Teaching Indian values to children - how is it in other parts of USA?

[JR]

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Here where we live (MA, USA) there are nice private non-profit organizations such as 'Shishu Bharathi' that cater to the needs of parents wanting to teach children Indian values and languages. Currently Shishu Bharathi offers its services in 3 places within MA and there are total of 1000 - 1200 children. In other states such as NJ, I heard that equivalent organizations such as 'Bala Vihar' offer their services, but whether they are as successful as SB, I don't know.

SB offers the following services:

1. Teaching of languages - Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, maybe a few more.

2. Teaching of Indian culture - I should perhaps say 'Hindu culture' - SB teaches children about various festivals, freedom fighters, panchatantra tales, national flag, national anthem and such.

3. Grades KG to 8 addressed.

4. Gandhi Jayanthi, Jawaharlal Nehru's birthday, Independence Day, Republic Day are observed.

5. Teachers operate on a non-paid voluntary basis. However, this is a great opportunity to build-up the resume to aim for teaching profession at schools.

6. Indian Day and some other functions like this are observed every year when all 3 individual schools unite and spend the day with cultural programs and activities.

7. Children are trained in drama, and dance programs to participate in other outside activities such as to participate in 'New England Tamil Sangam' (NETS) for Pongal festival, etc.

8. Great opportunity for parents to get to know and interact with other Indian parents.

Besides the above, even the local temples offer cultural activities. For example, at the Ashland Sri Lakshmi Temple, there is 'Stotra class' for youngsters every Friday.

So, I should say, the children have a routine that very much reminds being in India.

They say, "the more the merrier", it is so true when coming to having lots of our folks together in one place. Such activities and organizations become a possibility!

Cheers,

Jayashree

 

[Vaagmi]

Here where we live (MA, USA) there are nice private non-profit organizations such as 'Shishu Bharathi' that cater to the needs of parents wanting to teach children Indian values and languages. Currently Shishu Bharathi offers its services in 3 places within MA and there are total of 1000 - 1200 children. In other states such as NJ, I heard that equivalent organizations such as 'Bala Vihar' offer their services, but whether they are as successful as SB, I don't know.

SB offers the following services:

1. Teaching of languages - Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, maybe a few more.

2. Teaching of Indian culture - I should perhaps say 'Hindu culture' - SB teaches children about various festivals, freedom fighters, panchatantra tales, national flag, national anthem and such.

3. Grades KG to 8 addressed.

4. Gandhi Jayanthi, Jawaharlal Nehru's birthday, Independence Day, Republic Day are observed.

5. Teachers operate on a non-paid voluntary basis. However, this is a great opportunity to build-up the resume to aim for teaching profession at schools.

6. Indian Day and some other functions like this are observed every year when all 3 individual schools unite and spend the day with cultural programs and activities.

7. Children are trained in drama, and dance programs to participate in other outside activities such as to participate in 'New England Tamil Sangam' (NETS) for Pongal festival, etc.

8. Great opportunity for parents to get to know and interact with other Indian parents.

Besides the above, even the local temples offer cultural activities. For example, at the Ashland Sri Lakshmi Temple, there is 'Stotra class' for youngsters every Friday.

So, I should say, the children have a routine that very much reminds being in India.

They say, "the more the merrier", it is so true when coming to having lots of our folks together in one place. Such activities and organizations become a possibility!

Cheers,

Jayashree

Hi JR,

It is really nice to know that there are schools where our culture and values are taught to children in the distant US.

While the schools do impart knowledge about our culture and its greatness to help the children get a proper understanding of our heritage, I think it is very important for the parents to spend a lot of time with children at home talking to them. We can impart our native unique values and help the children build a proper value system by that. I do not know whether all the parents there now do have that kind of time and inclination to do that. If it is there, well the children are lucky. If it is not there it is unfortunate.

 

[JR]

Hi JR,

It is really nice to know that there are schools where our culture and values are taught to children in the distant US.

While the schools do impart knowledge about our culture and its greatness to help the children get a proper understanding of our heritage, I think it is very important for the parents to spend a lot of time with children at home talking to them. We can impart our native unique values and help the children build a proper value system by that. I do not know whether all the parents there now do have that kind of time and inclination to do that. If it is there, well the children are lucky. If it is not there it is unfortunate.

That is very true, Vaagmi ji. It is common for a place like US, only to have both parents employed. They take to diverse professions, nobody is home bound. In such a circumtance, it becomes very hard to teach children ongoing Hindu values, most people don't follow any of it themselves - we find many parents adopting to eating NVG and encourage children to do the same too, lest they should grow and attend colleges where they find their food choices minimal. Hardly anyone celebrates festivals like Navaratri using Golu, Diwali - purchasing new clothes, Pongal, etc. All that they are able to do is to attend the temple in the evening. So it is scary to attend temple on festival days because it is packed like T.Nagar Ranganathan Street! So to compensate they enroll children in such schools which provide children atleast some opportunity to learn our culture. When my son who is now 19 grew up, although SB existed at those times, we were not aware of it, so we never enrolled him in it. Now at 19, most of his friends are Westerners, and he finds it quite hard to find an Indian friend for some reason, he can speak only English, but due to our great effort realizing our mistake, he 'became' vegetarian from NVG and is now reciting a few stotras each day after bath. But since we woke up when my daughter was little (now she is 10), she is enrolled in all these programs and activities, although she too can't speak tamil despite our efforts, she can understand it owing to SB education, and knows a lot of stotras, all about our festivals and such.

