Mrs. Anthea Roy
B.A.(HONS) FRENCH, GROSSES SPRACHDILOM

FROM ENGLAND WITH LOVE

With the craze to have that elusive Green Card, or the stamp of a foreign country on our passport, hoards of Indians are leaving our shores, aiming to become foreign nationals.But, here we have this lady swimming against the current- the other way up...........

Meet Ms. Anthea Roy, a linguist knowing five languages English, French , German, Hindi, Bengali and is learning to understand Marathi.

Q. Madam, please give us a few details about yourself .....
A. "I was born in England, U.K. and graduated from LEEDS UNIVERSITY in 1965, in FRENCH AND GERMAN LANGUAGE with Honours. Leeds was where I met my future husband Mr. Anil Kumar Roy, an IIT Engineering graduate, doing his post graduation."

Q. What got you to visit India and Why did you forfeit your British passport, for an Indian one ?
A."When Mr. Roy and I decided to get married, my parents tried to discourage me, they had a lot of doubts and wrong information about India. My mom warned me that, in India there are a lot of child marriages and what if Mr.Roy already has a wife back home. I told her not to worry, and in that case I would go right back to her."

"My-in-laws were 'For It' in private but 'Against It' in public, for they were worried about their relatives and the society's reaction. But they were very understanding, in fact I learnt all my Bengali cooking from my ma-in-law. I was a clean slate about any kind of cooking, as I was used to hostel life back in England. Finally, I came down to India and we got married in 1965 and became an Indian citizen."

Q. Do you have any regrets about the decision you made years ago ?
A. "None at all ! In fact, I would do it all over again without any second thoughts. After our marriage, initially we settled in Rourkela and once the family came along I was busy with the children. Later my husband was posted to Nigeria in 78'. After two years in Nigeria we settled in Ranchi, Bihar for 13 years as my husband was with ISPAT. We have four children, two girls, Sheela and Jaya and two boys, Ashok and Nikhil. They have all grown up and flown away to build their own nests and now we are proud grandparents of four grandchildren, too!"

"Besides keeping home I was always busy working. I was working for Max Muellar from 65'-75', and also doing a lot of French and German translations, taking corporate Language classes, Private tutions."

"I was also involved with a lot of social work, I was a founder member of the ISPAT MAHILA VIKAS SAHYOG SAMITI which had a play school, tailoring and typing classes for women, catering services etc."

Q. What do you do now ?
A. "We have been in Thane for the past eight years, whenmy husband joined 'Mukund Iron and Steel' - Kalwa in 93' though now he has opted for VRS and has settled in Calcutta and I continue to live in Thane, as I love the place as it is a nucleas city, complete by itself and for its abundant nature cover compared to Mumbai. I continue taking my French and German Home Tutions for people who are traveling abroad on work or for studies and need to know the language in a hurry, translation work etc. "

"I love listening to Indian instrumental music like the flute & sitar, and love playing the piano. I collect stamps and have a good enough collection, watch all our T.V. serials, love good cinema, soft Rock,love Jagjit Singh and Remo. Oh ! I have a lot of things to hold my interest."

Q. How long would one need to learn French or German and how do you charge ?
A. "Forty hours suffiice to have a good basic conversational knowledge. I charge by the hour @ Rupees 100/- i.e inclusive of my travel charges."

Q. What are the future plans?
A. I am planning to get a computer soon, and an internet connection to be in touch with my friends and family abroad and will continue taking my Home Tutions, travel abroad briefly to be with my family but- come back to Thane, as it is my Home now !

Thank you Madam ! We are happy to have you with us in Thane and with "www.thaneweb.com".

Contact Mrs Anthea Roy:
Osho Swagat, 602, B-Cabin, Thane (W).
Telephone: (R) 543 3062
Pager: 9622 328839.