Why I’ll never feel ashamed to be Indian-American

[prasad1]

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Why I?ll never feel ashamed to be Indian-American - The Washington Post
Some of the points made in this article are posted here.

I got older I outgrew this inferiority complex. But I had to work harder than others and think smarter. I had to focus on my strengths and advantages — which included the depth of my culture, strong family values, and understanding of the world. I knew I would not get the same opportunities as my friends did, so I had to be better. The taunts and negative attitudes made me stronger. They helped me develop a deeper sense of identity with India, the place of my birth. They brought me closer to my heritage and caused me to take pride in my roots. Most Indians who live abroad are also proud of their heritage; like me, they listen to Indian music, watch Bollywood films, savor Indian food, and maintain strong connections with family and friends back home.

That’s why I was surprised to learn that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in Shanghai and Seoul that Indian expatriates were ashamed to have been born in India. This doesn’t reflect the reality.

India finally has a chance to reinvent itself. The hope is that he will lead this transformation — without dividing India further along ethnic and religious lines.

What Indians — everywhere — have been ashamed of is India’s inept government. Its leaders have focused on enriching themselves at the cost of bettering the country. They ruled in the same way as the British did: by dividing and conquering based on region and religion.

I know there are people who will disagree with me. Some Indian-Americans go to extremes to disassociate themselves from their heritage just as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal does. Others still feel a sense of inferiority and focus on the negatives. So I don’t speak for everyone.

I do know that the groups of Indians that I socialize with and meet during my travels generally share my perspectives. They are usually loyal to the country to which they migrated but maintain their cultural identity. They benefit even in their adopted homes from the depth of Indian culture. They teach their heritage and values to their children.
In many ways, it is the second-generation of Indian-Americans who have the best of both worlds. In America, we see them flourishing in almost every field — from the executive ranks of leading companies to the pinnacles of academia. You will find Indians in investment banks; at the helm of one in six Silicon Valley start-ups; in top positions in journalism; and in the most senior posts at the White House. We see young Indian-American faces everywhere and they too carry with them the cultural values from India which they have assimilated and imbibed. You will often find them going back to India for vacation or to volunteer in an effort to connect with their roots.

 

[vgane]

I am proud of my country...I love my country..But I feel sorry for the state of affairs in this country...I think our PM meant only that in his Shanghai speech...It takes a lot of time to usher change in this country...But arrival of PM Modi has kindled the hope that all is not bad & there is a beacon of hope..

As far as NRI's is concerned they are our torchbearers...They stand for the unity & integrity of our country..They have helped spread the notion of India far and wide! They are our true cultural ambassadors!

 

[Jaykay767]

What Modi said is the truth!!! One can debate whether he should have said in a foreign land, etc…

Many NRI’s are ashamed of being Indians –

· Some openly say they are white men in “brown skin”,
· Some don’t want to do anything with India & Indians, they migrate to “white only” neighborhood, they want to live only surrounded by whites.. LOL !
· Some will openly bad mouth India in Internet forums, in public discussions, etc…
· Some will blame how Indians come & crowd in the USA… & they build “little india” where ever they migrate…
· Some will never stop praising how “white” the “white people” are & what a land of milk & honey… LOL !!
· Some will immediately start pointing out problems in India & that Indians are the most racist when you ask, why are you putting up with so much racism in the USA/west.. LOL !!
· Some will come to India to meet the in-laws & then keep telling that India still has so many problems, we thought all this would have been resolved.. LOL !!

Clearly most NRIs who left India 10 yrs back… lack self pride & pride in our country, culture & traditions… that’s why they never return to India… & settle down..

In the last 10 yrs… hopefully there is a resurgence of pride among Indians in India & many do not want to migrate to the west…

 

[sarang]

It is not important what the first generation foreign indians feel; they might have left india for a variety of reasons, good luck to them. What they convey to the next generation is important. It is a healthy sign that many youngsters from all communities are eager to learn and practice what their ancestors and and still practiced in india.

 

[mkrishna100]

Mera Joota Hai Japani Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wjGc1zGWBc

 

[a-TB]

Most people of Indian origin in other lands outside India do feel fondly about India. There are always a few that spread hateful and silly messages about someone or the other (like post number 3).

Such people (and their posts) are best ignored since they do not represent the norm.

My own experience is that NRI immigrants are no different than Indians in India - they hold all kinds of views like their counterparts in India.

One cannot say the same about next and future generations of people of Indian origin. Their affinity to India depends on how much they are exposed to India when they grow up. Even those people rarely talk ill of India (and there are always exceptions )

 

[renuka]

Mera Joota Hai Japani Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wjGc1zGWBc

[video]https://youtu.be/IvloHsmi_vg[/video]

 

[renuka]

Mera Joota Hai Japani Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wjGc1zGWBc

Made in India!

[video]https://youtu.be/IvloHsmi_vg[/video]




ekhi hai saari duniya, Japan se leke Russia
I've seen the whole world, from Japan to Russia,

Australia se leke Americaaa
from Australia to America.


dekha hai pyaar ka sapna, dil chaahe koi apna
I've beheld the dream of love: the heart yearns for someone of its own,

mil jaye gar ek saathiya, ek desiya...
it wants to find a companion, a compatriot

Made in India, made in India
ek dil chaahiye bus made in India
I want a heart, made in India.

