Rajendra Mehta - Quest for the American Dream

QUEST FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM

Quest for the American Dream

Dr. Rajendra Mehta

Copyright 2021

All Rights Reserved

ISBN:

QUEST FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM

QUEST FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM

To my parents, whose humble sacrifices, love and confidence in my abilities and in me made this journeypossible.

To my beautiful wife, Rajeshwari and sons, Sonkulp and Prerak for their unconditional love and supportin everything I do..

DR. RAJENDRA MEHTA

Acknowledgment

I would like to Thank Mr. Sam Jordan for critically editing this book and providing valuable suggestions for the successful completion of this biography.

QUEST FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM

About the Author

Dr. Rajendra (Raju) Mehta is a Retired Head of Cancer Biology and Emeritus Professor. He was born in a relatively small town in India when there was no electricity or running water. He completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biology in India and moved to the USA for further studies at the University of California, Berkeley, fifty years back. So there was no thought of living the American dream when he was growing up.

After several hurdles and moments of happiness in the USA, he completed his doctorate with a focus on cancer research. He started as a postdoctoral fellow and was lucky enough to eventually climb the academic ladder to become a full-time professor in a Medical School. He published his research extensively in high-visibility peer-reviewed journals, and his work has been well recognized internationally. He has a very loving family comprising of a scientist wife and two sons. He also was named an outstanding new citizen of the year by Chicago Metropolitan Commission when he became a US citizen. So the concept of the Quest for the American Dream is a result of opportunity, hard work, and facing hurdles. In this book, Raju describes the path which made him achieve the American Dream. He was able to make way for his siblings to live the American Dream and be successful financially and academically. So Quest for American Dream is a biography of Raju Mehta, taking the readers through his journey from a small town in India to the USA and a bird eye glimpses of his travel through many countries, experiencing other cultures and sharing his research.

He also describes his scientific accomplishments in a nutshell. He truly believes that even though one can live an affluent life in the USA, the love and affection one gets from their family are not replaceable. He hopes that this book will serve as an example for the younger generation that if you put your heart in it, anything is possible, and everyone can succeed in pursuing their goals.

DR. RAJENDRA MEHTA

Foreword

It gives me immense pleasure to share my views on your book 'Quest for the American Dream,' which is a journey of your memories aspirations, struggles, and achievements over the years. Being at the age of 91, I might be considered an elderly of our family, but your book made me travel through my days of youth when all the young people dreamed of studying and settling in the United States of America (USA). While studying, even I dreamed of becoming a doctor and building my future in the USA. I even remember instances when students like us visited Pandits and Gurus to analyze the astrological charts to find if we could visit America in our lifetime. It was a dream of all, and rarely one or two could make that dream come true. I am so proud that you had a dream for America, and you could make it true.

While reading the book, it brought me all the visuals from our town Dabhoi, modestly described in the initial chapters. How more could I relate to the challenges faced in those days and the lack of amenities in our town. There were problems related to basic amenities like electricity, clean water, and communication that today's young people cannot even think of. Even the minute details which you have shared regarding the celebrations in the town when the electricity was installed in homes, would give a great reference to the life in past for the children of our families and youth of today. The sharing about your schooling days has such interesting moments that I can very well relate to.

Raju, you had left the country at a very young age, with all the courage and motivation to begin a new life in a new country. After you left the country, our interactions were very sparse, but you always had warmth when you visited India. I was always close to your elder brother Virendra as we were almost the same age and studied together. He was more of a brother than a friend, and he always mentioned your struggle and progress in America. I even was very close to your dad and my uncle (Govind Mama) and Mami as I had spent few months of my life at your place. After moving to America, Mama and Mami always mentioned the communication gap due to the lack of technology. There were times when they used to wait for your letters constantly. How different is the world today when I am sitting in India and writing a foreword for your book to be published in the US?

This book shares how you have passed through layers of struggle and reached your dream in the end. While thinking of the US, most people think of conventional jobs, but it is noteworthy how you kept academics your focus. Achieving a doctorate degree and carrying out research in Cancer Biology is not a common man's task, which makes you unique amongst all. I was also happy to learn that your research has not been limited to the US, but you have shared it across the world in the form of papers and presentations. Visiting different countries with the particular purpose of sharing your knowledge is a great achievement.

QUEST FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM

I believe that nothing great happens without a great family. I also have memories of your marriage. This book teaches more about your wife Rajeshwari and how she has been a constant support in building your future. Not only are you contributing to the needed field of Cancer research, but even Rajeshwari also achieved her doctorate and is contributing to Cancer Research for the common good.

Your family's values can be seen from the growth and development of Sonkulp and Prerak, your children.

I always can relate to what Govind mama has given in the roots of your family the humbleness

thoughtfulness, and love. Even after facing several difficulties, your children have been able to reach levels of meeting and sharing their ideas with the president of the USA. I can recall that each time you visited India or even in the US, you were always connected with the families and the roots of your country.

This book 'Quest for the American Dream' would be an excellent book for the current and future generation to learn more about the roots of the dreams and how constant effort and dedication could make you achieve all your dreams. It would also be a great reference to the town of Dabhoi, the amenities in the past, and the family systems and value systems that exist in our country. Its a very different world today from where you started, where communication, electricity, water, transport, and travel to other countries have comparatively become easier for almost all of us. The book would also stand as a beautiful reference and point of remembrance for the young people and the elderly to imbibe the values amongst their children and nurture them for a bright future. Thus, this book would always stay as a learning and sharing document for families'