{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/x05x63ck05/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Malani, Jugal"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/252/original/HPL_ArchiveBannerCDM2.jpg?1738348845","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Publisher"]},"value":{"en":["Foundation for Indian Studies"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://rightsstatements.org/page/CNE/1.0/?language=en\"\u003eCopyright Not Evaluated \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Foundation for India Studies, Houston, Texas.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Houston Public Library Special Collections"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Malani, Jugal (interviewee)","Pulijal, Kumud (interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2018-06-12 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["eng (primary)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["Jugal Malani interviewed about culture, family, and educational background, as well as migration, contributions to the community, and work experiences."]}},{"label":{"en":["Format"]},"value":{"en":["digital recording, sound"]}},{"label":{"en":["Subject"]},"value":{"en":["Houston (Tex.) (geographic term)","Oral histories (topical term)","Immigrants (topical term)","Emigration and immigration (topical term)","Community development (topical term)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Keyword"]},"value":{"en":["indoamerican"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Moving Image"]}}],"summary":{"en":["Jugal Malani interviewed about culture, family, and educational background, as well as migration, contributions to the community, and work experiences."]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://rightsstatements.org/page/CNE/1.0/?language=en\"\u003eCopyright Not Evaluated \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Foundation for India Studies, Houston, Texas.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Houston Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Houston Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/252/original/HPL_ArchiveBannerCDM2.jpg?1738348845","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/210/382/small/open-uri20231027-1243258-w7cmwe_1698434085.jpg?1698419689","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - FIS-OH0059.mp4"]},"duration":2438.016,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/210/382/small/open-uri20231027-1243258-w7cmwe_1698434085.jpg?1698419689","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-houstonlibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/210/382/original/FIS-OH0059.mp4?1698419677","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":2438.016,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/transcript/60443","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/transcript/60443/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nJugal Malani:We are from a big family. We are three brothers and three sisters, and one of the sisters, Kiran Butada, she is in Houston.\n\nKumud Pulijala: I see.\n\nJugal Malani: And other two sisters and all two brothers they are in India.\n\nKumud Pulijala: They are in India, I see. So, what is your rank in the siblings ,are you the youngest or the oldest or –\n\nJugal Malani: I am in the middle.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Oh, you are in the middle.\n\nJugal Malani: Yeah.\n\nKumud Pulijala:I see. Now, let me ask you, when you came to Houston, I know, you said it took time for you with the language and -- how did you find about communicating with people, did you feel any kind of racial discrimination or could you fit in, how was the Mainstream going?\n\nJugal Malani: As I said it was very difficult in the beginning because of the language, the place I came from,English was not most spoken, we are used to Hindi.\n\nKumud Pulijala: I see.\n\nJugal Malani: So, my English was also not very good. I learnt in US and even to pronounce my name it was very difficult. People here could not say “Jugal”. So, on the phone being in sales I used to make calls. So, first five minutes I was wasting just spelling my name. So I had to change my name from Jugal to J. So, that was an easier thing. Once I did that thing then I don’t have to explain what is Jugal or what is my name. And then the food; I never liked pizza for first six months.\n\nKumud Pulijala: That’s hard.\n\nJugal Malani: I never ate cheese in my life. (where I came from), and the Mexican food. My brother-in-law and sister they used to take me to this nice restaurant for eating pizza or Mexican food and it was like a torture for me for first six months. So, it took some time for me to get used to the food. It used to get to the life and everything like with the American culture, meeting customers, talking to them. It was very difficult in the beginning.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Yeah. Now, lot of temples, churches, they are all springing up right now, what is your opinion of them? Do you think they can be sustained to future generations?\n\nJugal Malani:Houston is a very vibrant community. We Indians are very active people, especially the Indian community is very vibrant here. We have built so many temples and it is easy to build a temple. You can raise funds, but to sustain it or to run it will be difficult.