India vs Indonesia

Indonesia my home for 15 years is now on the growth path, entering into the radar of the investors - 15 years back India was still coming out of the socialistic hindu growth rates - Indonesia then considered an Asean / Asian Tiger.

First sights from the skies was where am i coming to - a village with tiled houses! land and see the flyovers, toll roads, malls etc and you were amazed. Indonesian growth has not been that fast and India has caught up.

Talk to any indian expat now - he feels he has been left out of the tremendous growth opportunity. Talking to a Citi executive the other day - can't get a decent apartment for less than Rs 10 Crores - US$ 2.5 Mn - salaries have doubled in the past 6 months in India - and not much has happened here

Where does this lead one to ? should one head back home? should we invest whatever hard earned money in some property in india? will there be enough for the future - when you retire? questions pondering and roaming in the mind

But where is the network - how much friends do i know? can we restablish the contacts.. need to plan for the future soon....

Bringing up kids

While i was a kid used to wonder why my mom used to be so concerned and say her purpose in life was to get us, 4 children, educated, settled in life - and then she would be relieved of her responsibilities. She is a wonderful woman - how can i forget her constant motivation, follow up, strategy to make me focussed - carrot and stick, a wonderful doctor - who could get me up and running despite running a high fever in just hours - concocting the wonder kashayam!

Yesterday, was at dinner in friend's place - his daughter is off to Hong Kong for her university education. Memories of the not too distant past - getting shruthi into NUS - the tensions, constant worries, taunts, motivation and at the end of it sense of fulfillment and pride my little cute daughter could get into world famous university - her dream, her choice - came flashing by.

Now i can say my mom's worries were not unfounded. Indian society, parenting demands middle class families try to excel in their academics, get a decent education, settle down in life and then the whole cycle starts again!

Not to mention, the next one coming into the slot in couple of months - needs to be motivated! He can do it - but why am i so worried?

Jakarta has been a great place to bring up the family. Closeness, togetherness, sharing each other's joys and happiness, built a strong bonding among family members. Though away from home - relatives did affect the overall bringing up - the constant interaction has been plus point. Did it result in the kids not being street smart? Definitely no! but may be they do not have the characteristics of jealously, cut throat competition etc.,

Bhoomi has been their constant companion. from day 1 when shrutz n ash have gone to school she has tagged along. Wonderful motivator, constant support and a sense of assuredness that she is there to take care! May be i have not bothered much - but need to play my role at times

The new generation kids have higher IQ better personalities and ambitions than the earlier one. But advent of FB, internet have been their playground - instead of the real grounds.

Overall, lets hope bhoomi and me can say - we brought up our children and fullfilled our obligations well one day - and then retire!

Away from home : missing important events

Bhoomi's heart and mind were in Bangalore - ramping up and down wondering who would have come to Manglapondugal function in Kumar's place - did chitti come, did this relative come .. that one? i ask her why you are worried about who comes when you are hear away 6,000 kms from home but the heart and mind is there..

This is the dilemma faced by each and every NRI away from home. I missed Ganesh's wedding. I still regret not being able to go to appa's 60th anniversary - oh i could have been blessed - but that is life.

So when Bhoomi was in two minds - why many minds whether to go to the Upanayanam and when she mentioned the exams had been postponed by a week - off pack her to Chennai and then to Tanjore- surely the joy and happiness to be in the midst of one's close relatives especially in these social functions is surely something which you will not miss for the world - jyothi sukumar was right and may be it touched a chord in her heart.

Any way Bhoomi is away in Tanjore - kumar must be happy - Gacchu must be thrilled - Bhoomi will savor the company and the occasion why we still are away from home

One event not to be missed - the re union of MES class of 1984 - let me share the joys and happenings in the next post..

Memories of Father / FIL

Today is the 9th anniversary of FIL passing away. It is always brings grief that such great souls left - may be a couple of years more could have made some difference.

Father, who was a strict disciplinarian as for as food was concerned - had liver problems - undetected though some signs emerged but could not be detected early on. It was a shock when KGP's letter was received in Semarang - as i pondered over the reason for fixing Gun's marriage early. It turned out he had a few month's to live but they did not tell me the reason - any way the pain and suffering ended in 1998 - I could spend some time with him - still remember the doctor in Mallya Hospital tell him - dont worry Mr Vembu - you are doing fine - keep the tight dietary control and he telling me of his condition.

Bhoomi's father, though from the military did not have any signs of the heart problems - his trip to Indonesia was memorable - i watched the video of the trip couple of weeks back and memories came flooding. His sitting next to me in the car and saying "Babu. you drive - i will not sleep and later the snoring sounds in the co-captain's seat!" he could climb the borobudur steps - may be he was feeling the breathlessness but he tried. It was shocking when we received the news in Pinus 8 about his condition. Bhoomi reached the place and we followed

Anyway, they guide us from their heavenly bode and shower their blessings. Hope the blessings will help kumar and gacchu in their fight to take care of manan and abhi..

Day of recknoning always comes..

Life's journey

Arrived in this world .. Vellipalayam, Tanjore district in the mid 60's

From birth until 1974.. Chennai..

• Gopal street T Nagar,
• CPWD quarters, Besant Nagar,
• MIG flats in Besant Nagar,
• HIG Flats, in Besant Nagar

and then off to Bangalore when my father got a transfer

1974-1979.. Kendriya Vidyalaya, ASC Center, Bangalore

1979-1981.. Acharya patashala, NR Colony, Bangalore

1981 - 1984.. MES College, Malleswaram, Bangalore

1984.. Uma's wedding

1984.. Joined CA Articleship with Purushottaman & co., Bangalore

1984-1988.. T Sriram and Co., Richmond Road, Bangalore

1988-1992.. TVS Electronics, Pandithanahalli, Tumkur / Miller Road Bangalore

June 1990.. Met Bhoomi

Feb 1991.. My wedding

Nov 1991.. Arrival of my daughter

1992-1995.. Birla 3M Limited Bangalore

Oct 1995 .. Blessed with my Son

Dec 1995.. Leave for Indonesia .. Arr Semarang

1996.. Radhu's wedding

1997.. Ganesh's wedding.. I miss this important event

1997.. My father's 60th birthday.. Why did i not go?? I always ponder and regret my decision- due to circumstances !!

1997.. Shift to Jakarta/ Cikarang

Sept 1998.. Father leaves for heavenly abode

2004.. Leave Texmaco after so many years of good times, bad times, badder times ......

March 2004.. Join AKR

April 2004.. Move to Taman Anggrek

2007.. Ashwin's Poonal
2008.. Brindavan the dream home

2009.. Shruthi graduates from IB

2009.. Elevated as Director

2009.. Shruthi joins NUS

2009.. Voted best in Investor Relations - Asia Money

2010 .. Finance Asia Awards - AKR and Sorini Best Managed Investor Relations in Indonesia
2011..  Asiamoney award
2011..  Ashwin graduates IGCSE with distinction
2012..  Asiamoney best IR award
2012..  Sabarimala visit

....................

1997

Welcome to Jakarta

Jakarta, the hidden gem of the asean, my home for the last 15 years - most of my productive years have been spent here. Time to jot down my thoughts and happenings.... Welcome to my blog