Desipora

Away in Meerut

2006-10-23T21:13:00.000-07:00

To look for more of me visit http://faujiwife.blogspot.com

Why I enjoy my Ph.D better than my School, Bachelors and Masters

2006-06-15T03:14:00.000-07:00

The reason I was away from this blog, is because I was in Bangalore last week, enjoying myself with friends over beer, coffee and movies. Today I just completed my fresh new proposal with a new research interest - ICT for Development. My previous work was going right through the drain. So hopefully the proposal works and the new university accepts me.

When I was in school I found all the sciences very boring, I liked the social sciences and enjoyed all the classes. I failed many a time in science, but my father realized I was intelligent and more of a free thinker, so he didn't care.(Unusual for Indian parents) So I failed high school because I went to study Maths, Physics and Chemistry only because my friends were in the class. But soon enough I realized that there were Literature, Civics and History classes and here I was totally disinterested in the organic chemistry class. I sat disinterestedly even during the final exams.

In my Bachelors, I took up Literature, Political Science and Psychology, life felt better atleast the arts allowed me to think in my own fiery way, there was room to accomodate atleast part of free thinking on most subjects especially Political Science.

In my Masters I took up "Communications" and here is where my personality was its best - Rebellious, Intelligent, Dodgy, figuring it out always. At University I was treated like an adult for the first time and the subject I chose allowed me to express my views academic or otherwise on anything. So the Masters was next to my ideal academic situation.

At the Ph.D level, it is you and your guide, the freedom to choose what you want to study and offer your own passion for a subject, insight and findings makes it the best academic degree to pursue. You try to develop original thoughts and try to look at the subject form various angles to suit or negate your study. This is what makes it interesting and your in command of your thoughts with a guide only to wade you through the maze of information that is available for choosing.Contrary to my free thinking I am a very disciplined and structured person, so organizing my thoughts is not that difficult. Guess I have the right mix of personality for a Ph.D. Also the time is a lot more than the usual 3 year or 2 year degrees.

I enjoy it!

The culture of Sirring

2006-06-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

YES SIR!!!!!

"Saar", "Sirrr", "Saheb". We Indians are a society that gives much emphasis to age,hierarchy and seniority. It is expected of us. Since the British got us under their thumb, we have have been adressing our seniors and bosses as "Sir" - the word that has a colonial connotation.We address senior ladies as "Madam".

Times have changed in corporate offices your corrected for calling a senior as "Sir". Your reminded that "Sir" is passe."I am Jayaram, but you can call me Jerry." So honorifics are no longer the norm. But it gets confusing, because sometimes, we are reminded to call our seniors as "Sir".

For eg: My Mom, once a telephone operator called a Chief Engineer of the Railways as Mr. So and So. He was angry and complained to the office manager, that the lady in the office called him Mr.So and So. My Mom was pulled up and asked to call every one who called in, as a standard "Sir". She resented it.Even today reminds me of how parochial people are, wnating the title "Sir".

My Mom isn't alone, my grandaunt, once asked me "Why do you Sir everybody?". Today one of my friends said at her wing in the office everyone calls each other by first names and in my section of the office it was formal with Sir.She told me how "old fashioned" it sounded. She thinks "Sirring/Madaming" someone means your in a way subjected to be under them. And never be able to meet on equal ground.

In these globalaized times, all of us are comrades, there is a uniform equality that we all aspire for - hence first name basis. But the Indian workplace is still a mixture of the modern and the old. So I feel comfortable titling people from my boss to the cleaner as "Sir". It doesn't hurt to call anyone Sir, and those who don't like being titled tell me so.In the army campus that I live in, it is "Sir", "Mam" all the time, it is protocol. These titles spread a sort of "conformity" among the officers and their wives, which is necessary in military life.

I have observed that "Sir" is a potent word, it makes pople feel respected and powerful. Why destroy that for someone? I am not like my Mom and Grandaunt, they feel "Sirring" is outdated. The politics of colonial culture is to be blamed. The British left us with a lot of their formality. In this day and age we want to give it up, we're/want to be free to call each other by given names. Individuality is retained, or so people think.

But I will never give up adressing people by "Sir/Madam", unless they advice otherwise. It makes me feel more respectful of them and they seem to appreciate it.

A Comment from Gillian - Mothercraft

2006-05-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

This was a comment posted by Gillian, my sister-in-law, who is Australian, she seems keen on exloring the cultural differences in "mothercraft" practices in Australia and India.

Possible topic: - Any comments on mothercraft practices? With Immanuel sick these last few days it has been interesting to see similarities and differences in how mother's (and especially the health professionals) in India and Australia approach child sickness. Also, generally how families interact - what is the role of the mother and father, husband and wife and who should look after the child, what the child's role is (if any) in the family.

These questions also come up in films like Water (watched yesterday with Sharon and Emelia while Immanuel got some much needed sleep) where children are married off without even knowing, and John Abraham's character makes the comment that his father beleived in children being children or somehting to that effect. To me it seems the point of the film is to apply reasoning and responsibity to our actions even if we need to do so in the face of traditional practies.

From my observations within my own family, and from my husbands and the wider multi-cultural community in Australia, I beleive that the parents have such an important role to play in how they teach their children values and their future roles. In particular I think that mothers, as women, need to be aware of how they teach both their sons and daughters what a woman's role is. For example, many mothers in the Italian immigrant community in Australia spoil their sons rotten, not allowing them to lift a finger to help around the house or in the kitchen, and demand that their daughters do this instead. This teaches the daughters that their role is to keep men happy, and the sons also learn this is the role of the women. In many cases the sons do not appreciate the work of their mothers and sisters and do not learn respect for these women in their lives or understand the work involved in maintaining a house and looking after children. Apart from the expectations that the son carries into his next relationships, he also does not learn to be responsible for himself, and this limits him capcity as a human in many areas of his life.

While this has been very simply summarised, and each family is obviously different it saddens me to see in films and in my own family how children reap the rewards of parents failure to address relationship inequalities in their roles as husband and wife and parents lack of forethought in teaching their children the individual value of each person and the need to respect everybody, whether male or female -

I beleive that children need respect and responsibility and need to learn this also, whether girls or boys. The hope is that while each generation inherits patterns of relationships from their parents, they also have the opportunity to improve on them. I think I strayed from the mothercraft topic, but I would like to make a comment on mothercraft, that while we can learn valuable practices from our parents and especially mothers, and should value and appreciate their knowledge and experience, we must also be careful not to take this information for granted and be able to apply their knowledge in conjunction with our own; there are reasons for particular mothercraft practices that do not apply to current circumstances and may instead be harmful. On the other hand there are practises that will always be applicable, even if they have not been scientifically validated. The maxim that "mothers know best" is not always right and places the mothers knowledge and experience above reasoning, perhaps it would better be said that "mothers know a lot of things"!

Enough of my own comments - hope to see some of yours!

******
I hope for some of you to give me your comments on "Mothercraft Practices".

Working on the Ph.d

2006-05-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

I have never been this busy. The new Ph.d proposal, the family, husband working on his own project. I've been doing some juggling with the Ph.D. More on that later.

Since I can't get to think of something to blog about, I'll sign off and come back tomorrow with another Indian cultural musing.

Clubbing isn't that hot

2006-05-23T20:07:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately I haven't clubbed much, because I wasn't allowed to in my teen years and when I hit my 20's I lost interest because I believed the clubbers were trying hard to have fun and it was more of a be-seen place. I loved (still do) dancing but couldn't connect with the music they played, the trance. Just one line with repetitive synthesized beats.

I loved the more country n western and popular dance music , so I started to organize dance parties at home with friends and family. Even all girl dance parties while in college.

When I moved to Hong Kong for a year, I partied all night, at all the clubs on Lan Kwai Fung (The bar and club road in Central). I loved it, because the clubs were small and played live music on certain nights. It was a relaxed air while partying and downing beers.Because it was fine to party there culturally.

Today I have no time nor inclination to go clubbing, it is too expensive, too impersonal an environment to enjoy it anymore. Most clubs in India are located in the five star hotels, the few that are outside are expensive and most only the metro cities of Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Calcutta have them. Goa has many parties and clubs too. Of course visited only by the rich n' famous, curious youth, western tourists and the once in a while party goer.

I don't think India, will boast of many dance clubs at all except for Mumbai. Economic success of the 20 something BPO executive, even better awareness of dance music won't help. "Clubbing" has some notorius connotations linked to violence, gangsters and villains. Just have a look at Bollywood movies, the club is the battle ground of vice and moral decay. Hindu Fundamentalists believe "clubbing" to be a western notorius influence. Also maintaining a club is big money that even the wisest of business men don't enjoy getting into The Fire n Ice club in Mumbai had to be closed for ownership feuds. Only the European and American business men who can afford to juggle and trendspot the next dance music and club rave can take the chance.

What do people who aren't clubbers do:

Hire a DJ and rock at private parties, weddings and birthdays. At my wedding we had a Punjabi DJ and a make shift dance floor that was jam packed with our guests. That was as far a club as we will go.

If you can't get to a club, get the club home. Affordable DJ's who will play your type of music are your answer. Well there are silent revolutions on the dance club music scene here in India- Submerge.

Submerge was essentially born out of frustration. When we first began in 2003, it was because there was no alternative to the mainstream. No matter where you went, you got the same old music and the same tired experience.

So, we created a night that we could play the music that we wanted to hear, that we wanted to move to. We wanted to play the latest tracks from the global club scene because that’s we were into. It wasn’t about catering to the masses; it was about being on the cutting-edge of music, listening to the best in House and Progressive music.

"Submerge" DJ's travel all over the country to play their music at clubs, parties, pubs and other events.

For reviews of Mumbai night clubs: Click

Town culture of India - Meerut

2006-05-17T21:49:00.001-07:00

Major P, has received his posting. We leave in July to go live in Meerut, a small town in India close to New Delhi the capital of India.

