From: alok@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (alok.vijayvargia)
Newsgroups: alt.culture.us.asian-indian
Subject: Re: Growing into one's Indianness
Date: 15 Dec 92 16:26:35 GMT
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Dec15.032801.16942@watson.ibm.com>, saeed@watson.ibm.com (Saeed Jaffer) writes:
>  > Is there a progressive realization of one's Indianness as one grows older?

Yes and No.  Some become more Indian as they grow, others lose their Indianness
completely as they grow. This depends on the experiences one goes thru.

> 
> Sorry to bore y'all with that, but I was wondering.  Has anyone gone the other
> direction?  Started out mega-desi and then became more amrikan?  or

I have gone back and forth. When I was in India, my behavior was very much 
Indian although one of a socially progressive Indian, some of my values
were American. I was fascinated by America. I landed in America as a student.
During my early school years in US, I was sort of promoting Indian values,
history, culture as well as religion among my friends. I was sort of acting
like a student-ambassador.  I was at the same time learning about American
culture as well as values, religion, history etc. I always had an open mind
towards other cultures, religion, races etc. I never felt too comfortable
in totally Indian set up. My friends were always mixed. I lived with people
of various nationalities as my roomates during school years.
I have had roommates from California, Pennsylvania (typical white-americans), 
Sri-Lanka, Japan (a real industrious guy with a white girl-friend), Turkey, 
Pakistan (a devout muslim and a nuclear scientist), South Africa (A white 
rugby player), India etc.

In my late school years and early post-school years I was quite 'American'. 
Agressive like an American in job, with women, with family. I wrote to my
my family members that a lot of things 'suck' in India kinda what some of you
IA youngsters have been doing on this newsgroup. I ate a lot of different 
foods - American, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Indian etc.

Subsequently, the experiences of real life in USA has made me 
appreciate my INdian values and culture in some areas, while in other
areas, I have come to strongly disregard my heritage. In particular, the 
prevalent Indian attitude (which I think is quite negative), theory of fate, 
caste system, religious ritualism, age related customs, treatment of women
etc. - I didn't like at all and still am very uncomfortable with. 

On the other hand, I have come to realize that hospitality, tolerance, 
patience, perseverence, committment, family values, democratic behaviour 
etc are some of the strong tenets of my heritage. 

Today I consider myself Indian-American, a blend of eastern and western 
thoughts, someone who still is proud of his heritage but this pride is
cautious, tempered in many ways and enhanced in other ways. I am still 
experiencing this cultural/values integration.

> 
dissatisfied with what the values and ideas they were brought up with (be
> they associated with America or South Asia)?   I find this true of many of my
> cousins who emmigrated to the States from Pakistan in the past 10 years.  They
> seem to have in some ways turned away from Pakistan and become very
> American.
> 

Alok
Newsgroups: alt.culture.us.asian-indian