\n\nSo, right now I can see, as I am involved in the community in quite a few things, some of the temples are already facing some issues, how they are running. So, it will be a bit challenging. So, there is a reason I think in the second generation we have to see how they will come up, how they will be motivated to support these kind of –\n\nKumud Pulijala: Yes.\n\nJugal Malani: -- temples what we have or what the first generation has done.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Yes, because usually when you get fresh blood from India they will be supporting, but once that kind of trickles down, like in the second, third, fourth generation, that’s where -- what is your vision about that?\n\nJugal Malani:See, what I have seen is, like when people are -- till they are like students and everything they will go with parents to the temple. Once they start working, for that period they are cut off from their community, all social activities. Once they have children they again come back because they want their children to go to temples. So, for the 10-20 years there is a gap. So, I think, once they have children they understand the importance of this. So I think –\n\nKumud Pulijala: It will be sustained.\n\nJugal Malani: Yeah, sustainable.\n\nKumud Pulijala: On that topic, do you think Indian community is eroding because of lot of interracial marriages?\n\nJugal Malani: I don’t think so. This is happening everywhere. In India also, here also, so I think this is bound to happen. So, I don’t think that we will lose our identity in next few generations, I don’t think so. Still we see like 98% Americans or 95% Americans are still within the community. Yeah, so, I don’t see a big problem happening for next few generations.\n\nKumud Pulijala: But eventually I guess blend into the melting pot.\n\nJugal Malani: Yeah, and it will take few generations for us.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Yeah. Let me take you back to 1981 when you just came, and how did you think the suburbia was seen, and you said you came right into your sister and bother-in-law’s home, how was the suburbia then? How did you get involved in the Mainstream Community and what was your interaction like at that time?\n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382#t=296.0,606.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/transcript/60443/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nJugal Malani:At home it was almost like we are getting involved into the new community. We were going to the parties with Indian friends. Everything was mostly revolving around Indian community. But when in business or in office, I was interacting with other people, other community people, mainstream Americans. And it was easy to interact with them. Till today I never felt any kind of discrimination. In business I met so many people. I used to go sell and people always respected me.\n\nKumud Pulijala:It’s wonderful.\n\nJugal Malani:So that was the biggest thing in America what I have seen. I never felt any kind of discrimination so far.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Excellent! What did you think about the diversity then, has it become more diverse now, the community, the main community?\n\nJugal Malani:Main community. I think because of the political situation, we see on TV more diversification than in our practical life. In business or in our -- like in our company we have all types of people, so we don’t see anything here, but on the news, maybe we see more people are like this thing and that thing. So personally I have not felt anything.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Now, another thing, what I meant to ask you was, do you see people of lot more different countries coming into Houston as opposed to when you were here in 1981? I mean how diverse has Houston become now as opposed to 1981?\n\nJugal Malani:I think Houston was always diverse, but with a smaller amount of people; now you see more people coming in.\n\nKumud Pulijala:From different?\n\nJugal Malani:Different countries. So like in our office we have like 150 people working. We have people from China, from Turkey, from Romania, from Russia, from everywhere. So Houston has become a very diverse community. I think it was there, but now we can see more people have migrated into Houston.\n\nKumud Pulijala:How did you rear your children to fit into mainstream and to reflect your values?\n\nJugal Malani:I think our children, second generation is doing very well. I have seen kids, our friends’ kids, all of them are doing very, very good. So in the mainstream community they have no issues about like -- they are like any other American kid, only the color will be different and that will be for lot of generations the color will be different, but as far as like getting into sports, liking the sports, all those things, we are equal to any other American.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Yeah, so we are in all kinds of fields.\n\nJugal Malani:All kinds of fields, yes.