1. It is the oldest army cantonment in India.Was set up by the British.

2. Home to the Sepia Mutiny 1857 revolution.

3. Has some of the best sweet shops in India.

4. Is an extremely modern town with many multiplexes, malls industries and businesses.

5. Meerut perhaps has the largest number of gun shops in India ( P.L. Sharma Road ). Until a few years back you could still purchase gunpowder and gunshot for use in muzzle.

An Account of the Opening of the Indian Mutiny at Meerut, 1857

Meerut is an old town and has a lot of history attached to it,especially military history. It seems that it has all facilites that are available in a city. But is according to population density and area a classified industrial town.

I have never lived in a town , so this new experience will allow me to learn more about North Indian culture as well, which has for long been labelled as loud, aggressive and materialistic. To a large extent this is true, history has shaped the behaviour and attitudes of the North people.

North India was largely under attack from the Greeks, Afghans, Mongols, Persians and other tribes of the North-West frontier. Hence most families boasted of male warriors, making women strong and independent incase of war. As time went of the wars were over and business flourished therfore making the warrior a rich man, but always living by aggressive war tactics. Nevertheless I have been the recepient of generosity and warm welcomes at many of these homes.

I realize that small towns have a culture very different from that of the metros. An important step would be to understand the mindset of the town people. I am looking forward to this, bridging the cultural gap. We've always been subject to the simpleton "Town" girl, and the catty "City" girl in the media. Eg: India Calling a serial of a small town girl working in a call centre. Let me see if this a true representation. I am interested in watching how my "identity" gets transformed but survives the stress.

I am looking forward to the Nauchandi Mela, which is held in, March every year.

Uttar Pradesh is hard to beat for the things it produces- Lucknow's chikankari; Ferozabad's glassware; Kanpur's leather; Varanasi's silk saris… the list is endless. And if you want a one-stop shop to buy them, come to the Nauchandi Mela in Meerut. A historic fair, more than a century old, Nauchandi is a month-long extravaganza of great shopping, good food, and UP at its noisy best. The Nauchandi Mela begins on the second Sunday after Holi This is when Meerut becomes much more than just a small satellite town of Delhi, and takes on a glitter and vivacity which is highly infectious.

The history behind the Nauchandi Mela is debatable; some say that it began as a cattle fair way back in 1672; others suggest a British revenue-collection fair as the precursor of the mela. Many Hindu devotees believe that it began as a religious festival to commemorate the building of a temple in Meerut by Mandodari, the wife of the demon king, Ravana.

following in the footsteps of Buddhadeb

2006-05-14T22:08:00.000-07:00

The Indian middle-class (IMC) (to which I belong) believes that all politicians are smart but rascals. We don't care to know more of our politicians, save except to lambaste them. So last week when Pramod Mahajan was shot by his brother and while India waited to learn of his life-death situation, I was surprised to read so many positive articles on his association with the press and his apparently charismatic personality.

Over the weekend, I switched on to CNN-IBN and was catching up with the recent elections. Once again, I am degrading politicians and their once-in-five year -gimmicks. Comes on to my screen an old man in white speaking clearly and pointedly his mind. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, the Chief Minister of West Bengal. The clearly Red Marxist state of India.

He's a communist with capitalistic goals. During the interview he held to his convictions without ambiguity,he seemed to know his weaknesses and strengths, his goals and priorities as Chief Minister of West Bengal. Apparently he also likes Tagore and Shakepeare, clearly a Bangla Baba, coffee-house intellectual.

So the political culture of India is very boring to the IMC, except during election or getting-shot time. It is time we look at the credentials of our politicians and bring to light for ourselves the ones that want progress for India, not the kameena-saalah (power game)types. Hardly makes a difference to us then.

I will be following Buddhadeb closely, he looks promising.

The Culture of motherhood - Happy Mothers Day

2006-05-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

We don't have a designated "Mothers Day" here in India. Globalization and Markets have bought in many new celebrations. Since celebrating isn't such a bad thing we have also learnt to partake in them.

However celebrating Motherhood in India has been around for centuries. Hindus celebrate the, Durga Puja, honouring Mother Goddess Durga, in early October. Hinduism has always recognised the ideal of motherhood as the highest for a woman. Around the world "Mother" was a construct basic to any society and culture. Even Aristotle and Plato expounded the roles of mothers.

Over the years we have built many cultural assumptions, about "Motherhood". Like all women need to bear children to be a complete woman, that only a mother understands her baby's needs or a mother is the only 24X7 caregiver. On the other hand many women find it a hard choice to stay at home and raise a family. There is also a pressure to contribute to the family kitty.

Don't forget the expert advice being thrown at Mothers - How to develop your Child's brain power or Get him to be the next Einstein or some sort of thing like that. So it is like being a mother in this day and age is no longer a natural, intuitive task. It is a chore a duty that you have to be tutored in. I realize, I could go on and on on motherhood, its joys and assoicated anxiety.

But I would like to ask a question - Is "Motherhood" really valued in India? I don't think so. Look at the female foeticide rates, the care of new mothers in hospitals, the employment and health insurance policies of working mothers and pregnant women. If your unable to conceive there is a family pressure, I've seen too many contemporaries face this.

So while motherhood is a celebration it is also an obligatory biological process that women have and most time want to undergo. Once called, to motherhood there is no return back, we must learn to make motherhood a choice and right. If motherhood leads to discrimination, then create a stir if not for us then for our children.

My personal story:

During my miscarriage I didn't have any leave, just had to apply for my normal sick leave. Apparenlty the government has miscarriage leave. But what about the rest of us who work in the private industry.

During my 4 month pregnancy, I realized how work places aren't meant to accomodate a pregnant employee's needs. First-trimester sickness is taken for granted and is infact overlooked in all "maternity policies".

In my opinion companies should make some levy for pregnant women during their pregnancies. Then again I am not talking about compassion and kindness, but hard rules that will protect the interest of both employer and employee.

This is not really a time when you are 100% percent concentrated on your work, there might be a few exceptions, but generally most women are not at their optimum best. I can't get to think deeply about this issue, but maybe rules like a extra hour at lunch for rest, or minimizing work hours, flexibility in work hours, few days off for check ups or intense tiredness would help women cope better with their pregnancy and the work place.

Most provisions are made only for just-before delivery or post delivery. But having your progestorone raised and HCG levels high during your pregnant life gets pretty complicated and a work life very hard to adhere to.

A pregnant working woman, needs to negotiate at her workplace, to help her give the best to her job and her health. But the negotiation should result in "pregnancy- friendly" policies . And most women work to make the money, so recommending going on leave without salary, or a resignation is not an option.

I am actually shocked that pregnancy related work rules have not yet been formulated, here in India, even in Western societies I find women just sticking with discomforts of pregnancy but continuing to work. WHere is the value in Motherhood.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

Mom did you Know?

In India, usually a maternity leave is for 12 weeks and the employer pays for the leave. In case of a miscarriage, a woman is entitled to 6 weeks paid leave from the day of the miscarriage.

The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961The Central Government passed the Maternity Benefit Act in 1961 which extends to the whole of India, and to every establishment belonging to the government – industrial, commercial or agricultural. It provides for certain benefits which are granted to a woman during her pregnancy. Also she cannot be dismissed from service on account of her pregnancy.The maximum permissible period of maternity leave is 12 weeks, with 6 weeks leave to be taken before delivery and 6 weeks immediately after the child is born. A woman can ask for light work before she goes off on leave. The employer cannot reduce her salary in this scenario. The maternity benefits can only be withdrawn if the employee joins some other organisation during that time.

Pursuing the Ph.d

2006-05-11T02:00:00.000-07:00

I took the semester off to decide on the Ph.D course.I gave it up as the blog says, but fate intervenes and I am back on that dirt track once more.

I remember once my friend Jess saying, sometimes in between a project or a relationship for that matter one must stop and ask the question - Why I started it in the first place? So many things engulf you midway that you forget your initial intention.

So let me tell you the Ph.D began because I wanted to stay alive intellectually and morally. I was wasting most of my time hanging out with the wrong guys and trapped in an office cubicle. What would most interest me and redeem me from this drudge - a Ph.D degree was the option.

I was a Communications graduate trying to make a living out of the degree, which wasn't very respected. Mass Communications is a course pursued by many too dumb to study any other course and the very few talented communicators. Communications is such a heart-of-the-matter study, that few understand the kind of cocky, creative and intellectual cocktail personality you must have to be successful.

I decided then to take to academics, but in step-by-step manner. I qualified on the NET test, that National Eligibility Test, which allows you to become a lecturer in any of the Indian Universities.I was pursuing my Ph.D because this would be the give me an edge while applying for University/College jobs. I am doing all this while maintaining a 11 hour work day.

But life intervenes I get pregnant, have a miscarriage, travel abroad. Then my husband thinks I am smart and should give up the Ph.D for an MBA. The great Indian dream of an Business degree.It would give me a chance to do almost any available job. He thinks I would give most MBA's a run for their money. I think about it, it tempts me, but I have no heart for it.

I had people say to me that I should pursue a Ph.D at 40, I wonder what that means, that your old enough and you have all the time in the world to pursue a whim called the Ph.D, why not at 31, in your prime. In my heart I know what they mean, this is a hard road.

I once more question my self about the Ph.D - I am an army wife, the frequent moves, the rarity of Universities and Colleges at postings. Is it worth the money, time and effort. I might not even be able to pursue an academic career.

But I go back to why I started a Ph.D - I want to stay alive intellectually and morally. It allows me to put energies into a worthwhile project. It is as simple as that. No complicated reasons for pursuing a Ph.D and now it just becomes a challenge.

A blog entry on Ph.D. as Preparation for Nonacademic Careers.

Two Women - giving India its buzz

2006-05-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

Last week Kaavya, the young Indian-American, Harvard, novelist was very much in the news, here in India for plagiarizing many passages in what may be may be her first and last book - How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life. Part of the press seemed supportive of this little copying here and there. Part of the press just reported the story.

