There is a cultural defensiveness among many Indians, but they bring enterprise and energy to communities with their presence, and this works to everyone's benefit.
There has been increasing angst and teeth-gnashing among Indians in the United States this week over a tongue-in-cheek essay by columnist Joel Stein in the international newsweekly, Time. Mr. Stein ruefully talks about how his native Edison, a New Jersey community just across the Hudson River from New York City, has been transformed into a “Little India” — with the overpowering smells of Indian cuisine, the eclectic colours of Indian ethnicity, and the distinctive dialects of the subcontinent dominating what was once a largely Italian-American town.
The blogosphere has been ricocheting with rants against the writer, accusing him of prejudice or worse. Time's editors subsequently said that the magazine — whose circulation is just under four million — did not intend to offend Indians. I know Mr. Stein, and he's scarcely a racist; he has acknowledged that the presence of Indians has brought fresh prosperity and diversity to Edison. I am pretty sure that his piece was intended to be satirical, even if it wasn't especially felicitous. Columnists, after all, are paid to be provocative; engendering offence is sometimes one of those unintended consequences of the trade.
An Indian friend, who lives in East Asia, put a healthy perspective on Mr. Stein's article after I had e-mailed it to her. “I was aware somewhere that I ought to be insulted as this guy is saying mean things about my countrymen and culture — but the piece is written with so much humour and candour that I could not help but see his point,” she said. “I cannot help but see where he is coming from. It may not be balanced but brings out the feelings of so many. And somewhere along the line admits to being biased. I see why Time ran it!”
My own feeling is that Indians — especially those living and prospering abroad — often tend to be bereft of irony and a self-deprecating sense of humour; they are given to being far too readily offended as a tribe. It may not quite be a “Masada Complex” — a feeling of being under siege — but there's a cultural defensiveness that I have sensed among many Indians I have known since I first landed in the U.S. as a student.
Of course, there are now many more Indians in America since my initial arrival in 1967. When I visited the U.S. — now my adopted country — not long ago for a major class reunion at Brandeis University near Boston and Cambridge, it struck me that just about every second person on the streets seemed to be of Indian origin. In my home city of New York, the situation was no less different.
Surely, I thought, America — a nation of 307 million — must profit substantially from the presence of these Indians, of whom there are now more than 2.5 million, a tenth of the global Indian Diaspora. As if by serendipity, I came across a study showing that indeed America does benefit handsomely through the contributions of Indians, including businessmen, physicians, and high-technology entrepreneurs.
This study was jointly prepared by the India-U.S. World Affairs Institute of Washington, the Robert H. Smith School of Business of the University of Maryland, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry; it revealed that Indians are not only the most affluent and most educated of the scores of ethnic communities in the melting pot that's the U.S., they are also rapidly becoming among the most significant investors in the American economy.
According to the report, 90 Indian companies made 127 greenfield investments worth $5.5 billion between 2004 and 2009, and created 16,576 jobs in the U.S. During the same period, 239 Indian companies made 372 acquisitions in the U.S., creating more than 40,000 jobs. The total value of 267 (of the 372) acquisitions was $21 billion, or $78.7 million per acquisition. A “greenfield investment” is a form of foreign direct investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.
The study says that the five industrial sectors in the U.S. that received the most greenfield investment were metals; software and information technology services; leisure and entertainment; industrial machinery, equipment and tools; and financial services. The sums poured into these sectors accounted for almost 80 per cent of total greenfield investment. New Jersey — the State in which Edison is located — has been one of the top recipients of Indian investment.
New Jersey schools and colleges also have among the largest number of the Indian students who come to the U.S. each year. Overall, there are an estimated 94,563 students from India whose net contribution to the U.S. economy was $2.39 billion, according to the study. In fact, students of Indian origin constitute 10 to 12 per cent of medical students entering U.S. schools, the new study says. Furthermore, there are about 50,000 physicians (and 15,000 medical students) of Indian heritage in the American cities, and in rural areas.
New Jersey has its share of the so-called “Patel motels” too. There are currently almost 10,000 Indian American owners of hotels/motels in the U.S., owning over 40 per cent of all hotels in the country and 39 per cent of all guest rooms; the study says they own more than 21,000 hotels with 1.8 million guest rooms and property valued at $129 billion. These Indian-owned facilities employ 578,600 workers.