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Going back to your business, I know you have been in business of course for 40 some years, how did you build it up to what you are, what your company is right now in this diverse environment?\n\nJugal Malani:I came in 1981 and being in my brother-in-law’s company, like a small company, we were only two people, so I was never treated like an employee. So I was working as my own business.\n\nAnd after working for three, four years my brother-in-law made me a partner in the business. So I became like a businessman and then I stayed with him for 17 years, and in 17 years our business grew from $1 million to up to $40 million in sales, and I was handling that business.\n\nKumud Pulijala:I see!\n\nJugal Malani:My brother-in-law had another company and he was managing that company. So he had given me a free hand to run the company.\n\nThen when both companies merged together, his company and our company, then it became like two people handling one business. \n\nSo like a family business, I thought it is better to have my own business now, I have worked enough. So after 17 years I left my brother-in-law’s business. I sold my -- he had given me 30% share in the company; I sold those shares and started a business in a totally different area.\n\nKumud Pulijala:From scratch. \n\nJugal Malani:From scratch, in a different area. This wisdom was given to me by my mom. After quitting my brother-in-law’s business I went to India and my mom, very simple lady, but she told me one thing, “Jugal, don’t do any business where your brother-in-law is doing, what your brother-in-law has taught you. Do something else. Do only his business or his kind of business only if you have a problem feeding your family”, till that time don’t do the same business.\n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382#t=606.0,912.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/transcript/60443/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nKumud Pulijala: So there is no competition.\n\nJugal Malani: No competition. She said in a simple wor but --\n\nKumud Pulijala: Very wise. \n\nJugal Malani: But very wise. And that gave me a direction to do something different. And we started from scratch and today in about 20 years we have grown our business and we have 150 people working for us and we have an excellent team of people.\n\nKumud Pulijala: And that’s in your leadership here?\n\nJugal Malani: Yeah, it’s teamwork really. To grow any business you have to have a good team, nothing is done single-handedly.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Talking about your mother, let me take you back to your childhood, so which town did you grow up in?\n\nJugal Malani: I came from a small town called Bidar in Karnataka.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Yes, you mentioned it.\n\nJugal Malani: It’s a historical town; it has a fort and everything, very nice town. \n\nKumud Pulijala: Bidri work.\n\nJugal Malani: Yeah, it’s famous for Bidri work. That work is kind of an art that only exists in Bidar, only Bidar people can do it.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Yeah, it’s beautiful.\n\nJugal Malani: And while growing up it was a small town, so we had only up to like -- there were no engineering college or medical college, so I had to go out of Bidar to continue my higher studies. My parents were not very educated. We are from a business family, so business is kind of in our blood.\n\nKumud Pulijala:In your DNA.\n\nJugal Malani: But my parents wanted their children to really get educated. So in those even they sent my sister to Hyderabad to do LLB; it was unheard of, especially coming from a conservative Marwari family. So she did LLB and I did my engineering and we both of us ended up here.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Wonderful! So you had -- so Bidar was where you completely grew up and from there you came here?\n\nJugal Malani: Yes.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Other than -- so you didn’t --\n\nJugal Malani: No, I stayed two years in Calcutta, handling my brother-in-law’s -- they were importing manhole covers on , so I was doing the inspection on the manholes there before coming here. That’s how I got like entry into the business.\n\nKumud Pulijala: I see. And when did you meet Rajji?\n\nJugal Malani: Raj, I met her around 1978, that was an arrange marriage, and with Raj also that -- basically, both of us come from conservative family, so our parents decided everything and my father said you have to marry this girl. I said that’s it, so I don’t even want to see here, but Raj wanted to see me before we got married. That is the reason I could meet her. I was ready to marry her without seeing her. \n\nKumud Pulijala: That’s big of you. Wonderful! So you got married in 1978?\n\nJugal Malani: Yeah, 1978, yeah.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Now you have two wonderful children. Tell us about them.\n\nJugal Malani: Pankaj, he was two-and-a-half years old when we came here. He had also initially coming from India, it took some time for him to get adjusted in the school and everything, but once he got adjusted he was like any other American kid. \n\nThen he graduated from Austin, from Texas University, and then we wanted, just like my dad, I also wanted him to join our business. So he joined for a few months because I pressured him, then he quit. He said, dad, I can’t work for you. This is not what I want to do. So then he quit and then he became a teacher; he taught in our public schools.