From: gour@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Mayank Gour)
Subject: RE: PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN-a poem of thoughts
Organization: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 22:05:44 GMT

Hi Netters,
In response to my poem "PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN-a poem of thoughts",
I received a lot of responses.
All these responses showed that people still care a lot about our dear
motherland-India, a lot. Of all the responses I received, The response I
received from one Ms Jennifer Tsuei is worth posting here. Even though she
is not Indian, her response when taken in the Indian context is very touching.
I am happy that she could think and write something that I am sure will touch
a lot of hearts.
I am posting it without her permission, I hope she will not mind.
I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

______________________CUT HERE________________________________________________

From: jltsuei@Athena.MIT.EDU

******************************************************************************
>Hi Mayank!  

>	Your "poem of thoughts" kind of, pardon the cliche, struck a
>chord, in me, so I guess I got carried away in my response (below)--as you can 
>see... ;).  I didn't expect it to turn out this way...but oh well.  :)
>So here's, I guess, an even more "amateur attempt" at ...poetry?!  Well, it's
>also a result of an "impulsive moment", so...I dunno.  Whatever.  :)
>Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that your posting is definitely
>one of the more valuable things I've read on the net.  And I guess
>I had to say it twice...this time in less space! ;)

-- Jennifer Tsuei (jltsuei@athena.mit.edu)
******************************************************************************
 
I am not Indian.

I am, by descent at least, Chinese.

I cannot share your tears--
I can only understand
My way.

And perhaps our tears can flow together
Because I know what it feels 

To have a most glorious history
Replete with Undeniable Intellect and Splendour
Plunged into a vortex
Of poverty, "backwardness", and overpopulation
Of selfishness, corruption, and disunity.

To have to struggle to be proud
Only to possess a pride mingled with sorrow,
The desire to improve,
And the power of a tiny crustacean
Preventing a violent tempest
>From engulfing his friends.

To be isolated in a land far away
>From where your heart is
And cast amongst suddenly unfamiliar heads
Of different color and values.
How can life go on the same here
When my home, my heart, my people are bleeding?

I cannot truly empathize,
But I am aggrieved by the same horrors you are.
I can only commend you
Because you're 

Proud To Be An Indian,

And spreading your pride 
Because of it,
Reminding everyone
That there is an uncountable amount of
Goodness
So often hidden and overshadowed
In every race, in our world.

To you, I send my special regards.
May Our people be nicer to each other,
And let
Love,
In peace and harmony,
Live.

-- Jen

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Thanx for your patience,
Take care,
Mayank.
--
I MAY BE A BORN A "BHAIYYA" OR LIVE LIKE A "GULT",
I MAY BE A HINDU OR ANYTHING ELSE,
BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST I AM AN INDIAN AND I AM PROUD OF IT,
Mayank Gour e-mail:gour@enuxha.eas.asu.edu, Ph#(602)-784-4924(H).