Guyana Journal | Ashook Ramsaran

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Ashook Ramsaran
An Immigrant Success Story

Guyana Journal, December 2007

3 of 3
GJ: Can you talk about your business.
AR: Our company, Ramex, Inc, designs and manufactures patient-to-nurse signaling and inter-communications products primarily for the United States. These systems allow patients to place calls for bedside and emergency help and for the medical staff to respond promptly and efficiently to render required service. They are used primarily in hospitals, nursing and convalescent homes, as well as medical clinics. We maintain our competitiveness with good market trend analyses, engineering and quality products at competitive prices.

We market our products primarily in the United States due to the nature of the products, their fit, form and function, as well as the life safety regulations to which they comply. We do have a few low volume accounts in Canada, the Caribbean and South America. There is also one account in Singapore but not much sales activity. We do not have outside sales people. All sales are to accounts that are distributors and/or contractors who, in turn, sell to the end-users.

Due to the inherent nature of the products we design and manufacture, we have taken a strategic decision from the inception to limit our activity mainly to the Unites States – with sales of the same products to other areas if no changes are required.

Ramex is family owned and family run. My wife Camille is the Chairman, while I am the President and CEO of the company. I manage the high level, overall business operations. We have two sons and both are officers of Ramex. Our son Arnold is the Chief Engineer, and the younger son Gerald is the Director of Operations and Administration.

I started the company with one employee in 1988 and now have 17 employees in various departments from engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, receiving, customer service, accounting, and technical support. We also employ consultants and part-time employees at various times during the year. For the type of manufacturing business we have, the employee roll would have been higher but we opted to have the large quantity printed circuit boards assembled off premise and final assembly and testing done in-house at Ramex.

Of course, the initial start-up was in itself a risk, as in any business. The start-up costs, the concern of meeting weekly payroll costs, space lease and rental costs, materials purchases and expenses, and balancing those factors within expected sales levels contributed to quite some tense times. Of course, with opportunity and entrepreneurship there are inherent risks that I try to minimize even from the inception. I realized then that the road is not always smooth, so I had to be prepared to absorb some of the bumps along the way – at least not be too surprised when they did occur. But in the end, knowledge, experience, perseverance and hard work made a whole lot of difference and made me better prepared to handle the next day with increased levels of fortitude and confidence. Obviously, being one’s own boss reduces time for social activities as much as one would like. But over time I have learned to create a suitable and accommodating balance between my work, myself and my family.

Of course, there are bad moments as well. But I like to treat such bad moments as bumps along the way rather than adverse times. An example of that is when our company was involved in lengthy litigation with another company. But I have always believed that such challenges and difficulties keep me motivated to do better, become stronger to persevere, and disciplined not to repeat the same mistakes. Whether by intention or design, when something is done, I consider it as de facto done. Even with hand wringing and finger pointing, the fact is that it has taken place and has it associated consequences. How well we cope with that understanding and adapt to the consequences is a reflection of good leadership. Of course, it is always better that such adverse events do not take place, but once that happens, one has to accept it, deal with it and rebound from it. When making my evaluations, I try to take into consideration diverse factors that affect outcomes and so strive to minimize the risks and maximize the successes.

GJ: What does success mean to you?
AR: Success is not a simple definition for me – it is journey of life from beginning to the present time, and I have been tremendously fortunate that it has been a good one so far. Success for me is having a positive outlook and doing something rewarding each day while making a contribution for a better day overall. It is a combination of things, but personal satisfaction is important; this alone is motivation to do better each day.

GJ: Who or what have inspired you in your practical life?
AR: It cannot be defined as a single person or event. I would list: J.C, Chandisingh, Principal of Corentyne High School; my personal experiences along the journey of life; circumstances that nurture resilience, as well as adaptation without compromising basic guiding principles.

