USA has always been a country much larger than life for a naive Indian cosmopolitan.Hence,the exclusively golden "Aura" around the country of immigrants.However,settling in an alien country was more of a myth than a dream.Myth for the shear mysterious "Halo" around this nation for the strength,power,wealth and progress it has shown over the years.
15 years ago,visiting US as a traveler was fun.The fun of being to the foreign country at 11 was really wonderful.The clean streets,huge malls,buttery roads,no power outages,Mac D's,Pizza Huts were like "Eureka".Years later,India has progressed in all these departments and hence the "surprise" effect is lost.
Most American Indians are reticent and carry a sense of superiority.Apart from their wheatish colour and expressive eyes,there is nothing Indian within them.Sad to see that.The fake accent,the loud expressions (OMG,WOOPS etc) have replaced the believably Indian exclamations (Aai ga,Hey Ram! etc).Wicket keeper Nayan Mongia had made "Aai Ga" the international battle slogan.Kids from Indian descent disregard their relatives.Its difficult for our "Dadi" or "Aji" to get "I hate you so much" from a toddler of their own blood and skin.
Indifference is ruining our Indianness.Being to India once a year,buying Indian grocery from a NRI,worshiping Indian gods (in warehouse temples) are mere symptoms of being losely Indian.
Many of fellow Indians decide to leave this country while their kids are young.Seems like they are running away from some sort of infectious disease.
Standing in the patio of my apartment,a beautiful vista of Desis could be seen in a perspective,perfectly unbiased.I often feel that adversities must make it easy to prioritize and select.The culture and "sanskar" in which the Gen Next would grow is to be chosen by the parent.The parents often have an identity crisis,unable to accept what is foreign yet difficult to reject it.Acceptance by the Firangs (no offense intended) here is very important to stay here peacefully and amicably.
Weaving good things together, the scenic Indian shores would be alive at Monterrey or Hawaii.Its difficult,but ain't impossible! Lets adopt,adapt and help others do the same as well.If firangs can,why cant we? Most Indian restaurants are occupied with foreigners (non-Indians,we are foreigners here),who relish our food and eat the way we do with hands! Lot of women and men here could be spotted with Lucknowi Kurtas and hand printed Rajasthani shirts.But,they are still comfortable with their minis and jeans.Could we not do that as well?
India is right here within US in US of A.We,Ranades have decided to go that extra bit to remain Indians who accept goodies in the western culture.The freedom,liberties,technological approaches,working methods,human resource development strategies/policies,the legal impositions,education etc are worth applying and not merely applauded.
Could you guys offer help to help yourself?
Hope to hear from all the fellow Indians irrespective of their present place of residence or citizenship :)
15 years ago,visiting US as a traveler was fun.The fun of being to the foreign country at 11 was really wonderful.The clean streets,huge malls,buttery roads,no power outages,Mac D's,Pizza Huts were like "Eureka".Years later,India has progressed in all these departments and hence the "surprise" effect is lost.
Most American Indians are reticent and carry a sense of superiority.Apart from their wheatish colour and expressive eyes,there is nothing Indian within them.Sad to see that.The fake accent,the loud expressions (OMG,WOOPS etc) have replaced the believably Indian exclamations (Aai ga,Hey Ram! etc).Wicket keeper Nayan Mongia had made "Aai Ga" the international battle slogan.Kids from Indian descent disregard their relatives.Its difficult for our "Dadi" or "Aji" to get "I hate you so much" from a toddler of their own blood and skin.
Indifference is ruining our Indianness.Being to India once a year,buying Indian grocery from a NRI,worshiping Indian gods (in warehouse temples) are mere symptoms of being losely Indian.
Many of fellow Indians decide to leave this country while their kids are young.Seems like they are running away from some sort of infectious disease.
Standing in the patio of my apartment,a beautiful vista of Desis could be seen in a perspective,perfectly unbiased.I often feel that adversities must make it easy to prioritize and select.The culture and "sanskar" in which the Gen Next would grow is to be chosen by the parent.The parents often have an identity crisis,unable to accept what is foreign yet difficult to reject it.Acceptance by the Firangs (no offense intended) here is very important to stay here peacefully and amicably.
Weaving good things together, the scenic Indian shores would be alive at Monterrey or Hawaii.Its difficult,but ain't impossible! Lets adopt,adapt and help others do the same as well.If firangs can,why cant we? Most Indian restaurants are occupied with foreigners (non-Indians,we are foreigners here),who relish our food and eat the way we do with hands! Lot of women and men here could be spotted with Lucknowi Kurtas and hand printed Rajasthani shirts.But,they are still comfortable with their minis and jeans.Could we not do that as well?
India is right here within US in US of A.We,Ranades have decided to go that extra bit to remain Indians who accept goodies in the western culture.The freedom,liberties,technological approaches,working methods,human resource development strategies/policies,the legal impositions,education etc are worth applying and not merely applauded.
Could you guys offer help to help yourself?
Hope to hear from all the fellow Indians irrespective of their present place of residence or citizenship :)
4 comments:
It could be that the economic and technological superiority of the West has the NRIs in awe, or it might just be that having been away for far too long, the young generation doesn't want to be caught between cultures, and has chosen to identify completely with the one that is immediately apparent around them. I do not wish to be judgemental, so I think I'll agree with your last line that asks people to introspect themselves
@Bluebird:Thanks and welcome.The economic superiority of the west does have an influence on the financial upbringing of the world economies.The culture,
however is an individual's aspect & matter of choice.In some ways,WE,the non-residing indians are responsible for the cultural mis-state of our offsprings.But,if bloggers like toi join me and our fellow indians in realizing their real self,nothing could stop our cultural heritage from perishing ever.
For kids born over here the accent is natural and not fake. Aai ga and Hey Ram is possible if you think in your native language. I agree with you that more often the parents have identity crises. My daughter uses on term-IBCP-Indian born confused parents. Lets be clear in our thoughts first then only we will be able to guide the next generation.
@ Anonymous: agree with you completely.the accent referred is of the newly imported desis who fake it with grammatically incorrect form of english.
blends of two cultures can help in evolving a better one,isnt it? the confusion is in the mind of those confused,not of those who are woven closely!
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