India's literary circles were take aback by this little brown tart. Even king of diasporic literature Salman Rushdie found it distasteful. Like I said before India is very proud of the success of its diaspora especially in the United States. The diaspora is giving us much more literature than Indian writers themselves. Thanks to international publishers, who love that all American geeky-turned-pop-idol makeover story.

In a way Kaavya, crashed that image of intelligent,talented, honest, hardworking, never-been-kissed female Indian immigrant. The truth remains the immigrant can be wild, have a life and kiss his or her dollars away.

The other lady whose doing India proud is NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams. But why is the Indian press always looking for the little Indian conncetion to make the country proud. Sunita is all the all American girl. Her predecessor Kalpana Chawla studied in India until she finished her under-graduation, so the stature she achieved here in India was well deserved. Sunita Williams whose Dad is Gujrati, has been raised American, but is needlessly being flaunted as Indian.

In a way Sunita, is building that image of Indians being the the hardworking engineer, scientist and astronaut. The truth remains she is American and her Indian roots aren't really buried in Indian space or soil.

I think as a country we are obsessed with the success of our nation abroad. Not wrong. The truth is success has duly been awarded to merit and talent especially in the United States. No wonder it will always be the dream of many to build a life there, atleast your daughter could be a novelist with a million dollar deal or a space astronaut.

Run Baby Run

2006-05-08T02:43:00.000-07:00

Budhi with Olympian Daley Thomas and coach Das

Last week there was this huge uproar about the marathon run undertaken by four and half year old Budhia Singh. I was aghast with the little boys stamina and single mindedness. Every time he ran on the every one hour news, I wished he would be trained to be a marathon runner. I wondered was he talented, gifted or just plain pushed to run? Was the Limca Book of records his goal?

The public will never have a clear answers to this question. There fore my opinion on this matter will never be clear.

But whatever said , I hope this little guy is going to be running marathons the world over when he is older. I've read reports and articles that he shouldn't be running, he's being pushed by his coach, his tiny body under stress...but you can't dismiss the fact that he has the hall mark of a great runner. Running an average of 9.65 Kms an hour!! And to be world class you need a pushy coach.

I wish India nourishes and nurtures him to adulthood. It would be nice to watch Budhia run as a man.

All the best little one!

PS: Personally I am learning to play squash, I enjoy yoga and aerobics. I like running as well, but it can get a bit lonely . But Budhia's got an entourage behind him, so he won't get lonely.

Keeping up with the Digital culture

2006-05-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered a very titillating magazine to tickle my technical-bone called “Living Digital” very techno-pleasurable way of writing. It allows you to keep in touch with the latest in “Digital” personal equipment like cell phones and other black-shiny-silvery- home entertainment gadgets

To be honest, I never thought that India would produce such a glossy for the home consumer magazine, but guess I had my head in the mud. Look around me the digital culture has enveloped the middle class India. So how does this class of monied-technno-savvy class know about the latest nano technology that would be part of their gadgetry a year down the line.

Well you had coffee, wine, cigar lounges – now you have a Digital Experience lounge in Mumbai called Xplore.

The lounge works on a “Don’t buy, just enjoy’ for technology enthusiasts wanting a hands-on-experience with the latest technology. Bangalore and Gurgaon will also see such outlets in the future. Comparison tests, Video based workshops and tutorials will also be given to customers.

Living Digital

Technology excites people, especially the young hence to have a lounge would mean that will be a regular hang out for the gen-X. They can afford the gadgets and understand it. So what a tease this lounge will be.

Forget strolling the streets of Hong Kong to finger the latest gadgets , shopping in duty-free Dubai or Singapore or importing the latest from the USA, Japan or Germany. We’ve got it all here. Digital India has arrived

Religious Riots once more

2006-05-03T22:42:00.000-07:00

Another religious riot hits India. The Muslims and Hindus in the state of Gujarat.

Rudraksh - Hindu Prayer beads

Muslim Prayer Beads

MUSLIMS OR HINDUS - WE'RE ALL BEADS ON THE SAME STRING!

Multi-Culti Ozzie - Oi Oi Oi

2006-04-29T23:01:00.000-07:00

I am curious to understand cultures and learn more about them. As a traveller and a student of culture you learn so much more about the world. So when I recently travelled to Australia for Cecil’s (my brothers) wedding to Gillian, I learned a lot about Australian culture. What a way of life – Multicultural, Outdoors, Sporty, Friendly and a genuine curiosity to learn about other people’s culture.

The highlight of my trip was the wedding – Gillian is Maltese + Australian and Cecil, Indian. The wedding was attended by friends and relatives of 15 different nationalities. At the reception we all danced to Bhangra (Punjabi Indian dance) and English dance music. It was fantastic, to watch the Ozzies dance to Bhangra!

Gillian recently emailed:

Well I got onto your blog today and I have too much to say! One thing
is glaringly missing from your blog and that is your experience in Australia and comments on cross-cultural romances that are very close to home!

Sometimes we don’t realize that all cultures have much more in common than we think. I realized that the Maltese are family-loving people. Their language has its roots in Arabic. I think the Australians are open to other cultures. They are proud of being multicultural.

I visited the Immigration museum in Melbourne and was astounded that they had diaries, models of ships, tools and home weaving machines, textiles, tribute garden, family and wedding pictures inscriptions of late 18th century to early 21st century immigrants. They even restored a ship that bought in early immigrants. They even had recordings of immigration officers refusing people entry to Australia.

Excitement, Fear Disappointment, relief, A container full of belongings. A single suitcase. A ship’s dock. An airport lounge. Surrounded by family. Stepping out alone.

(From a wall plaque)

I got a free ticket to the museum, because I am a student of Indian Diasporic film and was escorted around by, Michael, of Maltese origin. Unfortunately they didn’t have much on the Indian diaspora in spite of the huge Indian population there. Hopefully one day I can go back there add to the already rich museum.

I might even suggest a “Diaspora museum” here in India on the same lines. Indians have set out far and wide to seek their fortunes and build a life. Each of them has a story to tell and a few belongings that they could share for posterity. Should I be the pioneer of a Diaspora museum in India?

For now, I think Gillian and Cecil should write their love story and send pictures to the Immigration museum. It would be a heart-warming multi-culti love story.

The culture of wearing flowers in your hair

2006-04-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

These summer days the market is filled with fresh jasmine and the smell is slight and feminine, at times strong. I don't buy the flowers, because they are meant to be stringed together and worn on the hair. I am impatient to do that, the malaise of the urban Indian woman.

When I see women wearing stringed flowers, I just think how feminine. Most Indian women are not fashionable, most of her dressing is for comfort and the rest are essentials. But once in a while there will be an added accessory - the flowers in her hair. For Indian brides the bridal corsage is a must.

For long Indian women, have taken pride in the long black hair. They oil it regularly, wash it with shikakai (soap nuts)/shampoo,braid it or tie it in ribbons if they are little girls. Of course now we have hair in highlights/various hues/styled/non-greasy oils/gels etc. But the one hairstyle that will always endure to us, Indians, especially the men, is the long plait. Better still if it has flowers in it. It means she is traditional and holds the Indian women ideal.

Hair, is considered one of the most beautiful and erotic part of a woman.It also reveals personality. Primitive and ancient cultures have loved hair with flowers in it. Hair has always been part of human evolution and adorning it became a part of human evolutionary culture. So when I see that that some Indian women, more from the South still follow that ritual, I think we Indians do have a beauty culture of our own. Even Thai and Hawaiian women wear flowers in their hair!

Flowers have been worn for personal adornment throughout recorded history. Their purpose has been for both beautification and ceremony. Earliest uses in ancient Greece varied from single flowers worn in the hair as a personal touch to crowns of flowers and foliage for the head of both men and women as a symbol of achievement. The practice is also observed in very diverse cultures, as in the centuries-old wearing of leis and hair flowers by South Pacific women. At other times in history the wearing of flowers was as much or more for fragrance as visual beauty in the belief the fragrance would help ward off disease. Today the emphasis is specifically on personal beauty as the flowers enhance the appearance of the wearer and the apparel, with the bonus of an uplift for the wearer's spirit and inner beauty.

just a personal update

2006-04-24T23:20:00.000-07:00

I have just changed careers, from the industry I am now going to be an academician.
At the Loyola Academy in Secunderabad. Will be teaching 3 topics: Human Communcation, Film Studies and Corporate Communications.

My salary is going to be 2/3rds of my current salary. But to be intellectually alive and watch young people unfold before me this is hardly a price.

This will also allow me to go back to my Ph.d. Now for my guide to accept that.

I am serious about Anti-state films

2006-04-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

I saw two pictures in the last two weeks: one was the slick , enigmatic, V For Vendetta and the other was the youthful, Rang De Basanti. I liked both films. Forget the critical eye, I was energized by the messages within the bigger picture, literally. They appealed to the "idealism" that never ceases to exist in me. Like I said films have a very profound effect on me. An art form we enjoy collectively as a society.

I'll spare you the story and plot, suffice to say both the movies were about histories repeating itself, revenge and the state. Both the movies, used, "Violence" and "Anarchy" to seek out revenge on their governments. The violence was justified, I thought, but only within the context of the movies. I like my heroes winning over the bad guys.

Like they say, art imitates life, even if the quote were vice versa, it bothers me to think that we are turning violent and creating anarchy to get our Governments to recognize us ordinary citizens.

Personally I abhor violence/destruction, it hardly improves a situation. I love revolutions though. Peaceful ones! Blacks, Indians, non-violence! Most of us ordinary Indians are smart enough not to proclaim ideologies, like leftist, right-wing, democratic, socialist,libertarian - they confuse us. But one thing we all know for sure is we need more idealism and a government that is accountable to you and me. (the link directs you to a coverage of the Jessica Lal murder case)

Once in a while movies remind us that we should have the balls to tackle our governments! (Sans guyfawks masks!)

