization that it hardly matters if I become a US citizen or not, as my ultimate goal is to influence people in making the world a better place for us and our future generation. With this wonderful medium of the Internet, I can do it from a village in Africa, India, South America or from this great city of Atlanta.
Most of you would feel angry or depressed. I was angry and depressed as well, but after a very short moment, I was joyful, as I got the opportunity to experience life and communicate with the higher power to realize the purpose of my life. You might think I am hallucinating and think I am outright crazy. But think again, if I had a comfortable six figure income job with no hurdles like this, I rarely would have ventured out living my dreams.
After I was fired from the largest airline out of Atlanta for an unjust cause during the recession, I became a full-time student and finished my MBA from Georgia State University. I graduated with a GPA of 3.74 with a dual major in Marketing and Computer Information Systems in 2002. Being a full time student I could cultivate some long lasting relationships with my professors who now serve on my advisory board. Then I founded my company EmTechPro, Inc. with only $1000 in initial investment. Since our inception, we are growing at 300%-400% every year. We have a vision of becoming a $1 billion global company by year 2020 and being among the top three players in every major market we serve.
The other thing I am thankful about is that, I realized that my wife just didn't marry for financial security... she had supported me living in a 200 sq ft filthy apartment and made the best out of it. Situations like this tests the real people in our life. Also, I am a big believer that God talks to us, only if we want to listen. I feel as if God is telling me to not only making EmTechPro a financially successful venture, but also to cultivate a culture that believes in changing the world. (I know we can not change the world alone, but collectively we can make a huge difference) I have come to the realization that it hardly matters if I become a US citizen or not, as my ultimate goal is to influence people in making the world a better place for us and our future generation. With this wonderful medium of the Internet, I can do it from a village in Africa, India, South America or from this great city of Atlanta.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
From the Diary of a Dreamer
What comes to your mind when you think about the word “visionary”?
As per Webster’s College dictionary it means a person who has audacious, highly idealistic, speculative or, impractical ideas or schemes; dreamer
“Asambhaba Sapna” which means Impossible dream is a play I wrote when I was nine years old. The moral of the play was similar to the idea of the movie “ Pay it Forward”
Throughout my life I have seen many dreams, which were considered impossible and unrealistic by my peers and family members.
I was born and raised in rural India, in some of the most underdeveloped parts of the world. I still remember going to my primary school which was held under a tree, with one teacher teaching all subjects and from 1st grade to 5th grade. I was very inquisitive and always ranked at top of my class.
January 26th 1977, I was five years old, visited my classmate’s house and had lunch with her family who belonged to a lower caste—the news spread in our small town and my grandmother demanded that I should be purified before entering the house. I innocently asked her you don’t ask me to get purified when I play with Sudhir (a friend who belonged to the higher caste)—Do what I say she said and I kept on asking her why, why, why. My elders for not abiding by their rules beat me up and I passed out. In my dream that day, I visualized that I grew up and I became the catalyst who wiped out untouchability and the caste system from Indian society.
As I grew older, more thoughtful and absent minded I became, always concerned about bigger issues facing my community, my state, my country and even the world. I became an ordinary student during my Engineering College career, as I became an avid reader of Swami Vivekananda and many great spiritual and political leaders and lose interest in physical science. Instead of calculating the relative velocity of two trains going in opposite direction, I would come up with a philosophy of two people meeting even if they go in exact opposite directions as the world is almost shaped as a sphere. Not to mention, my nickname in my college was "MahaPagal" (means a Great Mad Guy) instead of my lastname "MahaPatra" meaning someone with a great character. Also, during this stage of my career I wrote letters to many world leaders. I was concerned about the rising fundamentalism of religions around the world and discovered the similarities between religions of the world.
July 4th 1993, in the midst of my college’s final examination, five people committed mass suicide in our hostel. When all students were preparing for the examination, I spent my time coordinating the dead bodies, calling their respective parents and after everything was over—I envisioned setting up a counseling center in our college, and even visualized having a mental health center which would use spirituality, modern medicine and alternative medicines to cure and prevent mental health disorders.