GJ: What is your credo, your guiding principles, if you like?
AR: I do not know if I can easily define that. It encompasses a whole series of basic principles that guide me in my daily life. In fact, I do believe in guiding principles and not in slogans because principles can withstand time and circumstances, whereas slogans may become passé, outdated and ineffective. I believe is responsibility – it is one fundamental principles that I try to observe in my everyday activities, both professionally and personally. That is, to hold oneself accountable and responsible for one’s actions. I do believe and practice responsibility at all levels, and I do encourage others to do the same as it is a moral/professional obligation and a duty to one’s own self, a satisfying and rewarding way of life.

Other guiding principles that are also very important to me include; dedication, enthusiasm, focus, good attitude, looking at the larger perspective, perseverance, positive thinking, goal oriented, benevolent, being grateful, supportive, compromise when appropriate, sharing and teaching.

I would also have to add courage, confidence, forthright expression and respect for others and their efforts, feelings, needs and expectations. In addition, being a good citizen and respect for law are fundamental to my guiding principles that allow me to be a confident participant in all aspects of society.

On both the social and professional levels, I try to lead by example, be more practical, and I do not like to complain about problems. Instead, I look for solutions first and foremost; excuses and complaining do not render solutions. “Want a better job, do a better job now”, I heard a supervisor admonish another employee while I worked as a young engineer. That is good advice that I have often repeated to others.

GJ: What do you do away from work?
AR: I like to watch documentaries of nature and human history, life stories of persons who made a difference, people who persevered under difficult conditions, notable persons who made changes, good and bad. I learn quite a lot from these types of documentaries and learn to also be guided by the worthy examples of those who went before me. In addition, it alerts me to mistakes by others that I can learn to avoid.

Reading of selected biographies and self taught guides for personal growth and business applications. I read the text, highlight the important portions and sometimes go back and read the highlighted portions. I marvel at great minds and strong leaders who charted courses that has changed history. I also admire intricate designs and delicate works of art – they bring out the best in human patience and emotion.

I like to travel and marvel at how other people live, then and now. I like to do advanced reading of a notable place I am visiting so I can relate to it and gain some useful knowledge from such visits.

I am not a writer of books but I like to write, perhaps because I do know that I am fortunate to be able to write in excellent grammatical form and with methodical thought process. I write articles on various topics for publications, newspapers, internet broadcast, press releases for GOPIO, develop technical criteria and product specifications, operational and technical manuals, mission statements for GOPIO, editor of two newsletters, and write in a daily journal. It is simply that I love to put things down on paper (or on the hard drive as is now commonly stated). There is paper in almost every place in our house.

GJ: We all have special life’s experiences. What are yours?
AR: Several, and in no particular order of special significance: The day I was married. The day I left Guyana in 1968, watching my pregnant wife and family as the airplane took off. The moment I saw our son Arnold upon my return to Guyana in June 1968 – he was born after I had left Guyana. The moment I saw our son Gerald born in New York in July 1970. The first glimpse of grandson Jaden in January 2005, , and then Gavin subsequently in November 2007. Camille and I visiting the Taj Mahal in January 2007.

GJ: So family is priority? Who are these individuals?
AR: My wife Camille is a homemaker – a wonderful life partner, very supportive friend and confidant, a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother, but also integrally involved in the Ramex business on high level decisions.

Son Arnold is an electronics engineer and manages technical matters at Ramex. He is married to Nadira (nee Nadira Shivcharran) whose parents are also from Guyana.

Son Gerald has a solid education in business/marketing and manages the administrative, sales and financial aspects of the business. He is married to Rachel (nee Rachel Moti) whose parents are also from Guyana. They are parents of our grandsons Jaden and Gavin.

GJ: Reflect if you will on some perspectives.
AR: As I have advanced in years, I have vastly increased my level of personal maturity and wisdom. This has greatly helped me to always maintain my personal integrity and trust. I take the utmost care to be respectful and protect my honor and trust – which I know can so easily be tarnished. I realize that so much could be forever damaged and lost with foolish mistakes that I have seen others make, and there is too much to lose. I try to pass these on to my family.

I believe that trust and respect are to be earned, not acquired or bestowed, and must be protected and not compromised. Trust is not a reward.

I tend to look for the positive and hope for the better. Some people smell flowers and look for a funeral. It is better to savor the moment of beauty, joy and wonderment.

