So We Came to America

So we came to America

I strongly feel that the story about our immigration to America needs to be told and recorded. Not sure who will use it in future and for what purpose but having a social record that goes beyond numbers and data that looks into the lives of Indians who came to America in the sixties and even seventies and how they made way for the large number to follow is important.

First of all, what makes me so interested in writing this story? It is - at least, in part - a personal reason. Looking back at my life, I can say that migration to the US is a single-most event that has affected my life in the most profound ways. I believe that it is also true for everyone who left India at about that time - and even may be today - but now as the world is becoming smaller the impact seems to be less so. We will explore this in detail later. But here is the story of our generation who left India in sixties and seventies.

It is a story of adventure and greed, ambitions and fears, false information and plesant surprises, short-term gains and long-term changes, heart breaks and heart warming experiences. It is a story of recreating a thousands of year old culture, a semi-conscious transplantation of an ancient culture to mix known traditions with unknown norms. It is the beginning of a fusion culture that brought "ring cerenonies" to traditions wedding ceremoines, birthday celebrations that included cutting a cake and blowing out candles, Valentine day gifts and celebrations to our culture and much more.

Like any birth, it is not without pain and like any new beginning it brings its own pleasures. It is a story of financial and personal successes  for many that none of us even dared to dream when we left the shores of India, and unbearable pains that often made us wonder if this was the sacrifice worth the gains. In any case, it has altered not only us individually, but has collectively altered the two largest nations on this earth in the process.

It is also a story that changed millions of lives forever - even for the people who did not migrate - and the story that changed world's two largest democracies.

So what started it all? Well, somewhere around early to mid-sixites, young twenty-somethings that were graduating from colleges in India in droves were getting restless. When they started to look at their future they realized that there were not enough jobs for them. Even the ones that were there were mostly government jobs that were hardly challenging or fulfilling. Two strong forces - governmnet burocracy and social norms - were suffocating their desire to experiment and grow. To these young people, the future looked bleak, or at least not as bright as their young hearts desired. They were somewhat disillusioned. They had grown up thinking that they are the first generation of the Free India  and are ready to shine in the world. Their generation was going to be the first one to enjoy the fruits of the freedom. Instead, what they saw and experienced was the red-tape, high unemployment, corruption and a sense of disillusionment.

Fortunatley just at about that time, United States was opening the doors to immigrants from countries like India. With a new immigration law that was passed in 1965 allowed immigrants from India and other countires.Till mid sixties migration to the US was confined to a very few highly educated young people who were seeking higher education and a few hardy souls had already ventured to the States. Their letters were giving a rosy picture about the opportunities and possibilities that they were lacking of back home. Then there was an added advantage. If you go to the "foreign" country - especially US or UK - your chances of landing a better job within India on your return - were enhanced by manyfold. So the word was spreading. Universities and colleges were buzzing with information about how to apply for admission in colleges in the US. If you had finished your undergraduate studies, chances are that you can get admission in a college in the US for your graduate program.

The trouble was - as always - the money. The cost of education in the US was much higher and most of these youngsters belonged to economically middle class families who were not in a position to pay those higher bills. However, the lure - and the potential upside - was so great that their families were willing to take out loans from banks or mortgage thier homes - something that is hardly done. Of course it was assumed that once you start earning in the almighty dollars, you will be able to pay off these bills in no time.

And of course, it was only the matter of a few years. Most undergraduates would need two years to get the degree and then  - hopefully - work for a couple of years, make enough money to pay off the debt and save some for the return trip and land a cushy job in the industry of choice in India. The families will be better off and will enjoy the fruits of this venture, not to mention a potential to become a better marriage candidate. The life was made - or so we thought!

what do you think?

So was the decision to come to America the right one?

The first generation of Indians who came to America about 35 to 40 years ago now have a relatively clear-eyed view and a 20-20 vision about their decision that was made with a naivety and ignorance but full of hope and aspiration. So was that the right decision? Of course, as you would expect, the answers vary a lot from individual to individual and also from time to time but there are some overall trends emerging.

Looking forward to hearing from you as to what you think. Was that a great decision or are you have second thoughts?

Share your comments with us here.

Highway Happy

Highway Happy!

Cars are lined up bumper to bumper

And traffic is moving at snail’s pace

Thruway is backed up for miles and miles

And pressure is mounting on everyone’s face

I, for one, is unruffled,

It is the opposite direction I face!

Meenal

Traditions? Good or bad?

A new look at old traditions

Often the word “traditions” invoke the idea of an out-dated, tedious, and complex custom designed for old people who have the time to follow them. Actually traditions are just the opposite. Traditions can be beautiful, and a very positive way to create a strong bond within a family, a community or a group. Traditions are like your language, you identify yourself with it, express yourself through it, around it, most importantly, you feel an instant bond with people who speak the same language.  At a family level, traditions reflect what your family considers valuable.

Every family, no matter where they are from, where they live today, and how they are structured, has some identifying traditions that make them unique. However, one of the victims of any migration is uprooting of traditions that have been a part of the family for a very long time – often centuries in a culture like India.  Busy lifestyle can take a toll on following any tradition but it is the best way to keep a bond alive.

