From Vilayur to Baltimore: A Lifelong Journey of Learning & Discovery

by Gopal Dorai

Dorai's personal journey of achievement spans across several decades and is educational as well as entertaining. His touching honesty allows readers the opportunity to experience America through an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1934696099
• ISBN13: 9781934696095
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: American Literary Press
• Length: 205 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A journey to remember

FROM VILAYUR TO BALTIMORE by Gopal Dorai is the story of his life from his birth in a small village in India, Vilayur, to his eventual retirement in Baltimore. Life in his village was somewhat hard financially, yet those who lived there were surrounded by peace, love and family. They were farmers who grew most of their food. Youngsters were expected to help out with household chores, as well as farming chores. Education, while available, was a good long walk away, yet Gopal and his siblings did it, and several of them moved on to higher education. After completing his Master's degree, he began to look toward America for his Ph.D. Arriving in The United States was certainly a different experience. In 1963 there were not many Indian immigrants and restaurants or stores selling the food, he and his wife, Kamala, were used to eating, were scarce. Now, of course, it is different and there are many Indian restaurants and places to buy the correct spices. This is a very interesting and entertaining autobiography. There are many differences in Indian culture and culture in America. Gopal met Kamala while he was a teacher and she a student. They did manage to see each other, as well as secretly marry and eventually had two daughters. Kamala finished her degree and became a teacher while Gopal worked at universities, teaching economics. The end of the books gives good, sound advice about living and surviving in this world. All throughout the book, Gopal tells of his trials and mistakes and how he overcame them. It is a book well worth reading. Reviewed by Alice Holman of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Inspirational

Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (7/08) "From Vilayur to Baltimore" author Gopal Dorai has provided readers with a very detailed picture of life in India, poverty, struggles and family strength through his eyes. In his unique ability to graphically describe details the author also provides words of wisdom and lessons he learned along the way. Dorai's book covers village life, cultural and religious traditions and family responsibilities, as well as his adventurous trip to America to continue his education. This reader found the author's description of being an immigrant in the United States very informational. He spoke of the struggles of trying to adapt to a new culture and how prejudices followed him everywhere. I now have a new appreciation for the hardships immigrants have in our country. In "From Vilayur to Baltimore," author Gopal Dorai has also included words of wisdom which all will be able to relate to and sometimes don't realize until later in life.