CAREER WOMAN - URBAN LEGEND

2006-04-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

I instantly picked up the latest issue of a leading Indian current affairs magazine and read through an article on Urban Career Women. I wondered if the article had something new to say. Alas! The same old cliché’s on how the Indian woman is doing it all. Work, Career, Play, Shopping, Diamonds, Yoga, Kids, Husband, In-laws, ayahs, nannies etc. Oh! The list we women handle is so immense. Supposed to be empowering to women that we handle this list. Personally the list tires me.

COVER STORY: THE COMPLETE WOMAN
Mistress Of Choices
Work, home and play. The urban Indian woman has become adept at multi-tasking, and as she redefines career goals, she is also nipping and tucking her relationships. Will she be the alpha mom, the beta career girl or a complete blend of both?

The last few days, I have been introspective wondering how best I can realize my potential while making a career. I have a few constraints though, I am an army wife (fauji wife), and so I could be living my life away in small town India for the most part. I want to have babies, but suffer from an incompetent cervix, so my pregnancy demands a moderate bed-rest. So you see my career cannot the priority.

But letting go of my career is sort of making me fearful - I will have to battle ageism and sexism even after a year’s break! I have seen a woman (also a dear friend) being relegated from a Manager’s position, because she had taken a break for 2 years, was in her late 30’s and wasn’t adept at using email. Technology and age are ever changing.

I want to conquer that fear! I want to realize my life is going to be just fine without the title of career woman. This brings me back to the concept of a “Career Woman” - a title, which is sometimes elusive even to the most talented, most educated, and smartest of women. It is an urban legend (of sorts). Reason – We haven’t clearly defined who is a career woman?

In most articles on "Career Women" we often find only a certain kind of educated lady professional termed as a career woman - The corporate banker, the writer, the lawyer, the social activist, fashion designer, doctor, engineer etc.

Are the women working as secretaries, receptionists, kindergarten teachers, nurses, industrial worker and those million of mid-level jobs in the private and public sector not qualified professional women? To me all women who work and generate an income are career women.

We all work for a variety of reasons, ambition and money being the primary motivators, followed by self-realization, self-worth and self-respect. For the large part working for women is a hard road because we also take care of home and hearth. Over time money becomes the sole-motivation and ambition takes a back seat. Family becomes the priority. We don't care about our intelligence and education - that won't stop us from missing our babies, we don't care about being the boss, because we want to leave on-time to pick up kids and prepare the dinner.

So how does a "Career woman" do it all? Compromising on her talent, spending her hard-earned money on day-care facilities and every morning running out of the door into what we call a career.

This alpha mom, beta career girl is an urban legend. It is only going to create pressure on us women folk. If you want a career go for it, make the best use of your talent and education without the guilt. If you need the money a career will help. If you want to stay home because you can afford to, is also a choice.

Let the media not make issues or articles of our personal women choices. They hardly do anything to empower our roles as home makers or career women. In fact they question our performance on the roles that we play.

The working environment is a man's soccer field. It is unfair for them to call us in and not give us the advantage point. Advantage points like office day care for kids, sabbaticals, trainings, flexi-time schedules, management level jobs, education leave etc (these would be good for Dads too). The biggest advantage point would be to acknowledge that we women sometimes need to walk away from the field to take care of personal business like domesticity, pregnancy, toddler care, sickness or an aging parent. At this point we need appreciation for the social role that we play and of course we want to be taken back into the career field should we choose to.

I hope we women never feel pressured to perform to Alpha Mom or Beta career girl. We are mere mortal women trying to put butter on our slices of uneven bread.

I have never believed in the alpha male or beta career man. He has his own set of issues as well. We women have choices, but men have one choice, a comfortable one – of career alone.

Civic Responsibility - Hero style!

2006-04-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

I am respectful how Aamir Khan, is showing solidarity to the Narmada Bachao Aandolan, is he taking his persona from Rang De basanti to real life. The idealist! Fighting for the displaced. Fighting out against the dam, that is going to displace millions of poor tribals.

From what I gauge, here is an actor who is creating a niche for himself as one who acts out the hopes and dreams of India. Lagaan, Mangal Pandey, Rang De Basanti. Is this what he really feels about India, is he so passionate about India? This is anyone's guess. Narmada has a lot of beautiful faces amidst the confused and sad faces of the displaced.

This brings me to my question - Are celebrities qualified enough to support such causes which involve political-social-economic-humanitarian concerns? From my part EVERYONE is. The logic is simple I have never been to the Narmada, I haven't spent years reading about the agitation against the dam except for an article by Arundhati Roy. Yet with this current media barrage on the Narmada, I have formed an opinion that I blog about.

So if an actor is using his famous situation to stand up for a cause which is debatable, I think we should applaud him. For he thinks about what cause to stand up for. And from his trail of movies, there is a sort of patriotism, which makes me trust the guy.

On the one hand, it is seen as a war between modern, rational, progressive forces of 'Development' versus a sort of neo-Luddite impulse - an irrational, emotional 'Anti-Development' resistance, fuelled by an arcadian, pre-industrial dream.

Both interpretations put a tired spin on the dispute. Both stir up emotions that cloud the particular facts of this particular story. Both are indications of how urgently we need new heroes, new kinds of heroes, and how we've overused our old ones (like we overbowl our bowlers). - Arundhati Roy

Let me addd even actor Rahul Bose has been using his time for the cause of the dam and its leaders on hunger strike.

We've got our new heroes Arundhati! Aamir Khan and Rahul Bose to start with!

I also wish tha NBA leader Medha Patkar's struggle is fruitful. She is undoubtedly the heroine India needs now.

Salman Khan - India's Bad Boy

2006-04-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

Salman Khan has for long been India's bad boy, ran his SUV into four people sleeping on a Mumbai pavement, hunted endangered antelope, he boasted of his underworld connections and terrified ex-girl friend Aishwarya Rai to participate in events sponsored by the underworld. But this is a guy is stud-boy himself.

On April 10, 2006, Salman was handed a five year jail term for hunting endangered Blackbuck. He is currently in Jodhpur jail, and will remain there at least until April 12, the first day that an appeal can be lodged.

He has been given bail!

This brings me to question the Indian Judicial system and the money power that rules our nation. It is easy for the rich to get bailable warrants. He is also involved in another court case over the killing of a pavement dweller.

No wonder the culture of corruption and power rule! Why is there no civic action against this man? Is the film going population so numb that we don't hold our actors responsible for their actions outside of screen. If your an actor, your a public figure, if your a public figure, you got to behave yourself. Not flaunt money and fame power. Of course I am all for flaunting those muscles.

He needs to be in jail, he needs disciplinary action by the film industry. That is my verdict! I for one will be boycotting all his films!

Bollywood Star Salman Khan Out on Bail!

SUCCESS is just a SMS away

2006-04-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

We have a copy of the American Idol called Indian Idol in TV. I don't enjoy it. I think it spoils the mystique of the achievers. On TV you watch the humble-bowing chicken turn into a fashionable singer, whose body language changes through every episode until that victorius moment when he is proudly procalimed the INDIAN IDOL.

We all know artists/achievers, work hard, to cultivate their success. But honestly I don't like reality shows that show of how diligent and how lucky they get. I don't want to SMS, or CALL someone to their success. You get the hang of it.
Work hard, practice but not on stage, perform on stage. That makes you a classic celebrity and artist.

I've heard of Lata and Asha struggle and sing away their youth. But have I seen them scurrying around during their early days.NO! I know times have changed and the definition of success is more democratic, audience polls,internet votes, sms's and toll free calls, but I like "SUCCESS" old fashioned way - Toil while others are asleep.

The audience admiration for its idols waxes and wanes, but the discipline, confidance and determination that the idol has for him or herself will be enduring. Therefore a real success!

Indian Femininity and Sexiness in the Media

2006-04-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

"India is the land of the Kamasutra" - the cliché many Indian actresses, actors and models use to justify their brazen sexiness on screen. We've been hearing it for so long now that we have taken it for granted - the sexual undertones, overtures and acting is taken as "natural". Yes we have the Kamasutra culture - but it was a treatise of conjugal sex and the art of foreplay. It was not a license to promote cheap sexual moves or brazen sex scenes.

And the beautiful Indian people especially the women see it as a pride to be considered a sex symbol.Now I am no puritan, I love being, feeling and looking sexy, in a way that is chic and aesthetic. But when I watch music videos and films , even when I flip through women's magazines. I squirm in my seat. That sexiness leaves me feeling like an odd ball and it looks misplaced on them. Watch closely fashion and film - it all boils down to cheap sizzling titillation! Why? I've asked myself once too many times. The reason is Indians are not used to being sexy, it is not a part of the social culture. Hence one has to be brazen to be sexy, it is not part of the routine.Unlike in the the legendry French culture!

So what is sexy? If you know Helen, Bollywood's yesteryear's cabaret artist you realize she is sexy without being a porn star. She carried of sexiness with elegance.So my Mom could watch those dances with her Mom way back in the 60's.This is something our movie stars and models lack today. I'll make the exception for a few models and actresses. Preity Zinta comes to mind. Let me not blame the stars and the models, but the dance and film directors with their cliché - this is what the masses want - Sex or something close to it.

What we need is the beautiful art of being sexy and feminine.It does look good on a techni-colour film screen or glossy magazine page. But I constantly find myself looking at skinny, toned, yet unsexy and unfeminine super models, who claim India is the land of the Kamasutra. I want to tell them read again. Sexiness is an art, a mind-set, it is in the body-language, not gyration of the hips.

From what I observe sexiness is portrayed as brazen or hidden, that is the Indian media's portrayal. Subtlety doesn't exist.