GJ: What were/are some challenging times?
AR: I would have to mention three instances which I would certainly describe as being the worst moments in my life. They are not necessarily the results of my actions, yet they affected me in ways that I will always remember.

The first is the serious illness and hospitalization of son Arnold soon after his arrival in the United States. He was born in the tropical climate and did not have the shots that are mandatory in the USA. We as very young and naive parents had no guidance and as the colder weather approached, Arnold suffered a serious asthma attack and was hospitalized. It was so devastating to us especially Camille and we had no one here to provide support or advice, except for the small group of ‘boys’ I had encouraged to come. I remember the first night when we left Arnold in the hospital overnight. He was looking at us from the bed and crying, and at the same time Camille doing the same (as well as myself). I kept thinking to myself how would I ever forgive myself or Camille for bringing them to the USA and causing a catastrophe of such enormity.

We had no money to pay for the hospital and medical costs, but the City of New York was so generous to us, providing us with all the medical care and subsequent clinical visits free of charge. Camille and I struggled through this ordeal. She went daily to the hospital and stayed there all day while I went to school and joined her later, and we both stayed with Arnold. The same scenario repeated every night when we were leaving – such heart wrenching moments. Arnold recovered and we took him for all the shots, but it would be a while before he overcame that illness. It was perhaps the worst moment. Chances are that it could have been catastrophic.

The second one would be the following: A terribly horrific incident took place in 1979 with personally heart wrenching consequences that forever affected my feelings and how I cope under severely adverse conditions. The aftermath of racial attacks perpetrated against my family and me was bitter and forever haunting.

I was a young engineer working on a new electronic patient-nursing staff signaling and communication system and was sent on an overnight trip to New Orleans, Louisiana to represent our company at a meeting of a major hospital group having an interest in procuring several of the systems, an annual contract worth possibly millions of dollars. Camille and I had just purchased our first house, with Arnie and Gerry being very young children, moving less than one mile away from the apartment we had rented for years.

I arrived at the hotel in New Orleans late in the afternoon and an older black man, well dressed, uniformed hotel worker met me in front to carry my bags, looked at me and asked me if I was sure this was the hotel I had booked. It was a very classy, upper class hotel that the company had booked for me. I said yes, and he asked me again if I was sure. I suspected then that it was because of my color, so I told him, “If anyone has a problem, it is their problem, not mine.” I checked in amidst some obvious glares from other guests in the lobby, but without thinking about it again. I went about with the attitude that it was not my problem – if there was a problem. I had a light snack and went to sleep to get rested for the big meeting the next morning.

I had just dozed off at about 10:00pm when the telephone rang and Camille informed me that our house had just been the target of a barrage of stones, rocks and bricks from culprits that demolished the front windows and sent rocks all over inside the house, with two large sized ones into the bedroom and nearly hit the kids while they were sleeping. Obviously, it was so devastatingly frightening for Camille to endure while I felt so helpless being all the way in New Orleans. Naturally, I decided instantly that I had to return home and immediately went to the airport to get the first flight out. It was quite late and the only way to get home was via three connections (New Orleans, Dallas, Atlanta, New York) which would bring me back to NY at 6:30am the next morning. I thus embarked on that long and seemingly never-ending journey, obviously one without any sleep.

I used the public telephones at the connecting airports to call Camille and reassured her that I would be home early the next morning.

The police was called and they arrived and took statements but could not see anyone to arrest because the culprits were already gone. It was with sheer courage, determination and perseverance that we survived through that ordeal.

I arrived home at 7:30am and the four of us hugged amidst lots of tears and anguish. They were so glad to see me as I was to see them, and I was so relieved that none of them was hurt. It was such a sense of relief as well as that of gratitude that there was no injury to any of us. Yet it was a time of extreme desperation as we had to decide what to do – whether to stay in the neighborhood or move elsewhere. But the important thing was that we had to make that decision soon and it would affect how we lived afterwards.

