Smithsonian’s peek at desi life in America: ‘Beyond Bollywood’
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: The Smithsonian’s “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation†exhibition is opening for the public this Thursday, February 27, as the historic institution’s first-ever gallery dedicated solely to the history of Indian immigration and its lasting cultural impact on the US.
The exhibit will run for one year at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, in the heart of Washington, DC. At Tuesday’s press event, curator Dr. Masum Momaya talked about how “Beyond Bollywood†came into being, explaining that the US National Archives have over 100 million artifacts within them, but none pertaining to the story of Indians in America.
“I want visitors to walk away with an understanding of the vast and deep contributions of Indian immigrants and Indian Americans in shaping US history,†said Momaya, adding later that although the exhibition highlights certain individual achievements of prominent desis, it is first and foremost meant to honor the overall impact of the Indian American community.
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The name “Beyond Bollywood†was chosen because, in surveying Americans from all corners of the US, the first association almost all of them had with India was Bollywood. Momaya wanted to show that Indians are far more than just colorful song-and-dance sequences – although Bollywood did play an important part in shaping the bright and vibrant aesthetic of the exhibit.
The first Indian immigrant on record came to the US in 1790, just four years after the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Since then, Indian Americans have played crucial roles in farming, the building of railroads, and the military. More recently, their impact has been felt in the fields of engineering, medicine, and motel ownership, all of which have their own panels illustrating their respective importance.
Other important facets of the Indian American experience that are included in the exhibit at the Indian dominance of the Scripps National Spelling Bee and the prevalence of Indian American (specifically, Punjabi) cab drivers. Individuals singled out for their accomplishments include Academy Award-nominated writer/director M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense), reigning Miss America Nina Davuluri, as well as athletes such as former Green Bay Packer Brandon Chillar and Olympic silver medalist Mohini Bhardwaj.
The vast number of religions practiced by Indians in the US – a total of nine, which includes Baha’i and Zoroastrianism, in addition to Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism – as well as the practice of yoga, are also covered by the exhibit.
Indian American musicians, such as DJ Rekha and Raje Shwari, are also featured. An entire wall is dedicated to the discrimination Indian Americans have faced throughout the years, particularly the “dotbuster†movement of the 1980s.
In a nice touch, shoes sent in from desi families across the country are kept at both entrances to “Beyond Bollywood,†to mirror the fronts of many Indian-origin homes.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com