From: AXM128@psuvm.psu.edu (ARIJIT MAHALANABIS)
Newsgroups: alt.culture.us.asian-indian
Subject: Re: Are IAs close-minded ? (Re: Parental authority
Date: 9 Oct 92 01:24:30 GMT
 <1992Oct1.041708.24655@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU>
 <1992Oct2.220955.16165@cbnewsi.cb.att.com>
 <1992Oct7.232001.14758@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU>
Distribution: na
Organization: Penn State University

I realize that I've already once posted a reply to Mr. Vij's article.
Unfortunately, I was hurried for time and did not have the time to consider
all the aspects of his analysis. Hence, now that I'm more comfortable in
my room, I shall object further to his analysis :-).

Unfortunately, I cannot quote the exact lines that I object to due to the
inadequacies of this system. But I believe Mr. Vij said something about the
inconsideration of the Indian culture for the individual. I think you are
looking at it from only the western point of view. Some times I tend to look
at things from only an Indian point of view. This skews my perception of
the object/concept I'm viewing. I think you are also a victim of this problem.
You see, one can perceive this society (America) as completely obsessed with
the individual, to the point where nothing but the gain of the individual
matters. You will probably call this statement inaccurate as it probably is.
Yet, looking at it from the point of view of Indian family and social tradition
this is exactly the case in the west.

Similarly, one can look at India as you have and see that the philosophy of
the land does not leave room for individuality. I guess what I'm trying to
say perhaps not so succiently, is that one must be moderate in one's outlook.
I cannot say that the Indian family structure doesn't allow any individuality.
Indeed the nurturing of the children by the parents is intended to create
individuals not stifle them. Perhaps, some II parents go awry in this process
or some perhaps do not understand this aspect of it. And that may cause
discontent. Another aspect of the Indian family that may not appeal to IA's
is the idea of the offspring actually paying back the parents by fending for
them when they grow too old. Perhaps this can be construed to be stifling as
Mr. Vij puts it.

But I can say that the culture of the United States is too geared towards
the individual. For example, my mother, who is a diabetic and chronic
sufferer of hypertension experienced an attack of palpitations some time
ago. I wanted to call 911 but my mother told me not to because of financial
considerations. I thought it best not to agitate her and called a friend
to see if she could drive my mother to the E.R. as we don't have a car. The
friend replied that she had to feed her child and would take a while. I tried
to impress upon her that this was an emergency. But she would hear none of
it. With no other option, we waited with my mother's condition becoming weaker.
One and a half hours later, the friend arrived and took her sweet time to
get to the hospital. This, in my opinion is what happens when the concept
of individuality is carried too far to the point where one becomes selfish and
only concerned with one's own world. This is what I see in America.

But you see both my vision of the west and your vision of India are skewed.
Neither is free of bias. In the end all we can deduce is that there are
extreme cases in both cultures. But one should not judge or stereotype a
culture on the basis of a limited experience. Two more cents from me.

Arijit.
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Arijit Mahalanabis                           |||||
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