The U.S. Census Bureau adds that there were 231,000 businesses owned by Indian Americans in 2002, which employed 615,000 workers and had revenues of over $89 billion. (The Census Bureau conducts the survey every five years, and the results of the 2007 survey will be available in a few days). A study led by Vivek Wadhwa for Duke University and the University of California, Berkeley, found that Indian immigrant entrepreneurs had founded more engineering and technology companies during 1995-2005 than immigrants from Britain, China, Japan, and Taiwan combined. Of all immigrant-founded companies, 26 per cent had Indian founders.
Which brings us back to Joel Stein's column and all the hullaballoo that it has generated. Edison, New Jersey, may not be a precursor of things to come — in other words, Indians are hardly about to demographically dominate small towns all across America; the country's immigration laws would work against that possibility. But Indians bring enterprise and energy to communities with their presence, and this works to everyone's benefit. They are largely anchored in their homespun culture, but they are also respectful of American mores and morals, and laws as well. They make the American tapestry more colourful, richer, and culturally more alive. They are living the American Dream, but in their own special Indian way. What's wrong with that?
(Pranay Gupte is a veteran international journalist and author. His forthcoming book is on India and the Middle East.)
Indians are no match compared to Korean's in cash run business in USA. Like in Edison, NJ Koreans live in Koreatown (Ktown) and the largest being in Los Angeles. The LA riots of 1993 impacted the Korean American community. The law failed to protect the Korean community from riots. Joel Stein comments are limited to just Edison's changes with time and not to the spectrum of new arrivals.
Indians don't mix, they don't really emigrate, they colonize. They take over the hotels, the motels, the gas stations, the taxis etc. any business with cash. They then skim the cash and avoid taxes. I wouldn't hire one in a business that was cash based.
I have no qualms with Indians owning businesses. I love Indian culture and especially the food! However I have noticed that almost every Indian-owned hotel/motel I have stayed is sub-standard compared to the price - some of them have been downright disgusting. I recently stayed at a Motel 6 that was filthy. The mattress was old, stained and had a faded "Marriott" label on it. It also had a huge ridge in the middle that was like sleeping on a bunched-up towel and it sank it the middle. When we complained in the morning, I asked who owned the hotel and the clerk said some Indians did. I had to laugh because I knew it was Indian-owned without even knowing first! I also recently stayed in another Indian-owned motel that was dirty and disgusting. The TV was so old that the volume was broke and it could only go up to a certain level that was so low that you still couldn't hear it if you were standing right in front. When I went to complain, the clerk (Indian of course) said that they were getting new TVs (yeah sure)!
If Indians want to succeed in the motel business, they have to spend a little money and bring their hotels up to American standards. As for me, I will be asking if any hotel I own in the future is American-owned. So maybe there will be an American backlash, but it won't be based on race.
Is it small towns or big cities that relflect this phobia? We have lived here (in small towns) for 3 decades and never felt looked down upon, or even looked at with curiosity. In fact we have been treated with respect and appreciation for the talents we brought to the community. Folks here admire the respect our kids show their elders and marvel at the dedication parents have towards parenthood. There has always been an eagerness to learn more about our Indian culture. We have felt safe and secure here.
I am dimayed to think that an article written with such accuracy for detail and tinged with blunt humour, should create such an uproar! Let's ask ourselves first if we are free of clanishness and discrmination within our own culture?
Today we live in a big city, and what grieves me is the way our own people form watertight cultural groups, ostracizing anyone who speaks another language or follows another religion. We are far from united! Wake up Indians, and let's shed this holier than thou attitude and learn to live in peace and harmony in our own land and elsewhere. We have a lot of greatness to contribute to the world and not get caught up in such pettiness.
Yesterday,I asked many American kids what was the year of American independence. Not one child could recollect. In fact, one made fun of American history. Incidentally, a so called professor mentioned in NPR that Washington wasted lot of money by waging a rebellion against British. Well, an idiot like himself could afford the liberty of expression to speak anything against one of the greatest leaders of the world. History does not produce Washington every day. But Americans do indulge in dry humour all the time. What can one do if Indian kids study, get good jobs and maintain family and prosper. Stein can definitely pray to god otherwise about Indian community. After all, history is made by a hero and clerks like Stein record it.