I became a loner, not interested in what my peers activity or thought process. My parents were worried as I was determined to be a catalyst in bringing positive change in India and the world. I still remember my father preaching me "Don't try to be extraordinary", be a average guy, get a good job, a family and a peaceful life. However, I was never in peace with myself as the chaos, corruption, injustice around me in my home country was bothering me. Still I didn't have any freedom to do what I really wanted to do. So I thought of leaving India, my dearest homeland.
As per Webster’s College dictionary it means a person who has audacious, highly idealistic, speculative or, impractical ideas or schemes; dreamer
“Asambhaba Sapna” which means Impossible dream is a play I wrote when I was nine years old. The moral of the play was similar to the idea of the movie “ Pay it Forward”
Throughout my life I have seen many dreams, which were considered impossible and unrealistic by my peers and family members.
I was born and raised in rural India, in some of the most underdeveloped parts of the world. I still remember going to my primary school which was held under a tree, with one teacher teaching all subjects and from 1st grade to 5th grade. I was very inquisitive and always ranked at top of my class.
January 26th 1977, I was five years old, visited my classmate’s house and had lunch with her family who belonged to a lower caste—the news spread in our small town and my grandmother demanded that I should be purified before entering the house. I innocently asked her you don’t ask me to get purified when I play with Sudhir (a friend who belonged to the higher caste)—Do what I say she said and I kept on asking her why, why, why. My elders for not abiding by their rules beat me up and I passed out. In my dream that day, I visualized that I grew up and I became the catalyst who wiped out untouchability and the caste system from Indian society.
As I grew older, more thoughtful and absent minded I became, always concerned about bigger issues facing my community, my state, my country and even the world. I became an ordinary student during my Engineering College career, as I became an avid reader of Swami Vivekananda and many great spiritual and political leaders and lose interest in physical science. Instead of calculating the relative velocity of two trains going in opposite direction, I would come up with a philosophy of two people meeting even if they go in exact opposite directions as the world is almost shaped as a sphere. Not to mention, my nickname in my college was "MahaPagal" (means a Great Mad Guy) instead of my lastname "MahaPatra" meaning someone with a great character. Also, during this stage of my career I wrote letters to many world leaders. I was concerned about the rising fundamentalism of religions around the world and discovered the similarities between religions of the world.
July 4th 1993, in the midst of my college’s final examination, five people committed mass suicide in our hostel. When all students were preparing for the examination, I spent my time coordinating the dead bodies, calling their respective parents and after everything was over—I envisioned setting up a counseling center in our college, and even visualized having a mental health center which would use spirituality, modern medicine and alternative medicines to cure and prevent mental health disorders.
I became a loner, not interested in what my peers activity or thought process. My parents were worried as I was determined to be a catalyst in bringing positive change in India and the world. I still remember my father preaching me "Don't try to be extraordinary", be a average guy, get a good job, a family and a peaceful life. However, I was never in peace with myself as the chaos, corruption, injustice around me in my home country was bothering me. Still I didn't have any freedom to do what I really wanted to do. So I thought of leaving India, my dearest homeland.
Liberty and Justice for All – A realty check
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”
Every Tuesday evening I recite this with my fellow toastmasters in the Horizon Toastmasters Club. Being an immigrant from India, I had the impossible dream of wiping out the caste system, eradicating poverty and eliminating corruption in my country. After a reality check, I decided to come to the US to work as a software engineer. On the plane, I was reading about this great land where there is supposed to be liberty and justice for all.
I arrived in Atlanta just before the Thanksgiving weekend in 1997. I liked the freedom and opportunities of this country. I met my wife in a party and married her in 1999. She belonged to the Christian faith and the majority white race. Though I came from a very traditional Hindu family back in India, after my marriage I cherished peaceful coexistence between faiths and started believing in “Universal Love” as my faith. My parents invited us to go to India to have an Indian wedding. Many things happened in India which made me ashamed of myself as an Indian, like my wife was not allowed in few Hindu temples. I was very upset with this as I believed Hinduism stood for universal brotherhood.