Hyderabad - Road culture

2006-04-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

I spend a good part of my day travelling to and from work. For work I pass through an industrial belt of the city.Balanagar, Patancheru, if your familiar with Hyderabad. So my early mornings are filled with smog and sniffing chemcials and inhaling dust. This part of the city is ugly. Hyderabad is becoming increasingly ugly. How do we save Indian cities from turning into lanes choking with fumes and dust from speeding autorickshaws, overloaded buses and vehicles?

Autos will just whiz past without indicators, cars will drive fast, buses are the KINGS of the road. Pedestrians own the streets. Two wheelers beleive that they can squeeze past two lorries. There are no pavements on most roads. Your hardly find police men at traffic signals. So a traffic jam is definitely on your daily toast. You'd find pavements only in the swanky parts of the city.

What is the road culture of Indian cities? There is hardly a road culture, in most Indian cities. Delhi is doing better because they have so many flyovers and the new metro to boost of. I have travelled in the Metro and it is good!! We need that kind of a commuting here in Hyderabad. Unfortuantely the MMTS MultiModal Transport System (The local mass transit using train lines) isn't doing well. After all it connects only the fringes of the city.

It surprises me after living all my life in Hyderabad that two offending drivers will stop their vehicles in the middle of the street and start to abuse each other, whist a traffic jam is brewing right there. No hand indications!!

We need to get back a road culture if not it's going to choke us down. Get out the urban and family planners to restore decent road culture.

What is the road culture of your city?

Dinshaw - You bloody Idiot

2006-04-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

I watched Being Cyrus over the weekend. This movie imitated French-style art film. My mind leans towards not liking the movie too much.However, something about it,sticks to my mind.

The psycho-thriller was full of psycho babble by all characters whose deep thoughts were aborted by the Script writer or the Director. Whoever, bad mistake, deep character for a deep dark movie.

What was it about the "Hutch" (mobile network)in the movie. You could make out the pointed self-advertising in the movie. How could you ever miss the Hutch puppy, wich pisses on the car of one of the characters? I know Hutch must have given in some moolah to make the movie, but don’t sell yourself via a movie that is trying to deliver a strong story. The bloody market drives the movie.

Saif looked hot!!!! He's getting rave reviews for his performance (he sort of deserves it), Dimple was good too. Boman Irani average. Naseer, his character doesn't warrant acting just behaving eccentric. Behaving doesn't qualify as acting.

The picture did one good thing by being made; it highlighted the darker side of the dwindling Parsi community in India, more so Mumbai. The treatment of the aged, the waning fortunes of the once rich community, the incesteousness and famed eccentricity.The Director is Parsi ofcourse.

I watched the movie at the Prasad's Multiplex in Hyderabad. Gotto love the multiplex.

I loved the way Dimple dialogues –

Dinshaw you bloody idiot

. You realize she doesn’t respect or love the man. There starts the movie.

Earlier titled Akoori, Being Cyrus is the directorial debut of Homi Adajania and also Saif Ali Khan's first film in English. Being Cyrus is a psychological drama with unusual characterizations.

The story revolves around a Parsi family, Sethnas residing in the hills of Panchgani. A retired sculptor Dinshaw (Naseeruddin Shah) heads the family. Other members of the joint family comprise of Dinshaw's wife Katy (Dimple Kapadia), brother Farokh (Boman Irani), sister-in-law Tina (Simone Singh) and second brother Fardoonjee (Honey Chhaya).

Then arrives Cyrus (Saif Ali Khan) at the Sethna house and stays on.

As the movie proceeds it gains a psychological insight into the family and reveals that everything is not all right with the Sethna family. Not just that, even Cyrus comes across as a bizarre personality.

Made under the banner of Times Infotainment Media Limited, Being Cyrus is produced by Ambika Hinduja, Dinesh Vijan, Raman Macker and Munnish Puri.

This blog will continue - without the Ph.d

2006-04-02T22:44:00.000-07:00

Giving up the PhD

2006-03-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

I have decided to give up the PhD because I have pesonal priorities. It is tough to give up but there comes a time when your 31, married, working, wanting-to-get-pregnant after a miscarriage, realizing the limitations of being a military wife, not knowing when your going to hit the road again.

So with great regret RIP to the PhD.

Happy 2006

2005-12-30T02:24:00.000-08:00

Desipora will be beack in a new avatar, tracking Indian culture where ever it goes, where ever it is.

Happy New Year.

Will come back again

2005-11-15T20:45:00.000-08:00

November would have been a stellar month for the Ph.D, because I was given a chance for publishing and also making a paper presentation at the Centre for Study of Culture and Society in Bangalore, at the Young Researchers Workshop.

But right now being so tired and nauseated, making it through the day is a hard task. I am hoping from December I start to feel better, the first trimester would be done then. I will come back to active blogging then.

For now Puneet and me have started another blog on the pregnancy. So you can catch up with me there.

Thanks for all your wishes!

Pregnancy & the Ph.D

2005-11-07T20:44:00.000-08:00

I have not looked at this blog in a long time, the reason being I am most of the time nauseated or just too tired to type in thoughts. Hopefully once I pass my first trimester, I might have more energy.

But for now I am just too nauseated, the Ph.D - Oh God!

The Ph.D

2005-10-25T01:24:00.000-07:00

The Ph.D is going down a weird road, last week I met with the guide, I must say I started to feel lost out there in Ph.D jungle, not much support. The Husband thinks I should give it up, as I really don't have time with a full time job and I just discovered, I am 5 weeks pregnant. That explains the tiredness of the past few weeks.

I really don't know which road to take, but clearly the priority right now is the baby. In a week or two, I will decide what course of action to take.

But in the mean time...I'll keep posting on the Indian Diaspora and its culture.

Discovering Satyajit Ray

2005-10-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

My long weekend will be spent watching Satyajit Ray movies, I was mesmerized with pain when I saw Pather Panchali.

I want to discover good Indian Film as much as I can. There is more than Bollywood.

How to attempt a Ph.D?

2005-10-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

The Ph.D for me is akin to training for a marathon. Sweat, Tears, Pain, Self-doubt, Why-the-hell, giving up a warm bed? It takes effort, discipline and giving up a large part of my other passion - fitness training. Right now I have a lot happening at the office, getting used to the new routine with the Husband is a change, so where does my Ph.D figure?

How does one attempt a Ph.D? The question bogged me down for awhile, until I received a very zen answer from an email I received from Prof. Vinoda Thota.

After all, what does it take for one to be ready to attempt this? Willingness to work a little, I suppose

It is as simple as that!

Veivek Bald digs the diaspora

2005-10-17T03:01:00.000-07:00

I just look forward to the INDOLINK column 'Desis in Pardes" by Francis Assisi. Because his articles are tilted towards the academic side of the dispora. His latest is

NYU’s Vivek Bald Reveals Early Desi Diaspora in New York

Perhaps the most important, relating to South Asian Americans, was that of documentary filmmaker, electronic musician, and militant activist Vivek Renjen Bald who is currently working towards a Ph.D. in American Studies at NYU. Brought up by a Punjabi mother and an Australian father, Bald grew up in Santa Cruz, California, before moving to New York in the late 80s.

Here is a guy who digs diaspora studies, he's made dcoumentaries on the diaspora,founder of a South Asian music hub. And he's doing a Ph.D on the ealry Indian American diaspora. I wish I could exchange notes with this guy.

Bald has already made a name for himself with his 1994 documentary Taxi-vala/Auto-biography, which chronicled the lives, experiences and political activism of South Asian immigrant taxi drivers in New York

More recently, Bald’s Mutiny: Asians Storm British Music (2003), documented the birth of the South Asian music movement in 90s Britain, interviewing performers and DJs who were influenced by punk and hip hop as much as they were by Punjabi bhangra and Bollywood soundtracks.

Taxi-vala/Auto-biography

Mutiny: Asians Storm British Music

VIVEK BALD is working on a Ph.D! So am I!

America so Beautiful

2005-10-14T03:21:00.000-07:00

Like I said before, I am interested in the diasporic film of other countries as well.I recently discovered this one by Iranian-American film maker Babak Shokrian.

AMERICA SO BEAUTIFUL!

As much as an artistic accomplishent such a film certainly deserves to be shown as an educational movie be it in schools or Universities as an introduction to the Islamic Revolution and its consenquences on the Iranian and American communities.

FOR MORE CLICK

This is what a movie should be educational.

Dreams, Disco and Politics: An Interview with Babak Shokrian

Offical movie Site

Communities of Academic Interest

2005-10-11T01:14:00.000-07:00

For long academic communities have lived in Ivory Towers, University walls shield academicians from the practical aspects of study. But with the Internet I think all that is about to change. I find blogging a good way to create "communities of academic interest", where scholars can get to know each other and share ideas and resources including offer chances for formal publishing.

For one there is a new blog by Prof Vinoda Thota from Kakatiya University, Warangal, India - Expatriate Indian Writing in English .

She is planning to bring out a book after a recently concluded seminar on "The Expatriate Indian Writing in English" during September 22-23, 2005.

For more you may email her at vinodat46@yahoo.co.in.

2005-10-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

Francis Assisi writes about:

As the first ever autobiography of an Indian indentured laborer, this book is important in more ways than one.

First of all, it chronicles the legacy of an Indian migrant to Surinam in his own words. Though it is estimated that over one and a half million Indians went overseas to earn a living as indentured workers in the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries to Southeast Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific islands, there are no first person accounts of those early Indian immigrants

************************************************

Well we have another diasporic film coming out of the United States.

Karma Confession & Holy directed by Manish Gupta. He also made the film, India Fish in American Waters.

'It will be a very Woody Allen kind of film covering three layers of characters, the Indians from India and in the US, the Indians born and bred in the US and the true-blue Americans', says Harish Dayani.

Apache Indian

2005-10-07T03:05:00.000-07:00

Apache Indian's new album "Time for Change" is to be released shortly, this is the guy who sang "Make Way for the Indian", so being Indian was cool. His reggae, hip-hop and Bhangra style set the stage for other Bhangra Boys.