I have lived in the USA for over 4 decades and seen everything from JFK to Obama. I am pitying Joel Stein's thought process. I wonder if he knows that we Indians singlehandedly rank among the most successful ethnic group in all aspects. Undoubtedly for a group of immigrants the time and rate of affluence achieved is enviable.
May be Joel Stein needs to write about the native born Americans, a group of them questioned on July 4th,20% did not know the significance of this National Holiday.
Indian children have dominated the National spelling bee contests year in and year out.Wonder if there is a bit of envy in all this hocus pocus article.
Brilliant and honest piece , not this one , the Stein's article !
Joel Stein is simply great in this dept - Satire with unconditional humor !
I didn't find anything to be/get offended in that.
If someone did I'm sorry for them.
Today is July the 4th and are we still in pursuance of freedom of thought and expression ??
May be they knew Stein is speaking the truth but their utter mediocrity makes them feel too reluctant to admit the bitter truth !!
Guys, let us not hyperventilate. Joel's columns are always humorous. By the way, has anybody walked down Oak Tree Road recently? : )
USA is a country of immigrants since the arrival of pilgrims.Its face keeps contantly changing by the contribution of the new arrivals.
In 1959 when I was living and working in Bronx it was mostly Jewish and some Italian around fordham road but to day they are all gone to new rochelle andd other prosperous subarbs.So it is no surprise Jewish and Italians have moved on. Mr.Stein may be nostalgic for his childhood but lacks the ability to look beyond his own nose.
Didn't Italian-Americans took over from Anglo-Americans and in turn they took over from American Indians ? This kind of transformation is a natural progression, nothing new in it. Europeans always cry foul.
nice
The trouble with us Indians (there is always a problem with every national group!), is that we have no sense of humour, especially as regards our national identity. We project our outbound humour to others when it suits us, and deign to call that humour. However, any inbound humour that seems to do the same thing in reverse, is classified as poor taste, racist, or worse, insulting.
We should, as a nation, grow up, show some maturity, and learn to laugh at ourselves. Instead, Punjabis criticize Tamilians, Tamilians criticize Marathis, Marathis criticize Malayalees, and so on & so forth, ad nauseam. How many Indian state organizations/clubs are there in the US, or even NYC? London has about a dozen; Dubai has more than a dozen. Gujarati Club, Tamil Sangham, Malayalee whatever (probably four Malayalee clubs), Andhra Club, blah, blah & blah. Yes, there is indeed also an Indian club, typially dominated by one group that has hijacked the entire management committee.
We lack that unified identity, and splinter ourselves into diverse sub-ethnic groups. Except, when inbound humour strikes us, and then we unite with hurt pride. Grow up and learn to walk like men & women, who have a national identity; learn to laugh at ourselves; our foibles and our strengths. That is a sign of strength, and of our pride in our capabilities, that we as a nation possess.
@Lata (one of the readers who commented previously).
I completely agree with you. It is disgusting to see separate clubs for Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati speaking people. I will never be part of those clubs or associations.
Indians must adopt a common language. I don't really care what it is. Hindi, Hindustani, Gujarati, or English. But we need a common language.
Indians "assimiliate" very well when they are a minority, but put a bunch of them together in a small town or a neighbourhood and see how "loud" it becomes!
I believe Stien was just deploring the fact that his old town has changed beyond recognition. But he did this poorly.
Americans appreciate foreign cultures but if they have to start living in it and away from they own that is when there will be a backlash.
Bottom-line: Bright sarees, bollywood music, and spicy food are appreciated by the host countries, but don't over do it. Learn English and dress like everyone else and there will not be any backlash.
If Barack Obama wih ancestry from Asia and Africa can make it Prez, it is not far off for an Asian American to make the same bidding.Yet the problem is you can take an Indian out of India but India out of an Indian!!
I read the original article in 'Time' magazine. I did not take serious offense to the article in general (the article is written as a sort of satire) but I think the article was written in poor taste. Will Stein write a similar article about Jewish Americans - I doubt it. However, I also think there is no harm in reading such articles, at least they give us a perspective of our own culture from another point of view that we may not get otherwise.
The situation is not unique to Edison, NJ. Here in the Seattle area also Indians face similar sentiments from the locals. I have read letters to editor in the local newspapers asking Indians to go back to India because the locals see so many successful Indians in the IT industries. This is really nothing new - in bad economic times such sentiments are expected as so many people are unemployed.