We surveyed the damage to the house and I called the police commander to come, as well as the city’s largest selling newspaper. The article was a major news item the next day, and the police was shamed into allowing such racial violence to occur. We cleaned up the place and had the windows repaired and new glass panes in place within three hours.

For me and Camille, it was a violent awakening to the realities of racism and its devastating effects on people’s lives. We decided to confront the problem and not run away from it. We decided to stay right there because it was the right thing to do despite all the odds and the caution by others. It was a decision I clearly remember to this day, a decision that marked my determination to overcome obstacles and hardships imposed by others. It was one of those huge bumps in the road that made me dizzy while it happened, but afforded me a sense of courage and resilience even with the hard and unexpected landing.

The attack on our house was repeated two more times and then subsided. Each time brought new fear and intimidation, as well as our own self-doubts, but we persevered nevertheless.

To this day I will never forget the extent of harm perpetuated on us because of racial prejudice. The experience has been etched indelibly in my mind and I can forgive but cannot forget. It was truly a sad time and one I would qualify as the worst nightmare I endured.

I endured anguish and suffering during that time and for a while afterwards just thinking about it, but I have resolved to forego that experience and move forward with life in a more determined way and to look at the obstacles and hardships as challenges to be overcome. I had to be the champion for Camille who was also very strong, the kids and myself – and I resolved to overcome this experience. Hopefully, I have done so in a good and measured way and have passed on this positive attitude on to Camille, Arnie and Gerry.

The third incident caused tremendous adverse effects and implications on many on a global scale.

On September 11, 2001 the United States was attacked by terrorists that caused death, destruction, havoc and fear, that forever affected how we lived thereafter. I felt as if I had been personally attacked as I surveyed the aftermath and long lasting effects. That created a sort of permanent sense of fear of the unknown that reminds me of the frailty of life from time to time, especially when I travel by airplanes, which I do on a regular basis.

I have endured a deep sense of loss, knowing that the targeted innocent have perished and will continue to do so as they have throughout history. I truly felt violated and sad as I love my adopted homeland which has afforded me and millions like me such wonderful opportunities that are beyond imagination anywhere else.

Besides the tragedy, the losses and the continuing fear of the unexpected, daily life itself has been transformed from a trusting society to one that has become very suspicious and paranoid. It was one dastardly act that continuously wields an invisible sword.

Despite these difficulties that had severe impact on me at the time of occurrence and subsequently as well, I tend to look forward and strive to overcome them, looking at ways to nurture the necessary ingredients for a better next day – even in the midst of seemingly overwhelming odds.

GJ: What do you like most in life? Or the least?
AR: Simple and basic Things: That which is natural, unblemished, useful and real.

Qualities: Good attitude. Supportive. Understanding. Tolerant. Hard working. Disciplined. Goal oriented. Kind and good natured. Forgiving. Compassionate

Least: Bad attitude. Complaining. Lack of motivation. Unsympathetic. Selfish. Unforgiving. Jealous people. Gossiping people.

GJ: What would you to be remember for?
AR: I do not think it would be appropriate for me to write my own legacy. I would prefer to leave that task to others after I am gone. Suffice it to say, however, that my legacy should reflect my life’s journey that I have traveled and how I helped to facilitate love, shared happiness and betterment to those close to me as well as those I do not know yet contributed to their welfare. It should reflect the contribution of time, talent, effort, resources and use of skills that I have given to worthy causes that are in line with my core beliefs. That I strived to shine the light and not keep it hidden, that have tried to enlighten others and advice them towards betterment in life.

That I tried my utmost to be a good husband, father and grandfather, sharing my love and affection that gave me more in return. That I lived a decent, law-abiding life without malice, anger or hatred for anyone or anything. That I overcame obstacles, struggles and difficulties in life that fostered perseverance, diligence and discipline to face the next challenges. That I embraced and practiced positive thinking in things I do. That I practiced tolerance, respect and understanding that beget better results in life. That I respect all life and acknowledge the symbiotic relationship between all life and the environment. That there is goodness in everyone and everything, and efforts should be directed at bringing out the best in all people and things, and not to seek the worst. That I leave the world in somewhat better condition than when I arrived.