The new album features one of my favorite Reggae artists, Desmond Dekker along with APache doing a version of the old time number the Israelites

Apache Indian cherished his Indian heritage and his music reflects the influence of styles like Bhangra and Bollywood film music, but it was Reggae and Dancehall that truly fascinated him.His lyrics are inspired by his personal quest to define his identity in a multicultural world where tradition definitions of religion and culture have to be re-evaluated.

What is it about reggae and bhangra that blends, it is the music of two ethnicities the Black and the Brown. Reggae and Bhangra were native to the people of the Caribbean and Punjab, India. And when these two groups migrated to the UK during the post-colonial period the fusion was bound to happen. As these two groups were marginalized from white British pop music. And like Apache's site mentions Birmingham was where Reggae and Bhangra were born, since this place also had a large immigrant population. Hip-Hop, also part of the Black music culture has fused well with the Bhangra beats.

I personally like this fusion music - and a large part of the world does as well. Rishi Rich, Bally Sagoo, Panjabi MC....

Rolling out the red carpet for Indian films

2005-10-07T01:37:00.000-07:00

Some of you interested in BOllywoood Films might find this Article interesting, it talks about the Ngombis and their love for Bollywood film.

Since their time in Sierra Leone, the Ngombis have been devotees of the "Bollywood" culture spawned by the prolific Indian film industry based in the city of Mumbai, formerly Bombay.

Cultural notions of what's appropriate are part of what makes Bollywood films so adept at bridging geographic barriers, according to Jigna Desai, author of the book "Beyond Bollywood: The Cultural Politics of South Asian Diasporic Film." "For a lot of people, culture is not about where you are," she explains in a phone interview. "It's about what values you have."

And, adds Desai, these values are distinct from those of western films. "They're about being modern in a particular way, but still holding on to whatever traditions appeal to you," she says. "They're about holding on to a notion of ethnicity or difference or culture that they distinguish from the west."

Differences aside, it's Bollywood's ability to transcend national boundaries that has kept Ibrahim coming back for more. She explains, "Even if you don't know the language, when you see the stars, you can understand what they're talking about."

Tan Singing from Suriname

2005-10-05T03:21:00.000-07:00

If you gave me a dream job, it would be to travel all over the world where the Indian Diaspora is and chronicle all the cultural artistry. Till this morning I didn't know about Tan Singing - The tan singing style is unique to the Indian community in Suriname and Guyana.From the little I know it is a predominantly East Indian Hindu neo-classical singing style

The internet do not show up much on Tan Singing. But I guess this is a sister genre of Chutney music.

If your interested in a CD: Caribbean Voyage: East Indian Music In The West Indies CD

More articles:

East Indian Music in the West Indies
From Caroni Gyal To Calcutta Woman A History Of East Indian Chutney Music In The Caribbean

to my husband, also my research supporter

2005-10-04T02:47:00.000-07:00

To the greatest friend I have – I know it is the disappointment that makes our heart a little heavy. The disappointment means a lot of things to me; it could mean my Ph.D isn’t good enough for the committee, it could mean somebody was better than me in their proposal or in the presentation at the interview. And honestly at this moment, I don’t want to care. I don’t want to rationalize or give detailed excuses why I didn’t get through.

Losing out on something is never fun but having tried and lost several times before through out the course of my life, it is easier to handle. Especially when losing in the first place is something beyond my control. And the Fulbright was never a part of the Ph.D plan, it just happened along the way. The Ph.D must go on!

Yes I wanted to show you the “Grand Canyon”, the “Las Vegas Show girls” it is hard for me right now to see my dreams blur away, but I have to understand that these dreams were only the periphery of my Ph.D dream. But being combative and steely as I am, I will continue to seek new dreams Grander than the Grand Canyon and lovelier that the Las Vegas Showgirls. Thank God you understand and appreciate my small and big dreams.

Last night you got up in your sleep and said “Mountain Over Mountain”, it could have been just a dream, but it kept haunting me all day. We will keep climbing mountains and tumbling down a few like Jack and Jill. But it will always be “Mountain over Mountain”. Were you dreaming of the Grand Canyon?

Why did I have to embark on the Ph.D journey, why did I have to do this, why do I want to study something obscure like diasporic film. Who would be interested in my Ph.D? I question all my intentions at this time. But the doubts only further my resolve to complete my thesis.

Before I end, I must say I have also enjoyed being interviewed by a stately, intellectual committee. They cared to assess me and my work. Anyhow thank you for being hyper about the Fulbright interview and cutting all the news articles and downloads, thank you for climbing mountain over mountain with a sometimes tiresome girl.

My interest in the diaspora

2005-10-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

My one year in Hong Kong introduced me to the Indian diaspora in Hong Kong, mostly Sindhi business families. Most of them owners of the large hotels and industries. You find them in the swankiest night clubs, driving in luxuary cars and since its Hong Kong, you find them living in big mansions, the ultimate rich man's test, since Hong Kong real estate is super expensive.

Being a student there I always wanted to meet some Indians there, but these were not in my league. They are rich n famous, not to mention Hong Kongs most beautiful people.

So it bought back memories when I read this article on the very media shy Harilela family- 110-member strong NRI family residing in Hong Kong mansion

Brides Wanted

2005-10-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

There are so many movies made on the Indian diaspora, that it is difficult to know them all. Take the case of Brides Wanted, I hadn't even heard of this movie until recenlty.Brides Wanted – based upon the effects of neo-socio- cultural transformations that are taking place in the social structure of NRI Diaspora.

Directed by Girish Acharya, a young graduate of the New York Film Academy, the film tells the story of an elderly NRI couple looking for a perfect bride for their grandson Aakash (Anuj Swahney). Their search takes them through some comical experiences making them realize that times have changed considerably in India. The result is that they end up finalizing not one but seven prospective brides for their grandson.

Now getting a hold of this picture is going to be a task.

Didn't make it

2005-10-03T03:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends, I didn't qualify for the Fulbright Fellowship, which is a bummmer. But then the Ph.D goes on. It would have been good to go for the Fulbright, I would have completed my Ph.D, but alas!

I just happened to read this " Mission Impossible: Doing a Part Time PhD,
(or Getting 200% out of 20%) – Is it Really Worth it?".

More later!

100 Posts on Desipora

2005-09-27T04:03:00.000-07:00

I started this blog in February, after we had a conference on the "Indian Diaspora". This is a Ph.D blog basically, but I have learnt so much more keeping a blog.

I managed to keep the blog going, I have plans to make it more interesting, with a full time job, a part-time Ph.D , a new house to manage - it is difficult.

I reached a 100 posts - Way to go!

Online Culture Courses

2005-09-22T23:15:00.000-07:00

Image from: Jenkins, Edward. The Coolie, his Rights and Wrongs, London: Strahan & Co., 1871.

The internet throws a lot of surprises in your face, and I wasn't ready for this one. It got me excited. I found this site Saxakali, which is a site for "People of Color". They offer on-line courses on various issues. I don't know if the website is still updated, but there are on-line course on the Indian Diaspora (Hill Coolies).

COLORU was especially designed to serve the learning needs of communities of color by offering classes in education, history, culture, business, computers, and technology from African, Asian, Latino, Middle Eastern, & Native American perspectives.

Want to take an on-line Course on the Hill Coolies - CLICK HERE

Course: Asian Indian Diaspora - Hill Coolies (YU2200)
Type: Self-study tutorial

November 1- 5, 2005, New York

2005-09-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

November 1-5, 2006 Sixth Annual IAAC Film Festival: Indian Independent & Diaspora Films

How I wish I could visit New York then!

Love and Color in Diasporic Film

2005-09-21T21:56:00.000-07:00

At work I have a dear friend, who is 30, single, intelligent, not-pretty, but clean and dark. Now she started to date an American guy working here. Of course it was the ususal hush-hush affair.She wishes she can marry him.Now the guy is going back home and the friend is going to be single once more.Somehow this affair got me thinking.

And I couldn't help but put my mind to understand "inter-racial love affairs" that are so much a part of diasporic film. There are reasons - identity, race relations, marginal status,power, gender relations, colonial imperialism all of these can be reflected in an "Inter -racial Romantic Relationship".

My Ph.D is going to have a section talking about this aspect of diasporic film, which I find so insightful yet so banal on one hand.

For more books on Inter Racial Romances - CLICK

Determined Deepa

2005-09-16T02:15:00.000-07:00

So Deepa Mehta’s “Water” had an opening at the Toronto Film festival. Kudos to Deepa, who completed the Trilogy, Fire, Earth and Water.

The film about Hindu widows was to be shot in Varanasi, India – the land of unadulterated Hinduism, the Hindutva kind was stalled. Deepa, was harassed by Shiv Sena activists, to shoot it despite all Government clearances for shooting it.

The archaic rule of getting the script approved by I&B ministry for a foreign film and having a government official at the shooting to see whether the script is followed was also taken care of, even after this permission the Indian State could not provide her security from a bunch of lumpens.

So when India is engaging with its diaspora trying to woo them to invest in the film industry, why did it not give Deepa, and Indo-Canadian Director, the security she needed? Indian censorship is a funny ballgame; they give you the freedom, but will not safeguard it.

Once again Hindu nationalism stopped a movie from being made in India. Maybe it would hurt Hindu sensibilities. On a certain level the film would make India seem like a retrograde society and reinforce the stereotype of a society cruel to its women, but the government should have known better. If there was a movie on “Witchcraft” in early Puritan America, would we have Christian fundamentalists protesting against the movie in America?

We are a nation that makes a thousand Bollywood movies a year, we need to allow foreign scripts on India to be made as well, especially foreign scripts by NRI Directors. This will increase our nation’s acumen and taste for a broad cinema spectrum. Deepa Mehta is India’s cultural insider, we need to understand that – And if anything, Water is seems more of a historical/cultural film than a Hindu film. And what the heck if it is not shot in Varanasi, India – the film has been made

You can’t keep a fiery film Director down for seven long years! Not when she has Lisa Ray and John Abraham as lead actors.