\n\nKumud Pulijala: That’s very noble. \n\nJugal Malani: Yeah. And he did that thing. Then he went to Argentina to teach English over there. So he did everything and after two, three years he said, dad, I am done now. Now I am ready to join the business. \n\nThen he came full-heartedly into the business. And he started in business right from scratch, like from the warehouse. And he was","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382#t=912.0,1156.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/transcript/60443/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"He could speak Spanish very well, so that was a good asset for us. And after 12 years, now he is the CEO of the company and running our business.\n\nKumud Pulijala: I see. Have you taken a step back now?\n\nJugal Malani: Yes. In business, I would like to mention about my partner Pradeep Gupta. When we started this company, both of us started this together, and Pradeep is like a brother to me, elder brother to me. He has always guided me and it was a big help and he has a lot of contribution in our business.\n\nKumud Pulijala: So how did this partnership come about?\n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382#t=1156.0,1198.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/transcript/60443/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nJugal Malani: Pradeep was working at that time for another company in -- my company with my brother-in-law and we were competing with each other, and he thought we were friendly competitors, but we were not friendly, but we knew each other. \n\nPradeep had something, so he had to sell that business and then he called me one day, like “Jugal, I am free”. Then I said okay. Then I talked to my brother-in-law Rameshji and said, why don’t you open up a new division for -- industrial division? So we hired Pradeep and brought him to Houston; he moved to Houston.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Where was he based?\n\nJugal Malani: He was in Philadelphia before that. Then he moved because of this in Houston, and then he started his business with us. \n\nAnd now talking about my daughter, Nikita; Nikita, we learned a lot of things with Pankaj, like growing first kid here, and we also made a lot of mistakes, like not sending him to like Austin in the beginning, thinking that party school, this and that, so all those --and we thought we just leave kids the way it is. So Nikki was like a perfect kid.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Always the second child gets away.\n\nJugal Malani: Right, yeah. So she went to all private schools and everything. And then she went to UPenn and she wanted to become a doctor. Again, we had our own conservative theories, we wanted her to get married and settle down, but she put her foot down and she said, no, I want to be a doctor, and then we supported her. Now today she is a pediatric neurologist in the Baylor College of Medicine and doing very well.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Excellent! And both children are married and you are proud grandparents.\n\nJugal Malani: Yes. We just had our first grandchild; Nikita has a baby called Avya, she is four months old now.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Wonderful! Now, you have stepped slightly back, you have given the -- you have passed the baton to your son as the CEO. With your free time, do you have any political aspirations?\n\nJugal Malani: No, politically, no, but community-wise, I am involved in many things. So politically, I don’t think I am a person who will be involved in politics anytime. But we support political candidates, but support, only monetary support.\n\nKumud Pulijala: You want to stay neutral, which is understandable.\n\nJugal Malani:Yes.\n\nKumud Pulijala: What is your view on charity and philanthropy? \n\nJugal Malani: Charity, I learned from my brother-in-law. I could see that right from day one he was very charitable and that really made me also think that we need to give back to the community. I learned this lesson from him. \n\nAnd so when I was able to contribute; we contribute to many organizations. Like when Chinmaya Mission was building their new Shiva temple in the country, we contributed to that, many other temples, and Holi functions, Diwali functions, these are like -- and Janmashtami, these are like our culture we have to give to the second generation, so we have been contributing to that, so that we can continue celebrating these events in our lives.\n\nKumud Pulijala: How about your philanthropy in mainstream Houston, are you involved?\n\nJugal Malani:Mainstream Houston, we are very much less involved. Recently, like the Museum of Fine Arts, they were building an Indian section, so in that we gave some contribution that brought in more, and Asia Society we would give. But our charitable contribution is mostly to our Indian culture.\n\nKumud Pulijala: Indian community, okay. Now, moving forward, we talked about children and grandchildren, what kind of future do you see for the grandchildren and future generations in America?