On January 26th 2001, there was a massive earthquake in India that took 20,000 lives. I was involved in raising money for the earthquake victims in India. A few of my friends suggested that as I am a very outgoing person married to a white American woman, I should not restrict my fund raising activities to the Indian community. As my in-laws were not regular members of any church, they could not help me. I called Mt. Zion Baptist church and the pastor asked me to go there and see him before the Sunday service. I went to Mt. Zion Baptist church in Morrow, GA by myself. There was a deacon standing in front of the church who stopped me from entering the church. I told him that I was asked by the pastor to go inside and meet him before the service, so that he can make an appeal to the congregation to donate funds. The deacon said that he can not allow me to do that. Then I politely asked him that as my next meeting is at noon, I would like to go inside and pray…He said he can not let me do that. I asked him “why” and he said “Ours is a White church” I told him that I protest his decision, I won’t do anything. I will just close my eyes and pray outside the church. He said that he will call the police and I said go ahead. The police came and arrested me falsely accusing me of solicitation and charging me with “Criminal Trespass”. (Even the police man reminded me that the church was a white church and a private property) After a few weeks, both my wife and I were fired from our jobs. (Our co-workers told us that it is because of the call from the deacon who worked for my parent company) We didn’t have the resources to fight the case in the court. I approached the judge to fight the case myself (thinking to act like Mahatma Gandhi, fighting for injustice) and he declined. Then I went to the church and apologized to them that I was sorry if unknowingly I created any inconvience and asked them to drop the case, they said that I am going to hell by not following Christianity.
As per my attorney’s suggestion, I plead no lo contestant. I was sentenced to six months probation and as per the first offender plea bargain, after the probation period, I received a letter from Clayton county court system that I have no adjudication of guilt and I should not be discriminated for jobs in the private or government sector or, for any other consideration.
After this incident, my Green card process was delayed by one year and after a lot of follow up, I received my Permanent Resident card from CISin May 2002. I sincerely wanted to get my US citizenship as I wanted to participate in the democratic process in this country apart from other benefits like eligibility to apply for certifications to get federal, state/local government and private sector projects for my company EmTechPro, Inc. as a minority owned disadvantaged business. In May 2005, I applied for US citizenship. On January 10th 2006, I was interviewed and cleared the test for US citizenship, and then my application of US citizenship was rejected on the basis of lack of moral character due to the judgment against me in July 2001. In the letter it said that I can reapply after July 13th 2006 or apply for rehearing. On April 18th 2006: I requested a rehearing application after submitting reference letters from leaders of the community. On May 30th, 2007: the Rehearing was held and I was told that they may not be able to overturn the earlier decision.
After this unique experience, I realized the true reality. I am not living in a country which is one nation and indivisible. Actually, we all live in segregated societies of people like us, may it be Asian, African, Hispanic or White. It would be naïve to believe that we have justice for all. It is a distant dream not a reality. I have realized that you can be punished for standing up for your rights, many times it is all about perception. If you go to jail, even fighting a good cause, you might be denied job opportunities and other rights of citizenship etc. After being fired from my then employer and denied opportunities in the private sector, I have founded EmTechPro based on my values of Honesty, Integrity, Trust, Compassion and Diversity. I aspire to build a global company, where employees from developing and developed countries work hand in hand to build better communities.
Sanjib K. Mohapatro
Founder of EmTechPro, Inc
Co-Founder of http://www.ucanswap.com/
404-552-2274 (direct)
Every Tuesday evening I recite this with my fellow toastmasters in the Horizon Toastmasters Club. Being an immigrant from India, I had the impossible dream of wiping out the caste system, eradicating poverty and eliminating corruption in my country. After a reality check, I decided to come to the US to work as a software engineer. On the plane, I was reading about this great land where there is supposed to be liberty and justice for all.