Why are traditions important?

Besides creating a bond and a beautiful memory, traditions play a special role in looking beyond ourselves. Interestingly, a nurtured tradition has a way to nurture your soul. So let us see how traditions can help us reconnect with our family, community, and the past.

Many traditions are around holiday time and they often involve a certain food preparation, or a certain custom.

Looking to pass on some tradition to your children?

Here are some suggestions:

Search for a tradition:

Most families have one. Find out, if you do not know already, which traditions are in your family. You may find this to be an interesting search in itself as you will see how it helps you connect with the older generation.

Find out why:

Every tradition has roots and usually begins with a story. Try to find out what was the reason the tradition was started in the first place. If the tradition you enjoyed as a child has religious roots, try to find out the story behind it and share with your children. Finding out why a certain tradition has become part of your family may help you in considering if it is worth passing on to your children.

Observance:

Learn the details of what exactly is involved, and when. Traditions, by definition is something that occurs at a regular frequency. No matter how beautiful a tradition, if you do not observe it with regularity, it will lose  its significance. Make sure you follow the tradition you pick with some discipline. Although obvious, this is the hardest part of keeping a tradition in a busy family life.

Make it enjoyable:

One of the benefits when you transplant any tradition is that you get a chance to reevaluate.  See if this tradition is truly bringing any joy to you and your family. Any boring tradition may not last for too long.

Get children involved:

Making kids follow a tradition can be fun if you get them involved in whatever capacity that they can. For example, if the tradition involves a pooja ceremony, then make sure that the kids are helping you decorate or take part in the aarti, or play a musical instrument during the prayer time.

If the tradition involves food – as many of them do- see if you can get your kids involved in cooking. Not only it will be a fun family activity but it will also provide time together to talk about the tradition itself – a great way to introduce other things around the culture, religion or tradition.

Improvise:

When you are in a different culture, improvising becomes the key. Some traditions may not translate well in another culture but you can always improvise to fit your family’s current needs and circumstances. For example, as a kid I remember that every Sunday morning our family gathered around the dining table –with a plate that carried a small diya and incense for a prayer time. Each family member, including young kids, offered a prayer and the last prayer was sung together as a family. Living in America, I have changed this tradition from every Sunday to every birthday in the family.

Get others involved:

If possible, consider making it open to the larger group. Extended families, friends, community whatever works. Instead of making it a family event, for example, invite your friends from other cultures. Share with others. This may help children feel proud of the tradition. For example, while celebrating Diwali, we always included our non-Indian friends and the parents of our children’s friends.

Make your own:

Keep in mind that traditions are created at some time or the other so if you find that your family does not have any particular tradition that is practical for you to keep in your new surrounding, try to create a new one for your family. A certain food as a new year celebration, a certain temple that you visit on every birthday, a pooja that you perform on Thanksgiving day, time that you volunteer as a family during Christmas. Be creative. Traditions do not have to be religious.  Whatever you pick, will become a great memory for your next generation.

Mind the frequency:

Although it is not important how often the traditional activity occurs, anything less than once a year will not help a child remember it well enough. The frequency can be daily, (such as offering food to the deity every day before eating dinner) to every week or once a year. Usually any tradition around holiday time is observed with gusto and it is manageable in your busy life.

So pick a tradition and go with it. Most importantly, have fun.

Welcome to Ahmedabad The city on the Move!

A few months ago, my jaws dropped when I saw that Forbes Magazine had selected Ahmedabad as the third fastest developing cities in the world! They are talking about my city, the city I have known and loved all my life. I have known it as a city that has many wonderful things to offer to its residents. From its' historic architecture and great food to its thriving business community and art and culture centers, it is one of the most hospitable cities I know. But to see it as the third fastest developing cities in the world was still out of my wildest imagination. Of course, during my many visits back to the city in last three decades, I have known that it is changing at a very fast pace. So I jogged my mind to remember all the changes that I have noticed since I became an NRI.

Since last 35 years I have been travelling back to Ahmedabad - every couple of years and every time I land on its soil, I get impressed by the amount of change that has happened since my previous visit. These changes have been very interesting for me at a personal level and I can see how it creates a shape of new Ahmedabad that is today.

Today's Ahmedabad is on the move, on the road of development, progress, and accomplishments that is a
matter of pride for every Gujarati.

But growing up, I knew a different Ahmedabad. It was the city of textile mills - over 60 of them. Most citizens woke up with the almost ritual quelling of the horn in any of these mills. Almost every resident was somehow connected with the textile trade either as a worker,weaver, cloth designer or a fabric color producer. The city was beaming with retail stores that sold all kinds of fabric. This was the city of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. The city where the movement of non-violence took birth and grew to touch the entire country and the world. This is the city of Indian Institute of Management - a home to one of the best management schools and SEWA a birthplace of self employed women and microfinance. It was hard to say if the city of Ahmedabad that I grew up in was a city with the atmosphere of a village or was it a village with large enough population to be a city. It was quiet, yet brimming with people, and felt like it was stuck somewhere between 18 and 19 century oozing out strength and stability.

That is the AhmedabadI left in 1976.