Apparently Deepa's daughter has written a Water memoir

For more on the Toronto Film Festival CLICK.

Keeping the focus on the Ph.D

2005-09-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends, I returned from Delhi last night, the Fulbright interview went of easy. There were 22 of us in competition so - Will it be me? I don't know, results are awaited.

On the way back home, I realized that with or without the fellowship, I would have to go on with my Ph.D. Do it well and enlighten myself.

I can't deny how much more my thesis will be enriched if I get to study in the US for awhile, I could complete my Ph.D in record time in the US because I will not be working on anything else.

The Ph.D has taken me on various mental journeys with the Indian diaspora - through their films. I am thankful, I have a purpose in my Ph.D and that is all I should focus on. A Fulbrighter or not!

"The truth is that every scholar worth their salt looks back on their Ph.D. as an important moment."

2005-09-09T03:48:00.000-07:00

I just had to blog about this guy - Hard-working and prolific scholar to head new center - Sanjay Subrahmanyam

Ph.D advice, I love

When he looks back on those years, dusting off the cover of his dot-matrix printed thesis, he marvels at how much and how many different things he was able to learn in such a short period of time. There was a steep learning curve, he says, and the time and intensity it takes to write a thesis is difficult to recapture.

"The truth is that every scholar worth their salt looks back on their Ph.D. as an important moment." Now, as a professor, he wrestles with how to give his own Ph.D. students that kind of experience. "For students who are good, you should just let them go -- you should even let them get lost for a bit," he says.

But Subrahmanyam says the best advice he has to offer Ph.D. candidates is that, while writing a thesis can be stressful and time-consuming, it is not the most difficult part of academic life. It is the second project, the post-thesis effort, which is most difficult. Recent graduates in the United States, he says, focus on too much on getting their first book out and getting tenure instead of channeling their energies into starting their second big project.

A filmi weekend wrap up

2005-09-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

Last night I started to watch "Ae Fond Kiss", about romance between a Pakistani immigrant DJ, and Scottish Catholic girl. There was an intense beginning to the movie, but I posponed watching it to tonite, with the Husband.

I am interested in seeing 'Diasporic Film' of other countries as well, "Ae Find Kiss" based on the Pakistani diaspora is my first venture out of Indian diasporic film. The "Islamic" issue takes on a huge role here and I am beginning to wonder, if "Films can be used to reconcile the Western and the Islamic culture".

For the review of the movie CLICK
For the official website CLICK
*************

I read regularly - Intent Blog

The goal of www.Intentblog.com is to present original voices on and from Asia and India to inspire, stimulate and engage a dialogue about new paradigms of creativity, communication, and fulfillment. World renowned author, Deepak Chopra MD, and internationally acclaimed film maker, Shekhar Kapur, are the founders of INTENT.

I found particularly interesting Shekhar Kapur's future analysis of Hollywood.Now I don't really agree with him Hollywood is too large a cultural giant to cow down and accomodate foreign films, it could do it at a very marginal level. Hollywood has mass appeal because of its social realism and well designed fantasy icons, but Bollywood for instance is the same old romance, dance and song, ofocurse now we have locales of New York, Sydney and London - taking into account the diaspora earnings for a movie. Bollywood is too culture-centric too across cultures as widely as Hollywood.

Till then, lets celebrate individuality of story telling and film making. Just enjoy the new , Mexican, Chinese, Japanese and Indian films.

I would love to see other films as well.
***************

There is this movie out now Ramji Londonwalla, about a Bihari Chef and his interaction with a Brit-Asian girl set in London, a very Indian filmi perspective on the immigrant situation. Don't think I'll spend money watching the movie in a multiplex, will catch it on DVD.

Good Weekend!!!

Fulbright

2005-09-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends, my Ph.D will take a turn on the road to a more enriched and lively thesis, if I get through my Fulbright interview in New Delhi on September 14th. I am preparing fo the interview, trying to give it my best, given the time constraints and other important priorities.

The Fulbright will be an opportunity to work with Jigna Desai, Asst Professor, University of Minnesota, the author of the only book on South Asian diasporic film, titled “Beyond Bollywood – The Cultural Politics of South Asian Diasporic Film".

I am really grateful to Jigna Desai, for commenting on my proposal, for someone I just wrote into and who got so involved with my work at an on-line level, I can only say - if you want something badly enough, it comes your way.

"International education exchange is the most significant current project designed to continue the process of humanizing mankind to the point, we would hope, that nations can learn to live in peace"
--J. William Fulbright

Indian Cuisine - A cultural link

2005-09-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

I just read a Guardian review of Curry: A Biography by Lizzie Collingham, it got me thinking about - "Indian Cuisine". My Mom and Aunt are planning a trip to Australia and they plan to finance their holiday by making Chappathis and Egg Curry, Dosa and Sambhar. My brother used to work part time at Indian restaurant in Melbourne, Australia, he loved his job being Indian he loved the way the Aussies lap up paneer, rotis and of course “Curry”.

At home in India we hardly use the word “curry”, we have the staple dal, chawal. Curry is a delicacy we have only at restaurants or during a celebration.Curry is mostly Anglo-Indian cuisine - Kofta curry, Mutton curry. But I believe foreigners to Indian cuisine think curry to be authentic Indian. It is of course, but it largely borrows from Portugese and British cooking. Indian cooking is largely influenced by the Persians, think Hyderabadi Biryani, Koftas, Korma etc.

For Indian cuisine, it turns out, has always been a glorious bastard, a repository of whatever bits and pieces come to hand.

To sample another country's cuisine is like adding to your repertoire of worldly knowledge. Have you ever noticed how many immigrants are confidant of making it big elsewhere all because they believe that they can start an “Indian restaurant”. Food is always the safest bet, when no other skill can get you through in a foreign land. Look at the list millionaire Indian restaurateurs!

But it doesn't stop there. In rural Fiji, people who have never travelled out of their village eat Punjabi chapattis made from indigenous coconut milk, a legacy of the island's heavy dependence on indentured Indian labour in the 1870s.

Look at the number of Chinese and Indian takeaways that we hear about all over the world. Look at the swanky Indian restaurants is uptown New York and London.

Food is culture, it binds, you enjoy Dal when another fellow enjoys it with you. The Indian diaspora has taken “Indian Cuisine” to far off lands. Of course we now have Indian masala pasta and chicken tikka pizza. Food travels and its hard to put a good bite down.

There should have been an Indian word for Bon Apetit!

CURRY HOUSE ECONOMICS (Courtesy BBC)
9,000 restaurants in the UK
At least 50,000 employees
Up to 150,000 indirectly supported jobs
Majority Bangladeshi owned
Sources: Various industry estimates

Fiji Indians

2005-09-01T03:53:00.000-07:00

Someday I would love to visit Fiji. Really where ever there is an "Indian Population", I would love to go. My citizenry never seizes to amaze me.Espcially on this island where the Indian diaspora was slandered.

Well I read this article today, Indian diaspora body opposes Fiji leader's India visit

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has opposed Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's upcoming visit to India, slamming him for denying fundamental rights to Indians in his country.

Indian diplomacy goes through the fire-test?

The cultural politics of comics

2005-08-31T01:35:00.000-07:00

When I first enrolled for my Ph.D, my guide asked me to refer to a thesis on the “Amar Chitra Katha”( Indian comics telling us tales of Indian epics, history and its heros) done by a Research Scholar at the CIEFL, Hyderabad. It was a phenomenal work on the comic and its influences on and by Hindu Nationalism, Nehruvian Socialism, Capitalism, etc. Personally I love the illustrations. They follow my favorite painter Ravi Verma's style.

So when I read the following news item today - Uncle Pai to launch serial in NY, that these Indian historical, mythical, cultural comics will be made into TV serials in the US, I was interested.

Mr Anant Pai, popularly known as Uncle Pai, the father of Indian comics will launch a 100 episodes serial, Our Land Our People which will be on air at ITV Gold in New York. This 25-minute serial will show animated versions of stories drawn from Indian folklore and classics like Panchatantra and Jataka Tales followed by a quiz contest

.

Why wasn’t the serial being launched here in India, I am sure a lot of Indian kids exposed to Pokemon and Johnny Bravo, would find it interesting?

Phat! The answer was right there:

He also said, "I plan to launch this serial abroad because anything that is accepted in the US is easily accepted back home."

It is here that I see the phenomenon; India today has long lost its tradition of story telling, amidst the heavy cable TV and other information media aimed at entertaining kids and the youth. In the 80’s when the Amar Chitra Kathas were famous among middle class kids, it was the only entertainment that there was. Entertainment that taught, educated and informed. Alas!! Today there are a lot more educational/entertainment attractions.

On the other hand you have the diaspora that longs for its culture, it folk stories, parents want their kids to understand and remember stories from India and its culture, stories about bravery, respect to elders, courage and being dutiful citizens. So they are quick to adopt and take on what Indian Culturalists should be doing – Tell stories about the glory of India using the latest mass media.

The diaspora is retelling India’s stories to heal the wounds their children suffer from; being in societies which see them as not as one of them.

Pai has done a commendable job of educating and inspiring a lot of Indian Babyboomers, since not many at home listen to them anymore, he’s telling his stories to the diaspora.

Uncle Pai plans to take Our Land, Our People to other nations like West Indies, Jamaica and Singapore which have a sizeable Indian diaspora

From what I foresee, the Indian diaspora is India’s Cultural Bearer.

PS: There is a comic book on Kalpana Chawla, Indian-American astronaut as well.

Kalpana kept strong ties with India and remained a simple, fun loving person deeply concerned about the environment.

A petition

2005-08-29T02:04:00.000-07:00

Below is an email from the Drishti Media Collective in Ahmedabad.