.
Hello all,
"What are they doing here?" is an ancient question.
One culture impinges on another. It happens, folks !
Why do you think we communicate so well in English !
.
Having worked in an international airline for 26 years my observation of racism is simple europeans do not openly behave as racist,however Irish decent[americans],british group[canada/australia/america] practice them openly,they call african decendants first as negros,than blacks now african-americans.[why?.. if you look at your feet its white,if you look at your head there is black hair ]and this was what a mauritian said when I happen to over hear him replying to a white afrikaanas holidaying there and insulting the indian vendor along the beach.so they have an inherent flaw and complex ingrained by their society.lets forgive them.Indian are tolerant people,,,rightfully so.
We, Indians, only create 'Little India' in other countries. What about the Chinese? They have their own overseas 'China Towns'! Recently, while in the U.S., I had occasions to go China Town in New York - it must be the dirtiest place in the U.S. Someone commented here that overseas Indians tend to talk among themselves in their own language when they are at work. Americans may not relish it, no doubt. But, I have found that Chinese in Indonesia (Indo-Chinese) too talk among themselves in their own language whenver they don't want others to know what they're talking about. Another thing, we, Indians in Indonesia, even after being here for decades, rarely mix with Indonesians, except for special occasions. The point is that we don't easily assimilate, but we don't create problems for others either. Outside work, we tend to live in our own little Indian world, whether it is culturual or social activities. Our food habits or our taste for Indian music, sports and politics remain ingrained in our beings! This seems to be the case with Indians in the U.S. also.
Hahah! Look at the large number of responses for this article. I wonder why?
we r visiting US for the firth time.Visited all places including NJ.Astounding to note the freedom of religion in US to have so many Hindu temples in all impt places/cities. In june we attended a couple of Kumbaabshikeams functions here. The article is only an aberration. Read/ignore.
unfortunately this successive denegrading of newly settled immigrants by the previously settled immigrants is a common thing in nations made up of immgrants primarily. However, Indian have never really had a sense of humor but even today act as if there is a western enemy that they need to banish. Many Indians suffer from cultural cringe as well subtle sense of shame of Indian poverty. So either grit and bear the injustice in the west or start pretending as if they are the westerners. This leads to a confused identity. Instead of just accepting India for what it is an old culture ruled by successive set of overseas cultures who looted it of all its wealth and kept it supressed, now emerging from its own self doubt and shadow of cummunal diharmony and sheer poverty and now moving on on its own merit, Indian need to be defensive and overzealous. This is the problem. If Indians had the confidence to be who they are and not worry and get hung up about Pakistan, poverty and the shame of being colonized then they would succeed. It is upto Indians to ignore this kind of useless articles and follwo their goals like the Chinese do and get on with it. Indians need to stop worrying about what others think.
Joel's feelings are only natural. He is being honest about it. A medley of fact and humor. Facts overshadowing humor, rather intentionally. I am sure he vented out his frustration by talking it out loud. I am glad he is feeling better now. Glad he did not pick a sword to express his frustration. Wait a minute, Isn't pen mightier than sword? If we all could express our frustration in a professionally worded format through TIME magazine, would this world be a better place? I doubt it. Joel, next time you are frustrated, probably you should hit the bar. Wait a minute, this is your job. It is a free country. But be responsible. God bless the free world!
Mr. Panay Gupte, to say that "Columnists, after all, are paid to be provocative; engendering offence is sometimes one of those unintended consequences of the trade" is fine but to score points for your article readership by the title "Will Indians face a backlash in the U.S.?" is wrong. I think what's happening in Edison and the article by Stein is a viewpoint that should be kept to being just that and not tied up to a more political insinuation such as a backlash on Indians. Indians are there to stay wherever they migrate, just like the Chinese and all others who did now and before. Sorry Mr. Stein, this is "collateral damage" when people migrate, taking the euphemism from the great American liar George Bush and now from Mr. Gupte himself. Melbourne,Australia
Mr. Panap Gupte, to say that "Columnists, after all, are paid to be provocative; engendering offence is sometimes one of those unintended consequences of the trade" is fine but to score points for your article readership by the title "Will Indians face a backlash in the U.S.?" is wrong. I think what's happening in Edison and the article by Stein is a viewpoint that should be kept to being just that and not tied up to a more political insinuation such as a backlash on Indians. Indians are there to stay wherever they migrate, just like the Chinese and all others who did now and before. Sorry Mr. Stein, this is "collateral damage" when people migrate, taking the euphemism from the great American liar George Bush and now from Mr. Gupte himself. Melbourne,Australia
columnist JOEL STEIN HAS A SERIOUS SELF IMAGE PROBLEM.HE NEEDS TO READ " THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG " BY DAVID SCHWARTZ.HE NEEDS TO WRITE ARTICLES HOW JEWISH COMMUNITY DISAPPEARED FROM HARLEM AND WHO PUSHED THEM OUT
Stein's article was in poor taste and not even remotely funny. Just plain offensive.