I arrived in Atlanta just before the Thanksgiving weekend in 1997. I liked the freedom and opportunities of this country. I met my wife in a party and married her in 1999. She belonged to the Christian faith and the majority white race. Though I came from a very traditional Hindu family back in India, after my marriage I cherished peaceful coexistence between faiths and started believing in “Universal Love” as my faith. My parents invited us to go to India to have an Indian wedding. Many things happened in India which made me ashamed of myself as an Indian, like my wife was not allowed in few Hindu temples. I was very upset with this as I believed Hinduism stood for universal brotherhood.
On January 26th 2001, there was a massive earthquake in India that took 20,000 lives. I was involved in raising money for the earthquake victims in India. A few of my friends suggested that as I am a very outgoing person married to a white American woman, I should not restrict my fund raising activities to the Indian community. As my in-laws were not regular members of any church, they could not help me. I called Mt. Zion Baptist church and the pastor asked me to go there and see him before the Sunday service. I went to Mt. Zion Baptist church in Morrow, GA by myself. There was a deacon standing in front of the church who stopped me from entering the church. I told him that I was asked by the pastor to go inside and meet him before the service, so that he can make an appeal to the congregation to donate funds. The deacon said that he can not allow me to do that. Then I politely asked him that as my next meeting is at noon, I would like to go inside and pray…He said he can not let me do that. I asked him “why” and he said “Ours is a White church” I told him that I protest his decision, I won’t do anything. I will just close my eyes and pray outside the church. He said that he will call the police and I said go ahead. The police came and arrested me falsely accusing me of solicitation and charging me with “Criminal Trespass”. (Even the police man reminded me that the church was a white church and a private property) After a few weeks, both my wife and I were fired from our jobs. (Our co-workers told us that it is because of the call from the deacon who worked for my parent company) We didn’t have the resources to fight the case in the court. I approached the judge to fight the case myself (thinking to act like Mahatma Gandhi, fighting for injustice) and he declined. Then I went to the church and apologized to them that I was sorry if unknowingly I created any inconvience and asked them to drop the case, they said that I am going to hell by not following Christianity.
As per my attorney’s suggestion, I plead no lo contestant. I was sentenced to six months probation and as per the first offender plea bargain, after the probation period, I received a letter from Clayton county court system that I have no adjudication of guilt and I should not be discriminated for jobs in the private or government sector or, for any other consideration.
After this incident, my Green card process was delayed by one year and after a lot of follow up, I received my Permanent Resident card from CISin May 2002. I sincerely wanted to get my US citizenship as I wanted to participate in the democratic process in this country apart from other benefits like eligibility to apply for certifications to get federal, state/local government and private sector projects for my company EmTechPro, Inc. as a minority owned disadvantaged business. In May 2005, I applied for US citizenship. On January 10th 2006, I was interviewed and cleared the test for US citizenship, and then my application of US citizenship was rejected on the basis of lack of moral character due to the judgment against me in July 2001. In the letter it said that I can reapply after July 13th 2006 or apply for rehearing. On April 18th 2006: I requested a rehearing application after submitting reference letters from leaders of the community. On May 30th, 2007: the Rehearing was held and I was told that they may not be able to overturn the earlier decision.
After this unique experience, I realized the true reality. I am not living in a country which is one nation and indivisible. Actually, we all live in segregated societies of people like us, may it be Asian, African, Hispanic or White. It would be naïve to believe that we have justice for all. It is a distant dream not a reality. I have realized that you can be punished for standing up for your rights, many times it is all about perception. If you go to jail, even fighting a good cause, you might be denied job opportunities and other rights of citizenship etc. After being fired from my then employer and denied opportunities in the private sector, I have founded EmTechPro based on my values of Honesty, Integrity, Trust, Compassion and Diversity. I aspire to build a global company, where employees from developing and developed countries work hand in hand to build better communities.
Sanjib K. Mohapatro
Founder of EmTechPro, Inc
Co-Founder of http://www.ucanswap.com/
404-552-2274 (direct)
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