Of masala corn, hairpin bends in Wynad, grandmother.
SAN FRANCISCO: Happy Independence Day!
By now, I’ve lived more years of my life out of India, but come August 15, I still get whimsical about the flag hoisting ceremonies held at my old school, the patriotic Rangoli episodes on Doordarshan, and history lessons of the Indian freedom struggle. My children who equate Independence Day with barbeques and fireworks give me the eye-roll when they see me sniffle over YouTube videos of ‘Ae mere watan ke logon’.
It made me ponder about what the significance of India, and being Indian was; to my children and other second generation Indian Americans. The children we brought along with us on our ride towards our aspirations; who got tagged with unflattering terms like ABCDs, Coconuts (brown on the outside, white on the inside) etc., as they precariously tried to balance their Indian values and American lifestyle. In our quest of securing their future, did we end up forfeiting their identity?
Conversations with this generation of Indian Americans revealed a few surprises. For one, Bollywood and cricket, which are taken for granted as the ‘Great Indian Unifiers’ was conspicuous by its absence in the discourse. These kids did not bleed blue or hyperventilate to Bhangra beats. Their imagery of India was not derived from media soundbytes or Bollywood hype. Rather, it was carved out of their personal relationships, and experiences, however significant or trivial.
Here in their own words….
‘To me, India is not just a country with fancy dresses and spicy food. It is the place where my family was started and grew, the place where my heritage began. Every visit to India is memorable, but the thing I remember the most is walking around different places with my whole family and eating masala corn from vendors.’- Harshita, 12.
‘India to me means a warm cultural country. My most memorable moment was traveling to see the Taj Mahal because it was a dream come true after seeing it in so many pictures and the movies.’ – Parsa, 10.
‘India is my home away from home. I was thrilled to discover places like the hairpin bends in Wynad and the grand forts and masjids of Delhi. I miss playing in the rain, all the greenery and being spoiled by family.’ –Rehaan, 8.
‘ India is a part of me. It’s where I’m from, and the sacrifices that my parents, my grandparents have made will always remain with me. I see India as an exotic place full of mystery, not a homeland but an adventure land. My friends in India live thousands of miles away and our cultures are so different but we share something in common. We went through the same struggles at school and at home, and I always find that fascinating. The companionship found in India is incomparable to anywhere else in the world. I loved feeling like everyone really cared about me, and I knew that no matter where I was, a friendly face was sure to be found.’- Vidhi, 16.
‘In India, sometimes I get mocked for my accent, and stand out for my “Americanization”. But I miss the family traditions. That sound silly to others but mean a lot to me. My family is spread out over the world, from the UK, to UAE to the East Coast. So, Indian weddings are dear to me since they are the perfect excuse for my huge family reunions!’- Asha, 15.
‘India is special to me because, that was where my parents and ancestors were born and raised. I miss my cousins terribly, when I come back from India.’- Bharat, 11.
Farzana, now a mother of two, shares her experiences of growing up in America in the 80s, and her tryst with India:
‘I grew up in Baltimore not quite sure of what race I was but knew that I fell somewhere between East Asians and Blacks. I felt like a pioneer in my day and age; there were times when everyone in grade school would look at me funny after we read a segment about American Indians and Pocahontas. Even as a 7 year old, I’d look at these pictures of American Indian chieftains wearing the long headdress and think how they really don’t get me or who I am! I ended up creating my own identity with the help of my family – different from anything a book or TV show would dictate to me because I had no such influences.’
Farzana feels that thanks to the technology and the number of Indians living in the States today, India has become closer today, making it easier to for today’s youth to connect with India.
‘At first it never ceases to amaze me how alike people look once I arrive at the Indian airport. Living in America, I always take my dark black hair, tan skin and dark eyes to be somewhat unique so when I first land…it’s quite apparent that I’m with my true ‘family’.’
‘Getting used to the kitchen to make a simple tea is sometimes a challenge; driving seems like a thrill sport – dodging between animals, pedestrians and oncoming vehicles that cross into your lane is something quite unsettling and privacy can be difficult at times’.
‘I miss how genuine and affectionate my extended family and in-laws can be. Also, the scenery in Kerala, India, is quite breathtaking. My kids have a great time back in India just spending the day in the front yard, with cousins soaking up the wet, humid tropical climate and playing in the great outdoors. Anyone in America simply wouldn’t understand unless they saw it for themselves, only to return back home to cold, dark winters.’
And here is a sentiment from a five-year old, of what India represents:
‘India is where grandma lives.’- Aman.
To contact the author, email to zenobiakhaleel@americanbazaaronline.com