And to be honest, I am not half as concerned about Stein's views and comments(freedom of speech, eh?) as I am about the fact that a reputed magazine like Time decided to carry this piece.
Indians are not a single community in USA. Here again Gujaratis mingle with Gujaratis, Tamil with the Tamils, Telugu with the Telegu, Punjabi they have their own community, etc. Where is a single indian culture here. Neither there is one in India not it is in abroad.
I have to agree to Stein's observation. I understand that Indians are too talented and could bring lot of prosperity and knowledge and growth to any country they goto. But they also bring cheapness, narrow mindedness, and hypocricy everywhere they migrate. I lived in US for last 10 yrs or so, and have realised in no time US would be totally Indian dominated.Wierd part is no matter how long Indians stay in different parts of the world, they never value existing cultural aspects, leave aside following new traditions. These so called affluent gujju hoteliers make their old parents work, take on all trades(plumbing, cleaning, electrician) to cut costs, and eliminate more american jobs. From Minneapolis, Dallas, Bay Area, NJ, Chicago, to L.A, there is no single community or apt complex, that I can not smell the strong curry smell. My colleagues wear smelly clothes that reek of food a month old. Every one is free to practice their own faith, beliefs and value system. But to respect a new country for its own existing values, in my opion is not too much to ask for.
The "defensiveness" that Pranay Gupte attributes to Indians is, I think, extremely pertinent, and perhaps goes beyond NRIs. The inability to detect satirical humour is not only alarming but also smacks of a lack of imagination. Overall. the outpouring of indignation over the Stein article, both here and elsewhere, is disappointingly immature. I would have liked to see Pranay Gupte give more space to the dangers of this defensiveness than go into a litany of Indian achievements.
All areas in the world are a result of migration. Irish, Italians, Poles Russians English, Scottish, Danes, Dutch, etc., No use,saying because you came before you own the place and then close borders. Initially the original Indians in America would have felt the same. If the wealth of large countries of Europe were because of exploitation of other country's wealth,and conquest and now their standards are higher , they tend to prevent ohers coming in now, for a share.
Culturally, never forget for the Romans, and before that for the Chinese, Indians, and others the Anglo Saxons of that era were barbarians.
But Mr. Stein' article is not offensive and should taken in with some strong sense of humour and we should learn to laugh with it.
k.a. iyengar Pune India
By our comments we are giving too much importance to a satirical and funny article. Those complaining about racism should hear the comments of North Indians about South Indians and vice versatile in America itself.
There are other "Little India"'s in the US. Jackson Heights (also called Jaikishan Heights) in NY, Devon Street in Chicago, Gandhinagar in Houston, MG Road in Jersey City, and whole of San Jose, California.
It cannot be gainsaid that the contribution of the Indian diaspora to
the US and its people in various fields has been very significant.And they have blended very well into the American society.
I have been living in a small town in San Francisco bay area.In 1996 you could count the number of Indian families with your fingers.The elementary school,which my grand kids attended had only 4 other children of Indian origin.Today I see a lot of saree clad women chatting away in all the Indian languages.Like most chinese immigrants of the 19th.century,Indians also tend to live close to their friends.Buying,leasing or renting,they tend to take the advice of their friends who had settled down earlier.Though we have have several small cities in Bay Area,most Indians have settled down in South bay closer to the silicon valley where most of the Indian software professionals are employed.
Though Indians have generally been more successful than the others in advancing their careers,the have not blended with the local communities like the other latino and asian communities.This is because,the first generation Indian want to have their identity with their homeland even after decades.