\n\nJugal Malani:I see a good future for them, because I think our second generation definitely will do better than us in every field. And if the grandchildren are -- if their parents are smart, I am sure the grandchildren will also be smart. So I see a good future for --\n\nKumud Pulijala: Good blending. \n\nJugal Malani: They will prosper here. And hope they keep their roots like going back to India sometime. I used to go back twice to India, but I can see my children going like maybe once in two, three years, so this is going to be less and less. \n\nKumud Pulijala: Yes, as their ties in India also vanish. \n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382#t=1198.0,1500.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/transcript/60443/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nJugal Malani:Right, yeah. \n\nKumud Pulijala:It will be like a vacation, destination.\n\nJugal Malani:Yeah.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Any regrets coming to US?\n\nJugal Malani:No, no, not really. I came here and I came with a dream and my dream was very successful. I came here to support my family. In the beginning I did all those things, so my family is in a better situation, because this country made me who I am.\n\nKumud Pulijala:When you look back, do you ever wonder how life would have been or you would have been, had you stayed back in India?\n\nJugal Malani:Actually, I wanted to stay back in India. I had a very comfortable life. When I was in Calcutta, I had a nice flat, circle of friends, my job was only to go to factory, two hours, job was done. Then, I would go to different restaurants and everything. Very comfortable life.\n\nBut, my wife, Raj, she thought I am getting stagnant. I am becoming too comfortable and I am not working hard. So, she requested my brother-in-law that call him here, because he is too comfortable here. He needs to work hard. So because of Raj I am here.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Very good! I have a question about your son, Pankaj; how did you groom him to be the CEO and take the helm of the company?\n\nJugal Malani:Once Pankaj joined our business second time, he came with full heart, so there was a --\n\nKumud Pulijala:So, he is done with all outside?\n\nJugal Malani:Yeah, he was outside","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382#t=1500.0,1607.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/transcript/60443/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"He did his whatever, you know, as a person. When he joined he came with full heart. So, he started working right from the warehouse, and he went to different departments. He learned from everyone.\n\nHe has good qualities of respecting the other people in the company. I think once you are a son of a -- like a boss or owner, it becomes lot tougher on the kid to perform, because everyone is looking at you.\n\nKumud Pulijala:There is an expectation.\n\nJugal Malani:Expectations are very high. Everything he has to do is -- he has to respect everyone. So, he did all those things. He never disrespected anyone, and he never used his authority to like, you know, I am --\n\nKumud Pulijala:Yes, I am the boss.\n\nJugal Malani:Yeah. So, people loved him. That was the biggest thing, I think. He gained the confidence of people that he must work hard and also be like his dad.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Do you think he is going to take the company, adding new products, tweak the business?\n\nJugal Malani:See, everyone has different strengths. I had a strength of taking and developing new products; but, I don’t see that kind of developing new products from Pankaj. His strength is different. His strength is management.\n\nSo, the company has to change to his philosophy. Now, he has to manage the business through only people.\n\nKumud Pulijala:I see. So, he could support -- if innovative ideas came from the people, he would support.\n\nJugal Malani:Yes, that’s how the business is happening now. Now, ideas come from the people, they are buying, they are selling, we are just managing the people and we have to cater to people’s attitudes; so that’s the management style.\n\nAnd, Pankaj, I think has been successful at that. So, I think he will do -- he will expand the company, but in a different way.\n\nKumud Pulijala:So, do you -- I know you are -- I keep repeating that you step back a bit, but do you have an oversee and how do you manage? Now, it’s a very delicate balance you have, passed the baton, but still it’s your baby?\n\nJugal Malani:Because this business is like my baby, as I said, so I go there everyday, but I go like 11 o’clock, 11-4. I know what’s happening in the company and I don’t participate into all the meetings and everything.\n\nMy habit is in the morning go to every key person and ask them a few questions, what is happening, then I know where the company is, what’s happening in the company. So I get my feedback, and I delegate through Pankaj. If I have to do something, I tell Pankaj, I think this is what you do, you need to look at this. So, that is how we are managing the business.\n\nKumud Pulijala:And he is very receptive.\n\nJugal Malani:Very receptive, and Pradeep is there to guide him also. Pradeep is working full-time, and he takes full guidance from Pradeep.