My first return back after four years meant coming to a very familiar surrounding which was soothing to the soul after being away in a totally unknown place and culture. There were changes going on and it felt like the city was losing its soul. A lot of textile mills were closing or were on the verge of getting closed, so it meant that a lot of labor force was either out of work or was worried about losing their jobs. There was the sense of gloom that was setting on the city. It was also a sign of changes to come, but for me, it felt nice to know that I can always come back to what I have always known. How wrong was I!  Actually the soul of the city had been emerging and its pulse was picking up at far ends. The city and the entire state of Gujarat was and has been on the move ever since!

Every visit since my first one has shown me how things have improved and changed in that part of India that was once so familiar tome. So here is a walk down those streets of Ahmedabad to see how they have developed. The first thing you notice as soon as you fly into Ahmedabad is its new, modern and efficient airport teaming with travelers. If you happen to visit the city by road, you are impressed by its highways probably the most developed road system in the entire country. You notice new businesses, colleges, and retail stores lined up as you travel to the city. A few years ago, I remember, travelling by car was not considered safe or practical and now it seems that travel bug has taken over each citizen. Roads are busy at any time of the day or night. Gone are the days when highway travel was to be avoided if possible and should be taken only during day time if you are safety conscious.And every Gujarati is! The highways in Gujarat now rival developed nations.

One of the most noticeable yet unquantifiable changes I find is the enthusiasm and pride of its people.Young people are filled with hope and pride as they see that their future is brighter. There are thousands of opportunities for today's young that were missing when my generation had come of age. The pride is also reflected in many of the city's landmarks. If you visit the new Kankaria now youmay get amazed at what a vision can create. Gone is the old Kankaria lake with street vendors, homeless people, and stray dogs roaming the periphery. Today it is an attraction for families from all over the city to enjoy beautiful light show and music and water activities. Or attend the international kite festival in January and enjoy the crisp air filled with kites of every size and shape. Or visit the city during Navratri and savor the dance festival. Then there is the Riverfront project that will change the face of Sabarmati River with the water of Narmada swelling the river.

Yet despite all the grown and development the city seems to have kept its soul intact. The new city and the old values are still living side-by-side. Go to any restaurant (now there are hundreds of them) at night and you will see large crowds of people families with older grandparents and young children, group of young students, and office friends mingling. If you were new to the city, you will think there is some festival going on but it is possible that it is only a regular weeknight. Every Amdavadi is a food lover and it shows on the streets, on the menus of the restaurants, and in the homes. The air is cleaner thanks to CNG fuel in every rickshaw. During many of my previous trips, the side effect of enjoying my time in India came with the price of losing my
voice. As soon as I would land in Ahmedabad, the pollution in the air would start bothering my throat and after only a couple of days there, I will lose my voice. Suddenly a few years ago, I noticed that I am able to use my voice during my entire trip and at first I could not pinpoint the reason. Then slowly I realized that it is the lack of pollution in the air due to new environment friendly rickshaw fuel.

I know that it is just not the city of Ahmedabad but the entire state is on the move. New and innovative industries have replaced the old textile mills and small businesses. Today Gujarat boasts of progress in every field from chemical, petrochemical industries to pharmaceutical and biotechnology to auto industry and knowledge sector. All these progress is visible even to a tourist like me.

One of the most n o t i c e a b l e  yet unquantifiable changes I find is the enthusiasm and pride of its people. Gone are the days when youth of the state was not sure about its future. Today every young person in the state has a dream, a plan for the future and is proud to be a Gujarati. When youth is charged up to achieve something, you can smell the change in the air.

Of course not all changes are for the better. Over my last several trips I have noticed a slow but detectable move towards westernization in many forms. Having lived in the western world for most of my life, I am acutely aware of the downside of the culture definitely the glamorous aspects of westernization that gets adopted in the east. Breaking family values, disregard for age-old healthy habits including food habits, and value system can bring devastating results. It is worrisome to me to see these values being thrown by the wayside and the glamor of the west adopted with enthusiasm. I have to admit that these changes have continued to make my trips back home more pleasant. And, I am not the only one. I notice that our friends and family members who have been NRIs for many years are now enjoying their trips back home and some of them are even considering moving back.

I hearGujarat saying to allNRIs “Welcome toGujarat. The State is on theMove.”

Is it worth coming to the US?

Just read how difficult it is to send kids to college in America. Add to that how difficult it has become for anyone to retire even after working for over 35 or sometimes 40 years. And you wonder why is it that America is considered a rich country.

Important things in life, such as education, retirement, family, and fun seem to take a back seat to working, producing, consuming, and worrying.

I am not sure about others but I often wonder about the first generation of Indians who came to America and what they think of when they see that their counterparts - who chose to remain in India - seem to have faired better in these matters.

After all, a better car and a bigger home can only go so far when it comes to the real quality of life.

Happy Diwali

First, I want to wish everyone Happy Diwali.

Through this blog, I want to monitor the pulse of Indians living in America. There is a steady growth of number of immigrants from India. The issues that touch our lives are many and I will try to discuss that here.

Please share your concerns and comments.

Let us make this a forum that addresses our needs and records our deeds.

Chintan