Vivek Sreedhar, NRI author of Ketchup & Curry, has written a guide book of sorts that offers a roadmap to living and succeeding in the USA. “When I first moved here, the Americans saw us as resident aliens,” he says, with a laugh.
This debutant author adopts a humorous stance rather than a preachy tone to make his point. “The book tells the story of every Indian who went to America in the hope of living the American dream. India sends more of its students and employees abroad than most other countries in the world. And many of them go to America. When they arrive, they are in for the culture shock of their lives.
From having to immediately modify their name (Annapoorna becomes Anna) to knowing how to field curious Americans’ questions, it can be an overwhelming transition. So, this book narrates the adventures of Subramaniam Venkataraman Parthasarathy (Subbu) in America. From checking horoscopes and astrologers to choosing a university to making customs officers sneeze because of the spices he is carrying in his luggage — these are some of the ‘adventures’ that Subbu goes through,” Vivek says.
Being inspired by the books of Timothy Ferriss, Vivek adapted the style of writing to educate as well as inspire people. He made an easy-to-read story with minor tips infused in his character implying, ‘If Subbu can learn this, then anybody can.’ He adds, “I realised that nobody likes being told what to do, which made me deliver a book that imparts tips in a light-hearted way rather than adopting a know-it-all tone.”
Vivek also talks about the other side — the curiosity of Americans about India and its culture. “I have been asked many amusing questions by my American friends. ‘Do you speak Indian?’, ‘Is beef sacred in India?’, ‘Are you serious that your parents are going to find a bride for you?’, ‘Indian headshakes — is that a yes or a no,’ are a few of the questions that I have come across during my stay in this country. That’s what spurred me to write this book — to bridge the gap between Indian and American culture,” he says.