The local Americans do not by and large resent the smell of Indian cooking or the chatter of different tongues in their streets.In fact,they love Indian cuisine.The Indian restuarants are
always filled with as many locals as the Indian immigrants.I never feel offended when some of my neighbors remark that the white localities are turning brown and that all the doctors in this area or Indian.I am sure Mr.Stein's reflections were just nostalgic and were not intended to provoke anyone.I fully endorse the views of Mr.Gupte.
Panchapakesan Nerur
There is nothing wrong if Indians want to have a neighbourhood that caters to their need whether it is grocery, items from india or restaurant from india. All ethnics groups in US have that. But one thing to note and applaud that unlike many minority neighborhoods that are crime ridden and many a times look run down, Edison is clean and safe and the property value is good and the school district is not too bad either. So I dont think there is anything to complain about
The only real problem is that Indians, more than any other community in america, are extremely proud of being Indian. That in and of itself is no problem, but when youre American, it is distasteful to speak of how amazing your homeland is, and to use phrases like "Jai Hind."
Almost all American immigrants came to this country because their homeland was a worse-off place to be. This is engrained into the American psyche where children are taught that people came to America for a better life. In fact, the Statue of Liberty plaque confirms that America welcomes the poor, downtrodden, and masses yearning for freedom.
However, when an Indian comes to America, all he talks about is how great India is, and how powerful it is becoming. You cant blame Americans for thinking "well, if India is apparently so great, then go back!" Indians in America must assimilate not only culturally into America, but also mentally. Start openly praising America instead of India. When youre in America, you must first be an American, and let everyone know that (unfair as it may be, but immigrants must prove their patriotism to the "natives"). In America, your background is just that, your BACKground. If you live in America, youre no longer Indian, youre an Indian-American. Start emphasing the "American" more.
The furor against Stein's article in "Time" is unfortunate. When I read it, I only enjoyed the humor in the article. When I asked my wife, she thought that it would anger many Indians. Our responses to the article seem to reflect the letters on the article. Since Stein's article does not reflect the opinion of any particular party or group, let us tolerate his gentle outburst.
Folks,
Lets calm down. We Need to have sense of humor here. I found the article funny. Nothing disparging there.
I have read many of Joel's articles.. This one is line with his previous ones.. Funny!
Very interesting article. I guess there is something to be said for both sides. On the one hand, most of the people in U.S. are immigrants from one country or the other, however, immigrants from Europe blend it easily not just because they look similar, but also have similar social and personal habits.
There is nothing wrong with identity, since it is not possible for all peoples to blend in with the local Caucasian people. Middle Easteners are very proud of their culture, and make no efforts to hide their culture, so also should we.
However, we as Indians, should make some effort not to get too isolated, and try to make friends with all types of people: as a start, talk to parents of other kids in your childrens' classes. Most Americans (i mean caucasians and even African Americans) are very nice, fair people, and will open out if you will.
What happens sometimes is that we continue to stick on too closely not just to our Indian identity, which is fine, but also to our caste, languages (we have Tamil Association, Telugu associations, Kannada Associations, and some more too!!). Is it really necessary. I may be too optimistic, but I have a vision of realizing Gandhi's dream of a casteless kind of society at least here in the U.S.
Let us make a goal to be united as Indians , and also reach out to other communities, in the true spirit of America.
Finally, not to unduly extend my time, it is always expected that some comments will be made now and then about different communities. We cannot have it both ways: we have been granted this immense prosperity and opportunity here in this land, and we have to take some reasonably toned comments in the stide.
On a final, final lighter tone, our spices are wonderful and tasty, but can be sometimes overwhelming!!!
Most Indian live isolated life, genrally they do not mix with real American people, once they mix with them, then they will know the real American Life.
Really interesting facts have been come in to the picture, how indians are contributing in the Ammerican economy.
I have read the article. Stein must understand that not only economy but also culture is turning global. He has failed to notice the richness of our culture.