Oh ho ho ho made in India, ek pyaara soniya
beautiful love Made in India

ek dil chaahiye bus made in India...
A heart made only in India


tan gora ho ya kala, par ho sachcha dilwaala
Fair-skinned or dark, he must be true of heart;

chandhi nahin, sona nahin, koi heeraaaa ah..
not silver, not gold, but some diamond...

dil jiska hindustani, nahin koi Englishtani
whose heart is Indian, not some Englishman;

rath aur din mujhe pyaar koi karne walaa
someone who will love me day and night.


made in India, made in India
ek dil chaahiye bus made in india
Oh ho ho ho made in India, ek pyaara soniya
ek dil chaahiye bus made in India...

kaisi hai yaar amiri, kaisi dildaar gharibhi
What's a rich lover like? What's a poor lover like?

achcha hai kya, kya hai bura, mujhko pathaaa ah..
What's good? What's bad? I know...


dekhi hai saari duniya, Japan se leke Russia
I've seen the whole world, from Japan to Russia,

Australia se leke Americaaa
from Australia to America.


made in india, made in India
ek dil chaahiye bus made in India
I wants a heart made in India.

Oh ho ho ho made in India, ek pyaara soniya
A beautiful love made in India

ek dil chaahiye bus made in India...
I want a heart made only in India.

 

[zebra16]

Most people of Indian origin in other lands outside India do feel fondly about India.

Perfectly true.

There are always a few that spread hateful and silly messages about someone or the other (like post number 3).

Some of the points are true and not silly at all. Post # 3 is a reactionary post to some of the posters preaching from the pulpit to the native, ignorant, pagan Indians. But that is not to tarnish all the NRIs with the same brush.

About two years back there was a long thread entitled "Racial discrimination" or "Discrimination in U S A" in which Sri Sangom in his incisive style had brought out the subtle superiority exhibited by a few posters and their tendency to gloss over the discrimination prevalent in U S A and to try to keep the native Indians attention pinned down to the supposed caste discrimination or religious discrimination in India. Such latent and blatant superiority is still exhibited by some.

Just to give an example, there were incidences of desecration of temples n U S A. The cut paste specialist who went out of his way to serialize church attacks in India to merely bad-mouth the present day government and to show Indians as intolerant community as a whole blacked out his cut paste job on the vandalism of temples in U S A.

Most of the posts are not a strict one on one reply, but a cumulative rejoinder to series of posts made by one person.

Such people (and their posts) are best ignored since they do not represent the norm.

That would make this a "Writers' forum". What is the use of a Writers' forum if there arent any readers?

My own experience is that NRI immigrants are no different than Indians in India - they hold all kinds of views like their counterparts in India.

Completely agree with you. But when one NRI says in a boastful and boisterous manner that "We NRIs in USA celebrate independence better than any native Indian", he or she is sure to get a rejoinder or a riposte.

When the media went on rape reporting binge, everyone who was interviewed, native Indians and NRI Indians alike said THEY WERE ASHAMED TO BE BORN AS INDIANS.

 

[a-TB]

Perfectly true.



Some of the points are true and not silly at all. Post # 3 is a reactionary post to some of the posters preaching from the pulpit to the native, ignorant, pagan Indians. But that is not to tarnish all the NRIs with the same brush.

About two years back there was a long thread entitled "Racial discrimination" or "Discrimination in U S A" in which Sri Sangom in his incisive style had brought out the subtle superiority exhibited by a few posters and their tendency to gloss over the discrimination prevalent in U S A and to try to keep the native Indians attention pinned down to the supposed caste discrimination or religious discrimination in India. Such latent and blatant superiority is still exhibited by some.

Just to give an example, there were incidences of desecration of temples n U S A. The cut paste specialist who went out of his way to serialize church attacks in India to merely bad-mouth the present day government and to show Indians as intolerant community as a whole blacked out his cut paste job on the vandalism of temples in U S A.

Most of the posts are not a strict one on one reply, but a cumulative rejoinder to series of posts made by one person.



That would make this a "Writers' forum". What is the use of a Writers' forum if there arent any readers?



Completely agree with you. But when one NRI says in a boastful and boisterous manner that "We NRIs in USA celebrate independence better than any native Indian", he or she is sure to get a rejoinder or a riposte.

When the media went on rape reporting binge, everyone who was interviewed, native Indians and NRI Indians alike said THEY WERE ASHAMED TO BE BORN AS INDIANS.

Do not want to comment on any specific NRI(s) who may be seen as preaching since I have not had long exposure. Barring that I can understand your comments. The only thing is that anyone can feel and act superior but it becomes real only if we take that seriously. NRI by virtue of being in another country is not superior and similarly someone living in India out of choice or otherwise is not superior even if they try to drape themselves in the Indian flag.

I hope you agree that we value based on what a person stands for and what they have done and not based on where they live currently.