It is nice for them to carry on with their unique identity as 'Indian descendants' even if they were to identify with American culture otherwise. Like Irish people here identify themselves with Irish customs and practices even if they were away for a long, long time. Nobody, the Jewish, the Muslims, the Irish, the Chinese, really lose their unique cultural heritage, and it is nice to see our youngsters grow up knowing ours!

 

[P.J.]

Smt JD Ji

My daughter in law is one of the Teachers in Bala Vihar accociated with Chinmaya Mission over there in US; our grand children are also learning Slokas, Tamil, and Bhajan Songs.

 

[biswa]

Yeah Bala Vihar is pretty strong in CA. JR ji you should visit here. Plenty of Diwali, Dandia, Golu, Holi going on. Indians in the east coast seem to face some assimilation pressure. As seen in Jhumpa Lahiri's novels.

 

[renuka]

I dont understand one thing..why is the Indian National Anthem taught to US citizens and why celebrate Indian independence when one is a US citizen?


I feel if one wants to feel so patriotic one should not give up the Indian citizenship though residing in the US.

One should decide if he wants to sing Jana Gana Mana or The Star Spangled Banner.

 

[P.J.]

I dont understand one thing..why is the Indian National Anthem taught to US citizens and why celebrate Indian independence when one is a US citizen?


I feel if one wants to feel so patriotic one should not give up the Indian citizenship though residing in the US.

One should decide if he wants to sing Jana Gana Mana or The Star Spangled Banner.

renukaji

Following the traditions and cultural bondage of one's country birth has nothing to do with adopting alien country citizenship.

Singing patriotic songs including National anthem of the country of birth is a free right every Indian American enjoy in US.



Indian-Americans launch campaign for Diwali postage stamp | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

 

[renuka]

renukaji

Following the traditions and cultural bondage of one's country birth has nothing to do with adopting alien country citizenship.

Singing patriotic songs including National anthem of the country of birth is a free right every Indian American enjoy in US.



Indian-Americans launch campaign for Diwali postage stamp | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

Dear PJ sir,

You said it..the country of birth for many now is USA so why are they still singing the Indian national anthem?

If one is a US citizen..born in the USA he should be loyal to US.

Is USA government Ok with such lack of patriotism by its citizens that still sing their parents country national anthem?

Out here no citizen sings any other National Anthem besides our nation's anthem "Negara ku" (meaning.. my country).



When there is any sports match between India and Msia we all support Msia..no Msian citizen Ethnic Indian will support India becos we are Msian citizens...born and bred here..so the loyalty is to Motherland Msia.

Only when the match is between India and some other country for example India and Pakistan then Indians here support India.

 

[renuka]

Dear PJ sir,

Teaching Hindu values is fine but if a person is a citizen of another country he should be loyal to that country.

Ok for example just say an Ethnic Indian who was born in the USA..he grows up and represents USA and wins a Gold Medal at the Olympics...surely he will stand at the podium with his hand on his heart and the Star Spangled Banner(US Anthem) playing.

He cant request for Jana Gana Mana isnt it?

I hope you get what I am trying to convey.

 

[renuka]

Dear PJ sir,

I too teach my son Indian values becos we are ethnic Indians.

He also learns all Sanskrit mantras/bhajans/Namavalli etc.

Now since he is a teen he decided he wants to follow the teachings of Lord Buddha and he also goes to the Buddhist temple on and off.

So culture is taught to him but the fact remains that patriotism has to remain to Malaysia. He only sings the Msian National Anthem.

 

[P.J.]

renukaji


Every Indian who is having US citizenship is not born there, there are many naturalized Citizens.

You always twist the question to suit your line of thinking.

The question here is not about which country you will support in case , if

your birth country plays against your Adopted Country?

Following the cultural traditions of birth country is never questioned in US, neither singing patriotic songs ; that is why US remains as the foremost democratic country in the world.

 

[renuka]

Following the cultural traditions of birth country is never questioned in US, neither singing patriotic songs ; that is why US remains as the foremost democratic country in the world.

OK now I understand why there is lack of loyalty to USA.

Thanks for the explanation PJ sir.

 

[P.J.]

OK now I understand why there is lack of loyalty to USA.

Thanks for the explanation PJ sir.

renukaji

again your assertion is out of OP, the question of Loyalty!! ( as usual )

American Indians have contributed for US in innumerable ways in Science and Technology.

 

[renuka]

BTW PJ sir..last week I saw an American TV show called Killer Karaoke.

I was very shocked to hear an extremely racists remark by the white host of the show.

Ok the singer in the show is supposed to sing a song and he/she will be distracted by many scary things like snakes..being dipped in cold water etc but the sing must still continue singing ..if he/she stops they lose.