Dear all please calm down, I am an avid reader of "Time" when I was in US and then after having returned back. I read Joel Stein's articles in the "Time" all the time, the articles are candid and sometimes out right hilarious. There are many articles where he has not only poked fun on himself but also on the idiosyncrasies of the jewish community. SO if some of you are not in tune with his way of writing cool it off and just try taking an alternative look at the satire in the article. Having read it, I guess it is actually intended to highlight the silliness of the Immigration debate which is raging in the US and in some places turning nasty.In fact he also pokes fun on the changes afflicting the chelsea district in NY which for me was the highlight of the article. I guess as a community in the US we have reached a certain degree of maturity and can take on the occasional satire and just laugh it off.If at all spare a thought for the Hispanic community which is actually facing the heat of the debate.
Believe it or not, as desi Indians living in NJ, we went to California and met the 'bigger desis living in the better place'. they started to joke about Edison itself. they joked that if you threw a stone in Edison, it would hit an Indian head. it does hurt.. but it's a peaceful hurt.
Joel said the feelings of many Americans.. that have to come out. it does hurt, but it's a peaceful hurt. We hope Joel realizes there are feelings of many Indians the same way for 'his kind' too..
Desis are about peace.. While we reject true venom... we accept criticism with grace.. rejection with courage.. and continue on our peaceful mission.
We wish Joel peace.
Star Ledger- a local New Jersey newspaper carried this news article today about the same column: http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/07/edison_residents_officials_out.html
I have now been in US for over 20 years, as a First generation immigrant from India; as a result with cultural ties to both countries. What i find common between the two countries is the spirit of living, a passion for truth and justice. I love them both and do not see a difference in what both cultures hold supreme- human values laced with a thick layer of spiritualism. Though worlds apart in scale, our principles of entrepreneurial, capitalism and economics are similar. Culturally Indians fit well in the work environment. At home and among families it is an entirely different story. Indians do not change life styles, crimp on spending and charities. An average Indian restaurant in Edison would be thumbed down by an American as a beaten up joint. Indian's on the contrary respect the humility and simplicity, reminding one of joints back home. This is perhaps the way to retain a subliminal touch with being an Indian in India.
USA is an immigrant country and all immigrants have faced similar situation. Indians are not better in any way than other immigrant groups. The Chinese are contributing far more than Indian immigrants. If Indians are noticed in Edison it’s not because of their numbers but because of the filth they create, noise they generate. It’s because of undisciplined walking on the street, spitting and littering. We are great but no different than all other immigrants who have come to this country and it will take next generation of Indian immigrants to really get assimilated in American mosaic.
Interesting piece
My two sons have been studying/working in the United States for well over a decade. My wife and I have visited that country many times. At no time have we felt that the people and institutions of that country consider Indians as intruders. They seemed to treat Indians as they would treat citizens of that country. My sons have never experienced any sort of discrimination against them in their educational or work atmosphere. Edison with its Indian restaurants and shops definitely looks like a town in India. There are other places too like Edison in the United States.
I haven't read the Time article, but I can see what that article and this author may intend to imply. A cultural defensiveness such as practicing one's religion in privacy or even as a community is one thing. But Indian migrants, especially the younger ones tend to be insensitive to the language usage too. In a multinational business environment, Indians talk in their languages during business hours and about the work! They think it is their right to use their language in the workplace in the U.S. Not all employers will tolerate this and the American colleagues don't have to put up with this. And, I'm sure this issue will get escalated to a higher level socially one day and Indians will be severely bruised then, figuratively speaking.
Some such writings commenting on the reactions of westerneres have appeared. In Britain too some writers have talked of how the British put "to let"sign in their homes not able to live among the Asian community. Such outburst of racial intolerance occurs both in UK and now in US. British writers have been also talking of how their land values are coming down with coloured habitations springing amidst theirs. So with all the talks of the racial broadmindedness of the Bitish and Americans, these occasional bursts of racial intolerance has to be borne with.
I think there will be a back lash, if the Indians do not adopt the way of life people live here.
With friends like Pranaya Gupte, Indians and Indo-Americans don't need enemies. Does he seriously think Indians are so inferior that they speak "dialects" and are not entitled to their own languages?
There are only two kinds of people on the earth! Useful and useless! Indians fall into the former group and their historical presence in any country they had settled would show that they had brought prosperity everywhere they went. Let us be proud of this fact. Jai Ho!!