Ashook Ramsaran

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Ashook Ramsaran
An Immigrant Success Story

Guyana Journal, December 2007

3 of 3
GJ: Can you talk about your business.
AR: Our company, Ramex, Inc, designs and manufactures patient-to-nurse signaling and inter-communications products primarily for the United States. These systems allow patients to place calls for bedside and emergency help and for the medical staff to respond promptly and efficiently to render required service. They are used primarily in hospitals, nursing and convalescent homes, as well as medical clinics. We maintain our competitiveness with good market trend analyses, engineering and quality products at competitive prices.

We market our products primarily in the United States due to the nature of the products, their fit, form and function, as well as the life safety regulations to which they comply. We do have a few low volume accounts in Canada, the Caribbean and South America. There is also one account in Singapore but not much sales activity. We do not have outside sales people. All sales are to accounts that are distributors and/or contractors who, in turn, sell to the end-users.

Due to the inherent nature of the products we design and manufacture, we have taken a strategic decision from the inception to limit our activity mainly to the Unites States – with sales of the same products to other areas if no changes are required.

Ramex is family owned and family run. My wife Camille is the Chairman, while I am the President and CEO of the company. I manage the high level, overall business operations. We have two sons and both are officers of Ramex. Our son Arnold is the Chief Engineer, and the younger son Gerald is the Director of Operations and Administration.

I started the company with one employee in 1988 and now have 17 employees in various departments from engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, receiving, customer service, accounting, and technical support. We also employ consultants and part-time employees at various times during the year. For the type of manufacturing business we have, the employee roll would have been higher but we opted to have the large quantity printed circuit boards assembled off premise and final assembly and testing done in-house at Ramex.

Of course, the initial start-up was in itself a risk, as in any business. The start-up costs, the concern of meeting weekly payroll costs, space lease and rental costs, materials purchases and expenses, and balancing those factors within expected sales levels contributed to quite some tense times. Of course, with opportunity and entrepreneurship there are inherent risks that I try to minimize even from the inception. I realized then that the road is not always smooth, so I had to be prepared to absorb some of the bumps along the way – at least not be too surprised when they did occur. But in the end, knowledge, experience, perseverance and hard work made a whole lot of difference and made me better prepared to handle the next day with increased levels of fortitude and confidence. Obviously, being one’s own boss reduces time for social activities as much as one would like. But over time I have learned to create a suitable and accommodating balance between my work, myself and my family.

Of course, there are bad moments as well. But I like to treat such bad moments as bumps along the way rather than adverse times. An example of that is when our company was involved in lengthy litigation with another company. But I have always believed that such challenges and difficulties keep me motivated to do better, become stronger to persevere, and disciplined not to repeat the same mistakes. Whether by intention or design, when something is done, I consider it as de facto done. Even with hand wringing and finger pointing, the fact is that it has taken place and has it associated consequences. How well we cope with that understanding and adapt to the consequences is a reflection of good leadership. Of course, it is always better that such adverse events do not take place, but once that happens, one has to accept it, deal with it and rebound from it. When making my evaluations, I try to take into consideration diverse factors that affect outcomes and so strive to minimize the risks and maximize the successes.

GJ: What does success mean to you?
AR: Success is not a simple definition for me – it is journey of life from beginning to the present time, and I have been tremendously fortunate that it has been a good one so far. Success for me is having a positive outlook and doing something rewarding each day while making a contribution for a better day overall. It is a combination of things, but personal satisfaction is important; this alone is motivation to do better each day.

GJ: Who or what have inspired you in your practical life?
AR: It cannot be defined as a single person or event. I would list: J.C, Chandisingh, Principal of Corentyne High School; my personal experiences along the journey of life; circumstances that nurture resilience, as well as adaptation without compromising basic guiding principles.

