Indians are quick to attach labels imputing confused identities to other Indians raised
outside the “homeland.” But the notion of
an unbridgeable gap between “us” and
“them” is ridiculous in today’s fast-changing
world, writes the author.
American Born Confused Desi (ABCD), Canadian
Born Confused Desi (CBCD), British Born Confused
Desi (BBCD) and of course the ever popular “whitewash”
and “coconut” for those regarded as being
brown on the outside but white on the inside—there
are as many names for them are there are for others
of Indian origin, who were born or raised outside—Fiji
Born Indians (FBI), and Confused American Desis
(CAD), those still living in the “homeland” but choosing
to follow a Western lifestyle. And of course there
are those FOBs (Fresh-Off-the-Boat immigrants)
who’re still clueless about the culture they’ve chosen
to be part of.
All of these names are clever, distinct and equally
overblown in their own special ways yet ultimately link
to a common theme: the stereotyping and failure of acceptance
of Indians by Indians.
But exactly how do we define what it means to be
an Indian? Better yet, how do we define what it means
to be an American, Canadian, or to identify with the
values of any other country one is born in, without
tarnishing cultural roots? How can we find acceptance
from both worlds without feeling as though we
sacrificed one for the other?
The answer may be found in the one common
place everyone knows yet few seldom turn to for direction—
ourselves. Portrayed in films as severely
Westernized, labeled by “traditional” South Asians
as culturally inept, the ABCDs of the world are often
regarded as a generation that is subpar to the last
simply because of where they were born, what
language they speak and how they choose to live their
lives—as either traditional-to-a-“t” or as anything
but, with no room in the middle for compromise.
However, in today’s time, the very idea that a
strong, continuous cultural gap exists between nativeborn
traditional South Asians and those born elsewhere
is amusing to say the least, if not outright dull
altogether. A quick glance at the modern world would
show that cultures (like people) are constantly evolving
with the times, honoring the old by embracing the new
and combining the two to preserve and improve upon
a sacred past.
Proof of such change can be found in the examples
set by accomplished Indians helping to shape the world
today, a few of whom are noted below:
Dr. Sanjay Gupta:
CNN Chief
Medical Correspondent
An American neurosurgeon, published writer, and former White House Fellow admired by the likes
of Senator Clinton and President Obama, CNN’s lead
medical man started out with humble roots as a native
of Novi, Michigan. While a qualified “ABCD” by birth,
Gupta seemed to embrace both cultures as he joined
college clubs, got married in a Hindu wedding and still
speaks Hindi to this day.
Gov. Nikki Haley:
Governor of
South Carolina
Born to Sikh Indian immigrants in Bamberg,
South Carolina, Nikki Randhawa Haley took to the
political stage following a career in accounting and
working in the family clothing store business, helping
to expand it into a multimillion dollar operation.
While raised as a Sikh, Haley identifies herself as
a Christian but participated in both Sikh gurdwara
and Methodist church wedding ceremonies with her
husband, Army National Guard officer Michael
Haley. Today, she serves as the 116th governor of
South Carolina, the second Indian-American governor
in the country (next to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal)
and attends both Methodist and Sikh religious
services out of respect for her family’s culture.
Ali Velshi:
CNN Chief Business
Correspondent
Born in Kenya, raised in Canada and becoming
an award-winning reporter in the States, Velshi chose
to remain true to his cultural roots throughout his
life—becoming a staunch supporter of the Muslim
community through his efforts in defending the idea
of building a mosque near Ground Zero in New York
City. To this day he is not shy to acknowledge his
background as an Ismaili Muslim while also thriving
in his career as host of CNN’s “Your Money.”
Commander Shanti Sethi:
Commander, USS Decatur (DDG-73)
The 12th female commander in the U.S. Navy,
Commander Sethi is a woman who chose to lead a life
far from convention. Born in Reno, Nevada, to parents
who later divorced when she was just five years old,
this 4-foot-11-native of Silicon Valley, California, grew
up without the pressure of pursuing an “acceptable” career
field outlined by traditional standards, and seemed
to make the most of this with her choice to attend the
Norwich military academy and graduate as a naval officer
in 1994. While Sethi has openly admitted that she
was not very familiar with certain aspects of her Indian
culture, this certainly has not stopped her from bringing
inspiration to her community and setting an example
for Indians as well as women everywhere to follow. On
March 16, 2011, Commander Sethi made history once
again when she became the first female commander of
a U.S. Naval warship to visit India when her destroyer
pulled into Chennai for a short visit, during which she
took time to speak to women at the U.S. Consulate.
Her visit can now be seen on YouTube under “Women
Achievers: Never let anyone underestimate you.”
In addition to the above, there are scores of other
desis who have found their own ways of honoring
our culture by sharing it with the rest of the world. For
example, in June 2011 Captain Pratima Dharm, a New
Delhi native, made history in the United States Army
when she became the first ever Hindu Chaplain in the
U.S. military, utilizing the teachings of the Hindu deity
Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita to help motivate and
inspire soldiers in their time of need.
Although some may consider these five as “cultural
washouts” through and through, it is doubtful any of
them ever saw themselves as such growing up. While
not all followed family tradition to the letter, they stand
as leading examples of the next generation of desis
coming of age in the world today. Their collective work
ethics, personal drive, and determination to make the
very best of their lives, regardless of cultural conformity,
pay homage to the idea that it is possible to achieve
great success in life by embracing Western ideals while
still adhering to the core South Asian norms of respecting
family roots, and working hard to achieve goals and set
an example for others to follow.
In hindsight, looking back on the question of exactly
what does it mean to be a good “Indian,” “Muslim,”
“Sikh,” “American,” “Canadian,” and so forth, one could
easily see that qualifications for all of the above are essentially
one and the same—to have faith, work hard,
respect family, and strive to honor the past by helping
to build a better, brighter future.
Jason Ram is a native of California with cultural roots from the
Fiji Islands. He currently serves as a Second Lieutenant in the United
States Air Force, and is a freelance journalist with experience as columnist,
news editor, and executive editor for various news, print, and
online publications.