Having been in the country for over 40 years and having been married to an Irish catholic almost for almost that many years, I have been able to to actually experience both sides of the cultural divides. In my old age, as I am starting to synthesize my experiences in the country, I feel that we as Indian Americans talk too much about making or spending money. I have not been fortunate enough to experience very knowledge base talk of cultures, religions, family or history either about Indian or about American. For example, I have not seen many people who could speak intelligently about cultural history before 1857 without lecturing others or sensationalizing the room temperature, me included! Journalists and "experts" are correct in selling what is popular and easy to sell. Yes, news about economic contribution is good but intellectualizing and educating, I mean educate, people with non-Indian background about Indian mind, culture and religion has longer lasting positive effects. Most Indians are very productive not just because they are busy bees but because of their culture, family network, open religion and ability to stay calm under offensive attitudes, hungry for new knowledge, unlike many groups, are really the the part that built our habits in our childhood. Sooner we learn about the roots of our strengths and learn to communicate them effectively, the better we are going to be. I do not necessarily assume that a professor knows Indian culture because he/she read Sanskrit or has written books on Indian culture. For NJ, I also feel that we could do better in educating (us and fellow Americans) more and reacting less. I have not met too many people who are not phobic about different cultures and religions but the art is in contributing positively to that divisive air by education. People with Microphone have greater responsibility sponsoring such positive explanations and education.
Here is the problem, which you miss:
We, the White natives here, are not comfortable with becoming a minority--whether that be in our town, city, state, country.
We know that when we become the minority we can become victimized much more easily. We know laws will bend towards the majority (whether defined by power or numbers).
We like Western European culture, art, beliefs, values. We do not want Eastern--we dont like it, we dont want it.
We dont want Indians, etc., to assimilate here. They are not Americans, nor can they ever be Americans. They are Indian.
We believe in equal opportunity, but we do not wish to relinquish power nor control.
I think Mr.Pranay Gupte is forgetting that Indians come in many
flavors and colors, he is wrong to generalize all Indians under one
umbrella as being bereft of irony and self-deprecating sense of humor.
The blogosphere that he refers to is probably a tiny percentage of
Indians living here in the US. There are many of us here who thought
the article was spot on.
This is one of the best articles I ever read. It throws lot of light on the Indian community and their contribution to the American Community in particular
Here is the link to the article by Joel Stein. Let see what the readers think about it -if it it funny or racist. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1999416,00.html
The writer Stein was plain obnoxious and if not he, his writing, does border on racism.
Please, Hindu should try to understand that people come here for *Indian* news and opinions and not "Phoren" opinions.
My grandmother used to say "Do not be carried away by what people say about you. If they call you a king you won't have a crown on your head and if they call you a dog you won't grow a tail. You are what you are and let others say what they feel." Do no fret and fume Let God, in whom we Trust, take appropriate action.
Thanks a lot Mr.Gupte, I was one of those Indians living in the US, who is both HiTech company founder and worker and very much offended by the aforementioned column.
Thanks for this nice article.
The top team of Indian brains is in US and they are doing their best.
This is a case of a storm in the blogosphere, echoing the noise back into the news media. The US has been my home since 1982. As a traveling professional I have visited at least 15 cities and towns coast to coast (including Edison, NJ) just in the past 12 months. In the real world I detected not even a ripple - let alone a hullaballoo – about the Indian presence. While the numbers reported in the article are large and impressive, apparently they are not large enough to make a dent in the multi trillion dollar economy. Just to illustrate, if the contributions from the Indian entrepreneurs were as significant as the article implies, US unemployment won’t be hovering around 9.9%.
Say his 'native' community was predominantly Jewish. Would Mr. Stein
have written the article in the same vein? I doubt it.
Even if he had to write it, would Time publish it? I doubt it.
Even if Time published it, wouldn't they be accused of anti-Semitism?
No doubt about it.
So what's wrong in Indians complaining about it?
I have read this article and felt it was in poor taste disparging the Hindu Gods as multi-armed and elephant nosed. There was no need for this comment as the article was all about how a suburb of which he was familiar from his childhood days but has now transformed.
TIME as an international journal should have been sensitive in publishing such comments.I have written to TIME
What hullaballoo? Where? I do not understand what you are starting here.
Interesting
Awesome article depicting Indian success story abroad and their positive contribution not only towards their economy but also in enriching their culture.Facts unveiled speaks a lot.
We are living the American Dream, bring enterprise & energy to communities,but in our very special way.Nothing wrong with that so long it brings peace & prosperity to both the countries.Jaihind.
Please Email the Editor