GJ: What is your credo, your guiding principles, if you like?
AR: I do not know if I can easily define that. It encompasses a whole series of basic principles that guide me in my daily life. In fact, I do believe in guiding principles and not in slogans because principles can withstand time and circumstances, whereas slogans may become passé, outdated and ineffective. I believe is responsibility – it is one fundamental principles that I try to observe in my everyday activities, both professionally and personally. That is, to hold oneself accountable and responsible for one’s actions. I do believe and practice responsibility at all levels, and I do encourage others to do the same as it is a moral/professional obligation and a duty to one’s own self, a satisfying and rewarding way of life.

Other guiding principles that are also very important to me include; dedication, enthusiasm, focus, good attitude, looking at the larger perspective, perseverance, positive thinking, goal oriented, benevolent, being grateful, supportive, compromise when appropriate, sharing and teaching.

I would also have to add courage, confidence, forthright expression and respect for others and their efforts, feelings, needs and expectations. In addition, being a good citizen and respect for law are fundamental to my guiding principles that allow me to be a confident participant in all aspects of society.

On both the social and professional levels, I try to lead by example, be more practical, and I do not like to complain about problems. Instead, I look for solutions first and foremost; excuses and complaining do not render solutions. “Want a better job, do a better job now”, I heard a supervisor admonish another employee while I worked as a young engineer. That is good advice that I have often repeated to others.

GJ: What do you do away from work?
AR: I like to watch documentaries of nature and human history, life stories of persons who made a difference, people who persevered under difficult conditions, notable persons who made changes, good and bad. I learn quite a lot from these types of documentaries and learn to also be guided by the worthy examples of those who went before me. In addition, it alerts me to mistakes by others that I can learn to avoid.

Reading of selected biographies and self taught guides for personal growth and business applications. I read the text, highlight the important portions and sometimes go back and read the highlighted portions. I marvel at great minds and strong leaders who charted courses that has changed history. I also admire intricate designs and delicate works of art – they bring out the best in human patience and emotion.

I like to travel and marvel at how other people live, then and now. I like to do advanced reading of a notable place I am visiting so I can relate to it and gain some useful knowledge from such visits.

I am not a writer of books but I like to write, perhaps because I do know that I am fortunate to be able to write in excellent grammatical form and with methodical thought process. I write articles on various topics for publications, newspapers, internet broadcast, press releases for GOPIO, develop technical criteria and product specifications, operational and technical manuals, mission statements for GOPIO, editor of two newsletters, and write in a daily journal. It is simply that I love to put things down on paper (or on the hard drive as is now commonly stated). There is paper in almost every place in our house.

GJ: We all have special life’s experiences. What are yours?
AR: Several, and in no particular order of special significance: The day I was married. The day I left Guyana in 1968, watching my pregnant wife and family as the airplane took off. The moment I saw our son Arnold upon my return to Guyana in June 1968 – he was born after I had left Guyana. The moment I saw our son Gerald born in New York in July 1970. The first glimpse of grandson Jaden in January 2005, , and then Gavin subsequently in November 2007. Camille and I visiting the Taj Mahal in January 2007.

GJ: So family is priority? Who are these individuals?
AR: My wife Camille is a homemaker – a wonderful life partner, very supportive friend and confidant, a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother, but also integrally involved in the Ramex business on high level decisions.

Son Arnold is an electronics engineer and manages technical matters at Ramex. He is married to Nadira (nee Nadira Shivcharran) whose parents are also from Guyana.

Son Gerald has a solid education in business/marketing and manages the administrative, sales and financial aspects of the business. He is married to Rachel (nee Rachel Moti) whose parents are also from Guyana. They are parents of our grandsons Jaden and Gavin.

GJ: Reflect if you will on some perspectives.
AR: As I have advanced in years, I have vastly increased my level of personal maturity and wisdom. This has greatly helped me to always maintain my personal integrity and trust. I take the utmost care to be respectful and protect my honor and trust – which I know can so easily be tarnished. I realize that so much could be forever damaged and lost with foolish mistakes that I have seen others make, and there is too much to lose. I try to pass these on to my family.

I believe that trust and respect are to be earned, not acquired or bestowed, and must be protected and not compromised. Trust is not a reward.

I tend to look for the positive and hope for the better. Some people smell flowers and look for a funeral. It is better to savor the moment of beauty, joy and wonderment.