\n\nKumud Pulijala:That’s a wonderful working relationship. It’s very hard to let go, but not too much.\n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382#t=1607.0,1800.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/transcript/60443/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nJugal Malani:Right. So far I have been lucky. We never had a single big fight. We had small from here and there.\n\nKumud Pulijala:It’s inevitable.\n\nJugal Malani:Yeah, but nothing like we can’t stand each other. It’s a wonderful relationship working with him.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Yes, excellent, and it’s nice that he could step into your shoes and -- so to say, not yet.\n\nJugal Malani:Yeah. I have a lot of confidence in him. He will definitely be -- he will handle business in a very different way, and when he joined, after few years he brought a lot of new technologies in the company, so that has made work more efficient, new programs, those kind of things.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Like software.\n\nJugal Malani:Software and all those things. So that is a big help to the company.\n\nKumud Pulijala:So, both of your children live in Houston?\n\nJugal Malani:Yes.\n\nKumud Pulijala:So, you have a large family, extended family.\n\nJugal Malani:Yes.\n\nKumud Pulijala:So, how do you manage all the relationships, with the children, their in-laws and it’s an ever-expanding family with the grandkids?\n\nJugal Malani:Yeah. We are very fortunate. Our kids chose their spouses and their parents are very excellent. Dr. Shukla Ji, Nikki’s father-in-law, he is an excellent person. I came across him -- I didn’t know before that and because of Nikki we have become very close friends. So, it is more than a family now, on an in-law relationship, we have become close friends and same thing with Shankar bhai, who is Avani’s father.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Daughter-in-law’s?\n\nJugal Malani:Daughter-in-law’s. So, we are very lucky. Excellent families, both are from -- like Gujarati. People call us now we are half-Gujaratis.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Yeah\n\nJugal Malani:By the way I am a Marwari.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Yes. What do you think of all these conventions that take place like each community has their own convention like Marwari, you have the Maheshwari convention or the Telugu or the Bengali or the Marathi, they bring together a lot of people. First generation is more into it than -- what is your opinion about all this?\n\nJugal Malani:I think it is a good idea to have these conventions because under one roof you meet all those people from all over USA and exchange your convention. In all the conventions also there is a business aspect and families meeting each other. The kids are meeting like other kids where they can find their soul mates, so I think conventions are good and since we are from different communities, I am sure there is going to be different community conventions.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Different culture -- culture will be different.\n\nJugal Malani:Culture may be different, so I think it’s good for the community overall to have these conventions.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Would you like to add anything how about any achievement awards that you have for your business?\n\nJugal Malani:Business like Indian Chamber of Commerce. I was nominated and they gave us an award for -- I think Entrepreneur of The Year or something like that.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Congratulations!\n\nJugal Malani:Thank you!\n\nKumud Pulijala:So growing up, were you interested in sports, or watching, or playing?\n\nJugal Malani:My student life was very different. I was not interested in sports. I was more interested in playing three cards and those kinds of things.\n\nKumud Pulijala:So have you pursued anything here?\n\nJugal Malani:No, I am only watching.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Only watching.\n\nJugal Malani:But, I’ve got involved in -- I want to talk about India House. You know India House.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Yes.\n\nJugal Malani:It’s a community center built by Indian community, a beautiful 30,000 square feet society. So, I am more involved in that and it has been really growing up. It took some time for Indian community to really understand what India House is once they came to know that it is like totally for Indian community without any kind of restrictions or anything. So, India House is doing pretty good in the community.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Any other type of projects that are --\n\nJugal Malani:We support Ekal Vidyalaya, which has been supporting education in India, Pratham, Magic Bus, these are all like charities, and seva here, then all the temples, politically a little bit. So, when you are in a community, you have to get back to the community, in all different sectors.\n\nKumud Pulijala:50 years from now, where do you see the Indian Community in Houston?\n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382#t=1800.0,2096.