Our Roots Our Routes

Saty Murti

Left Photo: In this shot I am in Oregon where there is a small township, also called Madras, but with a tiny population base. Madras, OR is about 2 hours away from Portland, in interior Oregon. It is en route to a Reservation with a hot springs resort. I used to visit this spot with my co-resident and his sons. When we stop for gas, attendants would ask me what kind of Indian am I. If I was in an irreverent mood, I would answer that I am a Sioux. They were accepting of my answer.

Right Photo: This one is from the year 1969. It has a particular significance for me. My early years, before leaving for the US, were spent in MADRAS, India, a very large metro with much history behind it. Madras is the erstwhile name of Chennai, India. The name change has been within the past 2 decades.

Saty Murti shares his life story through the retelling of crucial moments of his youth which informed and guided life-altering decisions about his education, the opportunity to come to the US, his marriage, his career, and eventually life on the central coast. Born in Bombay and now living in Santa Maria, Murti contrasts his life and learnings in India with his exposure to American culture and the way in which much of his life has centered in the medical field, local community, and family life

Audio Interview

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Sata Murti, January 30, 2023

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Our Roots/Our Routes is more than just an archive of history: it’s a project devoted to recognizing and honoring the resilience, creativity, and adaptability of communities that have shaped the local region. It is fueled by a commitment to supporting community pathways of self-definition and self-determination, and ultimately contributing to a more just and sustainable future for the Central Coast.

Through these stories, we aim to strengthen community bonds, foster cross-cultural understanding, and give voice to the rich diversity that defines our region.