GJ: What were/are some challenging times?
AR: I would have to mention three instances which I would certainly describe as being the worst moments in my life. They are not necessarily the results of my actions, yet they affected me in ways that I will always remember.

The first is the serious illness and hospitalization of son Arnold soon after his arrival in the United States. He was born in the tropical climate and did not have the shots that are mandatory in the USA. We as very young and naive parents had no guidance and as the colder weather approached, Arnold suffered a serious asthma attack and was hospitalized. It was so devastating to us especially Camille and we had no one here to provide support or advice, except for the small group of ‘boys’ I had encouraged to come. I remember the first night when we left Arnold in the hospital overnight. He was looking at us from the bed and crying, and at the same time Camille doing the same (as well as myself). I kept thinking to myself how would I ever forgive myself or Camille for bringing them to the USA and causing a catastrophe of such enormity.

We had no money to pay for the hospital and medical costs, but the City of New York was so generous to us, providing us with all the medical care and subsequent clinical visits free of charge. Camille and I struggled through this ordeal. She went daily to the hospital and stayed there all day while I went to school and joined her later, and we both stayed with Arnold. The same scenario repeated every night when we were leaving – such heart wrenching moments. Arnold recovered and we took him for all the shots, but it would be a while before he overcame that illness. It was perhaps the worst moment. Chances are that it could have been catastrophic.

The second one would be the following: A terribly horrific incident took place in 1979 with personally heart wrenching consequences that forever affected my feelings and how I cope under severely adverse conditions. The aftermath of racial attacks perpetrated against my family and me was bitter and forever haunting.

I was a young engineer working on a new electronic patient-nursing staff signaling and communication system and was sent on an overnight trip to New Orleans, Louisiana to represent our company at a meeting of a major hospital group having an interest in procuring several of the systems, an annual contract worth possibly millions of dollars. Camille and I had just purchased our first house, with Arnie and Gerry being very young children, moving less than one mile away from the apartment we had rented for years.

I arrived at the hotel in New Orleans late in the afternoon and an older black man, well dressed, uniformed hotel worker met me in front to carry my bags, looked at me and asked me if I was sure this was the hotel I had booked. It was a very classy, upper class hotel that the company had booked for me. I said yes, and he asked me again if I was sure. I suspected then that it was because of my color, so I told him, “If anyone has a problem, it is their problem, not mine.” I checked in amidst some obvious glares from other guests in the lobby, but without thinking about it again. I went about with the attitude that it was not my problem – if there was a problem. I had a light snack and went to sleep to get rested for the big meeting the next morning.

I had just dozed off at about 10:00pm when the telephone rang and Camille informed me that our house had just been the target of a barrage of stones, rocks and bricks from culprits that demolished the front windows and sent rocks all over inside the house, with two large sized ones into the bedroom and nearly hit the kids while they were sleeping. Obviously, it was so devastatingly frightening for Camille to endure while I felt so helpless being all the way in New Orleans. Naturally, I decided instantly that I had to return home and immediately went to the airport to get the first flight out. It was quite late and the only way to get home was via three connections (New Orleans, Dallas, Atlanta, New York) which would bring me back to NY at 6:30am the next morning. I thus embarked on that long and seemingly never-ending journey, obviously one without any sleep.

I used the public telephones at the connecting airports to call Camille and reassured her that I would be home early the next morning.

The police was called and they arrived and took statements but could not see anyone to arrest because the culprits were already gone. It was with sheer courage, determination and perseverance that we survived through that ordeal.

I arrived home at 7:30am and the four of us hugged amidst lots of tears and anguish. They were so glad to see me as I was to see them, and I was so relieved that none of them was hurt. It was such a sense of relief as well as that of gratitude that there was no injury to any of us. Yet it was a time of extreme desperation as we had to decide what to do – whether to stay in the neighborhood or move elsewhere. But the important thing was that we had to make that decision soon and it would affect how we lived afterwards.

We surveyed the damage to the house and I called the police commander to come, as well as the city’s largest selling newspaper. The article was a major news item the next day, and the police was shamed into allowing such racial violence to occur. We cleaned up the place and had the windows repaired and new glass panes in place within three hours.