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382/transcript/60443/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nJugal Malani:I think we will be a very progressive community. I think we already -- most of our influence and our involvement, our engineer and doctors, so I think we would be very -- politically also we will be very much involved community. So we will be a very progressive community in the future. \n\nKumud Pulijala:Politically we see many candidates considering that role to --\n\nJugal Malani:Right. In businesses, I think already you can see so many CEOs from Indian origin, so same thing will happen in politics. Slowly we will climb the ladder too. \n\nKumud Pulijala:And what is your opinion about Indo-American relations?\n\nJugal Malani:I think Modiji has done a wonderful job about Indo-American relationship, so these relationships are going to get strengthened over the time. Yeah.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Personally, did you have any influence on the public policy of the Indo-American relationship that you can think of?\n\nJugal Malani:Not really, but we are involved with -- like with the Mayor and everything. We have contributed to Mayor's Fund.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Houston Mayor?\n\nJugal Malani:Houston Mayor. Only if we can get involved --\n\nKumud Pulijala:Up to the city level. \n\nJugal Malani:Up to the city level. And when four firefighters died in a big accident on Southwest Freeway, as a committee we raised $50,000 from India House platform and gave it to the Mayor's Fund. So in this kind of things we are getting involved into the mainstream, both politically or like to remind them that we are a very supportive community.\n\nKumud Pulijala:So where would you like to see the Indo-American relationship?\n\nJugal Malani:I think they are already great and they would be extended more. I think they are going to just grow. I don't see any negative thing happening between India and US; both are big democratic countries.\n\nKumud Pulijala:Yes. Do you think the flow of students and workers will continue coming from India?\n\nJugal Malani:I think it is going to have some challenges, but I think America needs like immigrants to do the jobs, and American Universities, they depend on Indian students for their own monetary reasons. So there will be challenges, but overall I think it will all continue.\n\nKumud Pulijala:There will be little hiccups. \n\nJugal Malani:Hiccups here and there, depending on political situation, but everyone depends --\n\nKumud Pulijala:On each other.\n\nJugal Malani:Yeah. And we are now a global community, so they just can't say, shut off this, shut off this. It's not possible.\n\nKumud Pulijala:So definitely you consider Houston as home and this is where you are going to retire and spend the golden years. \n\nJugal Malani:Yeah. I go to now to India for -- just for -- like within the family. Once your parents are not there, things dilute, so instead of going twice, now I am going once. So I think this has changed. \n\nKumud Pulijala:So when you -- you talked about your projects of Ekal Vidyalaya, Pratham. So when you go to India to visit, do you visit any of these facilities?\n\nJugal Malani:I should have done that, but I have never done it. That is back of my mind next time go to India. I say every time next time, but hopefully one of these days I want to really visit Ekal Vidyalaya projects.\n\nKumud Pulijala:And go to the rural schools. \n\nJugal Malani:And go there and see how --\n\nKumud Pulijala:They function.\n\nJugal Malani:Right, how they are working, yeah, but I have not done that.\n\nKumud Pulijala:I see. Any other projects that you think of that should happen globally or in the community?\n\nJugal Malani:I think now we should support more projects here where we are living. All these projects are there, like Ekal Vidyalaya, Pratham, but the job is only to collect money and send to India. We are not involved that much into --\n\nKumud Pulijala:Actual execution of it. Yeah. \n\nJugal Malani:So slowly we need to get involved, like there are so many projects here to get involved. So I think the community is thinking that way. So I think that --\n\nKumud Pulijala:As we get more rooted here.\n\nJugal Malani:Yeah, so instead of like doing every -- just collecting money and sending, we should get more involved.\n\nKumud Pulijala:I think that’s a very good thought and it's a progressive thought that we should get involved in the mainstream Houston community. There are issues in Houston that need to be addressed and as a community, not as an individual, but as a community if we are involved, probably there will be more leverage.\n\nJugal Malani:Yes. And I think that’s the right thing to do, get involved where you are living. \n\nKumud Pulijala:Yeah. Thank you very much for your time! You have taken time away from your busy schedule. We do appreciate it on behalf of the Foundation for India Studies. Thank you very much! Namaste!\n\nJugal Malani:Thank you Kumud and thank you for honoring me with this interview! Thanks for your time!\n\nKumud Pulijala:Thank you!\n\nJugal Malani:Bye!\n\n\n\nTotal Duration: 41 Minutes","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108937/file/210382#t=2096.0,2438.016"}]}]}]}