Syndicate

Thaindian site

Syndicate

feed image

Disclaimer


The website content has been checked for the correctness to the best of our ability and understanding. However, We are not liable for any loss or damage to a person or a third party resulting from usage of contents of this web site.

Latest Events

There are no upcoming events currently scheduled.
View Full Calendar

Special News

You are not logged in. Login or Register now . Why Register?

Home arrow News arrow The India Story arrow An NRI...not me! Perhaps a global Indian
An NRI...not me! Perhaps a global Indian Print E-mail
Tag it:
Delicious
Furl it!
Spurl
NewsVine
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Technorati
Digg

August 25, 2008
by Kul Bhushan

 

Indian Tiranga"An NRI , no, not me! My grandfather came from India but I was 'born in the US' and I'm an American," said Neil whose legal name is Sunil. "I have nothing in common with an Indian who lives in India. Maybe he has something in common with me, as he is trying to live the American lifestyle."

But what about your customs, food, movies? "Customs like marriage....look, my brother met an Italian while studying medicine and he got married to her. I have a Hispanic girlfriend and am learning Spanish right now - not Hindi. Food? Yeah, I like curry but I also like pizza, so what? Bollywood movies...no, not my scene."

Don't you want to visit India, the land of your forefathers especially when some young Americans are going there to work in this economic slowdown? "Maybe, I will visit India for a holiday but cannot even think of working there...the work culture is quite different. Couldn't survive there."

The America-born Indian seems radical but not uncommon.

British Indians have similar but less critical views. Ricky, an upwardly mobile engineer, has forgotten India since his father came to Britain in the 1950s.

"I went to India as a child of four and it was terrible," he says. "I don't want to go there again - not even for a holiday in Goa. I prefer Dubai and may even buy a flat there. Yes, I like Indian food and enjoy Bollywood films and want my daughters to marry an Indian - just like any other father of any other community here."


Says Pramila, who calls herself Pam, a young housewife in Britain: "Indianness is eroding. Can I wear the sari to work here? Not very practical; I wear saris a few times a year. Do I cook Indian food every day? It's not possible as it takes so long when I have little time after work. Do we celebrate all our festivals? No, except the big ones. So my children have become more British than Indian."

Says an Australian of Indian origin: "The NRI business a complete hogwash. It was created by Mother India to have vicarious basking in the glow of those of Indian origin, who moved away from her and now live in other nations, and are the nationals of these countries. Your position, and it has been talked of here often, and those of the others who have voluntarily chosen to move to 'new' countries and accept the nationality of that country, is that of nationals of this country.

"Therefore, forces in that country that affect you, your children and theirs, as well as the loss of some or any of your previous languages, culture and allied values, are bound to occur, unless individual families pursue it within their ambit and pass these down to their children; or a community might organise a 'know your past' sort of learning centre. Yes, certain and even nostalgic historical ties will continue over a period, but even these will eventually become eroded and the progenies will more and more align themselves with the newer nationality in, if not all, most respects. I reiterate that I am Australian first and then anybody else."

Says another Indian origin emigrant whose son married a European woman: "We were born in India. Our kids were born here in the West; they do not speak Gujarati and do not have any Indian clothes. Their view is that the Indian cuisine is no different from Mexican or Italian - some of it is good. So am I an NRI? What about my kids? I see Americans of Italian, Greek or whatever backgrounds, and some identify themselves as Italian Americans or whatever. But many do not...So someone please tell me what are the rules. Am I a member of this NRI Club?".

So what are the rules of this "NRI Club"? Perhaps they are always being written. Certainly, the over 50 generation of first migrants have a soft spot for India as they visit their place of birth or invest in it. They also want their children to follow their 'culture'. This means following their religion, and choosing an Indian for marriage. They remain in touch with their Indian relatives, friends and news. They explain and defend India and are NRIs all the way.

The younger generation takes two paths: going all the way with the lifestyle of the countries they were born in and so they are apathetic to India. Others are proud of India, their Indian roots and learn about its culture. Proud of their ethnic background, they argue for India and are active on the web for India on their sites, blogs, chat rooms et all.

Says one young American of Indian origin, "NRI - Non Resident Indian - is outdated tag since we moved out. Maybe, PIO or Person of Indian Origin or, even better, Global Indian."

(Kul Bhushan previously worked abroad as a newspaper editor and has travelled to over 55 countries. He lives in New Delhi and can be contacted at: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it )

Content navigation

Previous: Indian Achievers Forum event on 20th Sept at Bangkok

 
User Comments

This is an article that highlights exactly how Indians feel of their heritage. I have lived in Thailand for 5 yrs and now I am in Japan and the most dishearting thing I have seen is even the ppl coming from India for the first time look for friends outside their own country ppl. It is really embarrasing to see your own fellow indians so proud of themselves that they lack enough maturity to even introduce themselves as Indians. I feel really helpless as to how can one be so embarassed by their own heritage. I am an Indian and I love to say that out loud but my blood boils when I hear an Indian say 'NO I AM NOT AN INDIAN' despite their long history in India. 2 yrs in another country and they are happy to leave behind what they come from. I can agree with the ones that were born n brought up totally outside India but I don't agree with them when they make a face of being insulted when asked 'Are you Indian'!!....I don't repect them at all.

Posted by Nitika, on 10/07/2008 at 14:11

This is very informative blog. I like to know about variousfestivals. I also beleive that NRI issue is debatable.

Posted by Festival, on 08/31/2008 at 04:58

This is very informative blog. I like to know about variousfestivals. I also beleive that NRI issue is debatable.

Posted by Festival, on 08/31/2008 at 04:49

This is a very interesting article; I appreciate writer's pick in terms of the subject for this article. The NRI issue seems to be very hot for debate and it bothers to fellow Indian-Indians more than any body else. I would say the pressure to remain as 'INDIAN-INDIAN' through out in your own and extended life (wife, children, grand children etc), if mounted so high, the younger generation would evade and escape from it as soon as possible. I am proud of my roots and heritage/ Language etc. More than any other NRI or PIO its more about Indian -Indians to re-discover what they mean when they consider them selves as Indians. Is it a culture of deep spiritual insight and highly tolerant inclusive social system or just another narrow minded crowd of people, who would be radically ridiculous in order to pretend their utmost connection to the origin?. As it is seen among many minority circles of India, UK, USA and so on so forth, there are people who chosen to be marginalized by not able to embrace the culture where they are living since generations, the society which allowed them to win the bread and butter not just for themselves but also for the fellas back home . To me to be Indian is to be global. Hence I might be wearing Dhoti, Kurta or Suit but what matters is “Dil” jo hai Hindustani, this what i have had seen in many Desis around regardless of thier mingling or mixing in the other national cultures.

Posted by Akshatvishal, on 08/28/2008 at 11:31


 1 
Page 1 of 1 ( 4 User Comments )
Add comments to this article: An NRI...not me! Perhaps a global I... ...

Enter your comment below.

Your email will not be displayed on the site - only to our administrator

Live Radio


Copyright vEsti24

Live TV


Copyright vEsti24

Newsletter

Fill out your e-mail address
to receive our newsletter!

Past Issues
Looking for a Job in Thailand?
Page loaded in 0.306 seconds. Not logged