For me and Camille, it was a violent awakening to the realities of racism and its devastating effects on people’s lives. We decided to confront the problem and not run away from it. We decided to stay right there because it was the right thing to do despite all the odds and the caution by others. It was a decision I clearly remember to this day, a decision that marked my determination to overcome obstacles and hardships imposed by others. It was one of those huge bumps in the road that made me dizzy while it happened, but afforded me a sense of courage and resilience even with the hard and unexpected landing.

The attack on our house was repeated two more times and then subsided. Each time brought new fear and intimidation, as well as our own self-doubts, but we persevered nevertheless.

To this day I will never forget the extent of harm perpetuated on us because of racial prejudice. The experience has been etched indelibly in my mind and I can forgive but cannot forget. It was truly a sad time and one I would qualify as the worst nightmare I endured.

I endured anguish and suffering during that time and for a while afterwards just thinking about it, but I have resolved to forego that experience and move forward with life in a more determined way and to look at the obstacles and hardships as challenges to be overcome. I had to be the champion for Camille who was also very strong, the kids and myself – and I resolved to overcome this experience. Hopefully, I have done so in a good and measured way and have passed on this positive attitude on to Camille, Arnie and Gerry.

The third incident caused tremendous adverse effects and implications on many on a global scale.

On September 11, 2001 the United States was attacked by terrorists that caused death, destruction, havoc and fear, that forever affected how we lived thereafter. I felt as if I had been personally attacked as I surveyed the aftermath and long lasting effects. That created a sort of permanent sense of fear of the unknown that reminds me of the frailty of life from time to time, especially when I travel by airplanes, which I do on a regular basis.

I have endured a deep sense of loss, knowing that the targeted innocent have perished and will continue to do so as they have throughout history. I truly felt violated and sad as I love my adopted homeland which has afforded me and millions like me such wonderful opportunities that are beyond imagination anywhere else.

Besides the tragedy, the losses and the continuing fear of the unexpected, daily life itself has been transformed from a trusting society to one that has become very suspicious and paranoid. It was one dastardly act that continuously wields an invisible sword.

Despite these difficulties that had severe impact on me at the time of occurrence and subsequently as well, I tend to look forward and strive to overcome them, looking at ways to nurture the necessary ingredients for a better next day – even in the midst of seemingly overwhelming odds.

GJ: What do you like most in life? Or the least?
AR: Simple and basic Things: That which is natural, unblemished, useful and real.

Qualities: Good attitude. Supportive. Understanding. Tolerant. Hard working. Disciplined. Goal oriented. Kind and good natured. Forgiving. Compassionate

Least: Bad attitude. Complaining. Lack of motivation. Unsympathetic. Selfish. Unforgiving. Jealous people. Gossiping people.

GJ: What would you to be remember for?
AR: I do not think it would be appropriate for me to write my own legacy. I would prefer to leave that task to others after I am gone. Suffice it to say, however, that my legacy should reflect my life’s journey that I have traveled and how I helped to facilitate love, shared happiness and betterment to those close to me as well as those I do not know yet contributed to their welfare. It should reflect the contribution of time, talent, effort, resources and use of skills that I have given to worthy causes that are in line with my core beliefs. That I strived to shine the light and not keep it hidden, that have tried to enlighten others and advice them towards betterment in life.

That I tried my utmost to be a good husband, father and grandfather, sharing my love and affection that gave me more in return. That I lived a decent, law-abiding life without malice, anger or hatred for anyone or anything. That I overcame obstacles, struggles and difficulties in life that fostered perseverance, diligence and discipline to face the next challenges. That I embraced and practiced positive thinking in things I do. That I practiced tolerance, respect and understanding that beget better results in life. That I respect all life and acknowledge the symbiotic relationship between all life and the environment. That there is goodness in everyone and everything, and efforts should be directed at bringing out the best in all people and things, and not to seek the worst. That I leave the world in somewhat better condition than when I arrived.

Ashook Ramsaran