Kahlil Gibran once said, "To be able to look back upon one's life in satisfaction, is to live twice." To reach a point in life where you look back and feel content, however, is a milestone that not all can achieve. Gautam Ghosh, country manager, India, ViewSonic Technologies, feels that the journey has been fulfilling so far, and there is indeed a lot to smile about.

I was born in Kolkata, but never had the opportunity to live there for long, due to the nature of my father's job. He was in the merchant navy, and later, after premature retirement, joined Hindustan Motors, and thereafter, Ford Motors.

I kept tagging along to wherever he got transferred. Most of my early life was spent in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa. Having lived all over the country during the most impressionable years of my life, I probably learnt to be more broad minded in terms of culture, lifestyle, and people, and developed an openness to accepting change.

The value system
My parents prepared me for life. From my father I learnt the true meaning of karma; and how to selflessly serve others, with no expectations whatsoever. And from my mother, I have learnt how to swim with the sharks of so-called society, yet not get influenced by age-old points of view. I like to be remembered as a dependable person.

During my college days, I read Lee Iacocca's Iacocca: An Autobiography - and I was very impressed by one particular episode in the book. It's about what Iacocca's father says on seeing his son play golf. His father was a farmer, and had never seen the game before. Watching Iacocca walk down each time to take the next shot, and waste so much of time, he called out to him and said, "Son, why are you walking when you can still run?" These words left an indelible impression in my mind. 'Not to walk in life when you can run,' has become the philosophy of my life.

Home is where my heart is
My father, Anil Ghosh, is presently retired, but still actively involved with IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd), in Delhi. My mother, Sima Ghosh, is a home-maker. She was once a schoolteacher, but she left her job to give her best time and attention to bringing up her children.

My only sister, Mithu Paul, is happily married, and presently a teacher and administrator at the Indian School in Delhi. I think in today's challenging, busy and demanding lifestyle, one hardly gets time to call on siblings, or meet up with them too often, but I share a deep bond with my sister, and we stand by each other through the thick and thin of life.

My life partner, Shobha Gautam Ghosh, is an architect from Sir JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai, and also a post-graduate in Urban Planning from IHC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She is presently working with FICCI as its joint director. Owing to our professional engagements, we catch up with each other on days when we are both back early from work, or during weekends. But I sincerely want to strike a balance between my work and personal life, which is lacking at present. The ultimate dream is to have a peaceful old age.
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Real bliss
When our son was born, my wife and I felt amazed and extremely proud ...what could be more real than this heavenly experience of bringing into this world, the apple of our eyes! Thus, we named him Vwastav (a reality). At present, he is studying in Standard IX; is a budding poet, and has compiled a big collection of his own creations.

Music moves me
I love music and was part of the music bands at both school and college. Even now this love has persisted, and I land up singing in social meets to earn my dinner! My all time favourite has been Kishore Kumar, among the Indian singers. In Western music, some of my favourites include Dire Straits, Doors, Eric Clapton, Scorpions, Charlie Pride and a few others. My son shares my passion for music and sports. He plays the Spanish guitar with panache, and is an ardent sportsperson (he represents his school at the national level in basketball, badminton and cricket).

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FACT FILE
DOB: 8th Feb, 1961
Schooling from: South Point, Kolkata and Stewart School, Bhubaneswar - 1966-76
College: B. Com, Utkal University - 1977-81
Business Management: Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan - Kolkata - 1981-83 Indian Institute of Management & Technologies - Chennai - 1999-20

Other interests:
Spiritualism and the occult; fond of studying human behaviour and philosophies of life.
Love to travel to distant horizons; enjoy local food and lifestyles of different countries; Europe has been my favourite destination for years.
I enjoy reading management-related, spiritual, and motivational books; recent favourite reads include-Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, and PS, I love You by Cecelia Ahern.
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