'British Asian Refugee' Ram Gidoomal pens memoir

New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) A surprise family party to celebrate his 70th birthday sparked idea of a memoir in which UK-based Ram Gidoomal charts his journey from being an Indian migrant to a successful entrepreneur.

"My Silk Ro: ventures and Struggles of a British Asian Refugee" has been published by Pippa Rann Books and Media U.K. and distributed in India by Penguin Random House.

Born in a migrant Indian family of silk trers that fled British India during Partition, Gidoomal's early life in coastal Kenyan city of Mombasa seemed charmed with wealth and success.

However, losing all of this overnight through a second deportation this time from Kenya to UK, he saw course of his life change beyond recognition.

Despite having h his dreams and plans ripped away from him, Gidoomal worked tirelessly, fighting to overcome every obstacle, and finally succeeded in gaining back wealth and reputation.

However, on reaching his late thirties, an unusual day trip in Mumbai changed his life forever, transforming him from someone enriching himself and his shareholders to someone enriching world. And this time, change was his choice.

Aiming to encourage those who are struggling to move forward in life, Gidoomal shares stories that demonstrate difference me by a can-do attitude, by a spirit of generosity and by prioritising relationships. Through all se, he shares secrets of living a life that marries deep compassion with success, a generous life that reaps unexpected rewards.

Starting from scratch, Gidoomal built a successful career in business and was firmly on ro to prosperity and fortune.

idea for this book sparked on his 70th birthday celebration. It was December 2020 and at height of lockdown due to Covid.

"Astounded on seeing a video full of wishes from relatives whom my family h never known or met, I decided drew up a family tree that extends beyond my grandfar's lineage, how family overcame challenges of being twice migrants and what it has taken to rebuild our lives, to achieve our former level of prosperity. With each name, memories and stories came flooding back," he says.

outcome of this exercise is memoir " Silk Route".

"Over course of my life, re were some ros I did not choose, some I did. But wher or not we have chosen path we're on, we can always choose how we walk it. As for me, I chose to simplify my lifestyle, to find a different ro, one which ironically led me to riches of greater worth than I could have imagined.

"A ro where obstacles were many but never insurmountable. A ro of compassion that left me with a peaceful heart. A ro that led me far and wide but took me right where I belonged. My chosen path. My silk ro," he writes.