So one lady was singing and 2 obese males came on stage and took off their sweaty shirts and put it on her and the shirts were stinking and she was struggling to sing becos of the smell and she lost.

Then the host of the show tells her "dont worry that was not real sweat..that was artificial stinking sweat taken from a skunk that ate Indian food"

I was very very shocked to hear that and the audience started laughing non stop.

This is not the 1st time I am hearing stuff like this on American shows about Indian food and stuff like curry breath and..feel like squatting after eating Indian food.

Why? How come these shows are not censored as being racists?

 

[JR]

Dear Renuka,

Sorry I must have been clearer - the children also invariably sing 'Star spangled banner' after they sing 'Jana Gana Mana'.

If you see closely, nobody is ready to sacrifice the patriotism to their own country of origin here - since US is a country of immigrants only, every immigrant wants the child to know all their original values including feeling of patriotism to the country of origin as well as to the country of immigration.

I see it as a Hindu married woman's loyalty to her parental home as well as to the inlaws' place. Both are important, like 2 eyes.

 

[JR]

Besides many, many parents here decide to return to their homeland - India after a stay for 10 yrs/15 yrs or so.. in such a case institutions such as Bala Vihar render valuable service in preparing children to know all about their heritage.

 

[renuka]

Dear Renuka,

Sorry I must have been clearer - the children also invariably sing 'Star spangled banner' after they sing 'Jana Gana Mana'.

If you see closely, nobody is ready to sacrifice the patriotism to their own country of origin here - since US is a country of immigrants only, every immigrant wants the child to know all their original values including feeling of patriotism to the country of origin as well as to the country of immigration.

I see it as a Hindu married woman's loyalty to her parental home as well as to the inlaws' place. Both are important, like 2 eyes.

Dear JR,

I had deleted that post..i think you quoted it just before I deleted it.

Could you delete the quoted portion?

 

[P.J.]

Dear Renuka,

Sorry I must have been clearer - the children also invariably sing 'Star spangled banner' after they sing 'Jana Gana Mana'.

If you see closely, nobody is ready to sacrifice the patriotism to their own country of origin here - since US is a country of immigrants only, every immigrant wants the child to know all their original values including feeling of patriotism to the country of origin as well as to the country of immigration.

I see it as a Hindu married woman's loyalty to her parental home as well as to the inlaws' place. Both are important, like 2 eyes.

renukaji

this should settle your on going VITHANDA VADAM!!!

Now where are you going to twist !!!

 

[renuka]

Dear JR,

Since US does not have problems with its citizens still singing national anthems of their former countries that I guess its fine.

In other countries its not the same.

 

[renuka]

renukaji

this should settle your on going VITHANDA VADAM!!!

Now where are you going to twist !!!

Dear PJ sir,

I do not twist anything..its your eyes that mimic the sulci and gyri of your brain!LOL

What you want me to say?

For me its simple..we have 2 eyes but we only have One Mind..one needs to be Eka Gratha.

That way Rama could have walked over to Lanka but he said Motherland is greater than heaven.

So for me the land of my birth is my motherland and since I am born here and I am a Msian citizen I only sing Msian anthem even though I am an ethnic Indian.

So going by your logic PJ sir..may be Lord Rama should have crossed over to Lanka and sang Ayodha Anthem?

So you still want to twist?


Let's Start Some Ronauk Shounak
Let's Have Some Party Now
Let's Have Some Raala Rappaa

Rang De Chak A
No Matter Let Them Say

Let's Have Some Dhol Dhamaka
Let's Call The Dholi Now
Let's Have Some Matti Tappa

Chalo Chalo Ji Lak Lak Gao Lo
Chalo Chalo Ji Mauj Bana Lo
Chalo Chalo Ji Nach Lo Gao Lo
Pakad Kisi Ki Wrist

And We Twist
We Twist
We Twist
We Twist
And We Twist
We Twist
We Twist

 

[P.J.]

renukaji

this is ultimate Twister!!!!

 

[biswa]

I think Renukaji has a valid point. As part of taking the oath of US you have to renounce any allegiances to all other countries.

 

[mkrishna100]

While the schools do impart knowledge about our culture and its greatness to help the children get a proper understanding of our heritage, I think it is very important for the parents to spend a lot of time with children at home talking to them. We can impart our native unique values and help the children build a proper value system by that. I do not know whether all the parents there now do have that kind of time and inclination to do that. If it is there, well the children are lucky. If it is not there it is unfortunate.

True Vaagmi Sir .These days the time spent by Parents with Children is very less and most of TB Parents ( this is true both in India as well as with NRIs ) are themselves ignorant of Indian Culture and are themselves highly confused and keep switching from western liberalism to traditional indian culture to following new age gurus etc .

 

[renuka]

I think Renukaji has a valid point. As part of taking the oath of US you have to renounce any allegiances to all other countries.

So to have the best of both worlds and be grateful to both..one should work in US and have PR status but still hold on to their Indian citizenship.

 

[JR]

So to have the best of both worlds and be grateful to both..one should work in US and have PR status but still hold on to their Indian citizenship.

Yes, isn't that the beauty of USA, the land of immigrants? :couch2: (comfy)