We founded DRISHTI as a trust in 1993, with a firm faith in the ability of video, theatre, radio, other media and the arts to contribute to struggles for a just, humane and peaceful society. Our work seeks to document alternative histories, give expression to voices on the margins, create public awareness and build public opinion, mobilize people to action, lobby with structures of authority.

Dear friends,

The current 'Community Radio Policy' of India is discriminatory towards communities as it bars community members, community based-organizations, non-government organizations and other civil society groups from applying for licenses to operate
low power community radio stations. The policy holds that only 'well established
educational institutions / organizations' can apply for a community radio license. So, what we have in the name of Community Radio is in reality Campus Radio.

Several organizations, academicians and individuals have been actively campaigning for communities' right to access the airwaves for the last seven years. They have made innumerable representations to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and to the Broadcast Regulator (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India - TRAI). They
have also written and submitted several drafts to reform the existing Community Radio Policy so as to include community rights in it. In spite of these efforts the government continues to be non-committal and discriminatory.

We urge you join hands with us to mount adequate pressure on the government to end this discrimination against the largely rural and poor communities. Please express your solidarity by signing the "Urging The Inclusion Of The Right Of The
Communities Within The Community Radio Policy" petition at
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/comradio/petition.html

Sincerely,

Stalin K.
DRISHTI MEDIA COLLECTIVE, Ahmedabad

Academic writing? Gets my goat!

2005-08-26T01:35:00.000-07:00

So how does someone like me who hates (incoherent) academic writing do a Ph.D. How on earth do I get past a obscure jargon-filled book on feminist theory, film theory, queer theory, diaspora theories?

So how will I at the end of this Ph.D sojourn give in a "academic book" to be granted a Ph.D?

I was reworking on my Ph.D proposal and it was like a High-School report. And I loved it, because I felt comfortable with it, I felt on the top of it.If I were quizzed by distinguished academia, I would do well.

This whole research writing must be written "intelligent", if you wrote simply most would think its sub-standard, like I haven't put my mind to make it intelligently incoherent.Well if you can't understand what your own proposal is saying or if you can't explain why your research matters , then your wasting a whole lot of precious time.

I think at the end of my Ph.D, I would want to hand out copies of my work, maybe most wouldn't make through the first few pages,but the few pages they glance through would make sense.

I am not the only one thinking - Academic writing should be coherent. Here is a quote from Kitchencabinet.

Too often, I think, academic writing is praised for its incoherence. Many scholars get away with loads of stuff that makes little to no sense simply because the reader's have been conditioned to believe that such incoherence is a sign of higher-level thinking. WRONG. If it doesn't make sense, it sucks

Big fat Indian marriages

2005-08-24T01:08:00.000-07:00

Google alerted me to an article in The New York Times: Courtship Ideas of South Asians Get a U.S. Touch.

Once you go through the whole article as someone living in India, I began to think the concept of an assisted marriage has always been around.There have been exceptions when the groom and bride don’t meet each other until after the wedding. So the "US touch" doesn’t hold ground here. Today individuality and rationality guide the arranged marriage, so it isn't as impinging as it was years ago.

Now I think the writer is looking at Indian marriages and courtship from a very Western perspective. Marriage is the cornerstone of society, so people try to preserve the continuity of their families, culture, and tradition by trying to marry their offspring to someone who has the same background as them. This sounds archaic and ancient but India has an ancient time-tested culture with regards to marriages.

The purpose of assisted marriage here is not simply to preserve Indian cultural identity, but more pointedly to maintain class, religious and regional identities in a place where they might easily be diffused, those who have studied the Indian diaspora say.

Look at our films and literature; all culminate in a “BIG FAT INDIAN WEDDING”, and all family politics and gossip happen around a wedding. The marriage is all about class, family prestige, religon etc.

According to the writer the American invention in the courtship game meant prospective bride and grooms are not obliged to marry the persons whom their parents have chosen. I don’t think that is an American invention, freedom of choice, to select your partner is a choice and has been promoted by the Hindu tradition. But largely ignored by the Indians and the diaspora that is steeped in the India of the 60's and 70's.Times are changing.

Somewhere along the way India and its diaspora have forgotten the enriching Hindu tradition of marriage. The West ofcourse has to be educated on the Indian style arranged marriage.

Further debate can be read on Sepia Mutiny - My eyes “gleam” when I think about being arranged Issues

Correction

2005-08-23T04:01:00.000-07:00

Well the next India Day will be held in Hyderabad. This is a correction, I mentioned previously in this blog that it would held in Kochi, but the venue is Hyderabad.Jan 9-11, 2006.

I tried logging on for more information, unfortunately there is no proper information posted as yet. Pity!!!

Singapore President Nathan

2005-08-22T03:30:00.000-07:00

Nathan with Indian President Kalam

Singapore President S.R. Nathan was reelected to serve a second six-year term, he is 81, elected unopposed in 1999 to become Singapore's sixth president, he was only one among four candidates approved by a presidential elections committee last Sunday to run for the presidency. On September 1, his second term starts.

Nathan, who is of Indian descent, also spoke briefly in Mandarin, Malay and Tamil, the official languages of multiracial Singapore, to thank Singaporeans

For more on the article CLICK

What a distinguished career!!!

This also brings me to the question why does the West not embrace its Politicians of Indian descent as much as its Asian counterparts?

An Appeal to all Americans particularly the American Desi’s.

2005-08-20T23:02:00.000-07:00

When I first enrolled for my Ph.D, I was asked to visit the American Studies Research Centre, (ASRC) here in Hyderabad. Now known as IACIS, the Indo-American Centre for International Studies. At one time, it was the best centre outside the USA for American studies. Unfortunately the funding to the IACIS has stopped; a few philanthropists had given donations to keep the institute alive. But today the Executive Director, Dr. Isaac Sequiera rents out the campus to NGO’s for meetings and conferences to make two ends meet. Dr. Sequiera, must be in his late 70’s is one of the few Indian academicians on Popular American Culture, and I admire him for his tenaciousness at protecting the Institute and its employees.

The library there is magnificent, but the books need to be updated and the building needs to be done. I do feel for the institute, because I use its resources but the resources are now archaic It needs finances to keep it going.

Since I hear of some Desi’s build “Indian Centres” in Universities, I think it would also be fair to appeal to them for donation towards the American Studies research Centre in Hyderabad, India. As I say if you’re Indian-American, you must promote study of both the cultures.

Guess if I make it to the US for the Fulbright fellowship, I will work to get some funds for the institute that helps researchers like me.

Supporting Scholars - PLEASE SUPPORT SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH!

2005-08-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and regular readers of Desipora, it's thrilling me to inform you that I got an interview call for a Fulbright Fellowship to study for a shortwhile in the US next year.

It is not like I have succeeeded in procuring the fellowship, but it is a chance for me to succeed in bringing importance and relevance to my Ph.D work.

Just the other day, I was wondering does any one understand my interest in Films, the diaspora, the Desi's. Apparently they DO!!!

India is failing to seize our imagination!

2005-08-16T01:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes plans go kaput, I planned to get some Ph.D action going over the long weekend, but with guide shifting house it was difficult to have a meeting and rework on the proposal.

Over the weekend, I watched Flavors, the movie, about three guys on a bench from the IT slow down , aging parents, a marriage and a dull marriage. I also happened to read William Dalrymple's essay The lost sub-continent

Seven years ago, publishers descended on Delhi in search of the next Arundhati Roy. But, writes William Dalrymple, the future Anglophone Indian bestsellers are more likely to come from the west.

It is a very interesting read and speaks a lot about "India". The article states that Indian writers do not have the edge to make it on the world scene, the second-generation writers from the diaspora are going to give the world so called "Indian Literature".

Somwhere deep down, I feel a twinge of disgust, I guess Western Publishers want tales of exotic India, India in the figments of imagination, India from the intellectual perspective of Amartya Sen and Salman Rushdie. These diasporic writers are fantastic their literary sword shines from an Oxford and Cambridge education or from being muddled in a suburb in the West. Writers from India are dull and bad story tellers.

Arundhati Roy was a freak debutante, it feels like India has seized to find expression in the imagination of Indians in the homeland. Look at the the movies, movie-goers world wide will only be looking at moves made by Diasopric directors.

We need a Satyajit Ray and another Arundhati Roy. We need to look at India without imagination, without nostalgia, without western lenses.We ALSO need stories of India told by one of us.

Happy India Rising Day!

2005-08-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

This weekend Aamir Khan will light up the screens in all patriotism with Mangal Pandey - The Rising.

History & Film keep India and its diaspora so connected.

What does it mean to be Indian on Desipora?

Watching song and dance sequence films and feeling that homely feeling when you can say the next dialogue even before the actor.

Playwright and novelist Farrukh Dhondy, who scripted the film, gives Connecting readers a glimpse of the intellectual debate surrounding 1857: mutiny, revolt, War of Independence or more

To explore the article further.....CLICK

The Jews - gotto admire them

2005-08-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

Jewish diaspora explored in book group.The Jewish diaspora is such a strong diaspora, the love for their culture and tradition abound. For a community to integrate and succeed in different homelands is a feat in itself. What I mostly appreciate is their committment to promoting Jewish arts and culture.

Literature of the Jewish diaspora will be the focus of an upcoming reading and discussion group to be held at the Wayland Public Library this autumn.

The series is part of an ongoing program titled “Let’s Talk About! Jewish Literature: Identity and Imagination,” a collaboration between the American Library Association (ALA) and Nextbook, which describes itself as a gateway to Jewish literature, culture and ideas. In addition, the series is supported by Friends of the Wayland Library.

I think some smart second generation Indians from the diaspora need to look at creative ways of preserving culture. Solidarity is the key word here! We have the literature, we have the film and god knows some Desi's have the money to support such forums.

Secular Muslim intellectuals have some of the finest minds

2005-08-09T20:42:00.000-07:00

Rushdie calls for an Islamic Renaissance

When I read the above news item, I couldn't help but appreciate the insight Salman Rushdie has of the Islam world. In just a few words he summarized all that is going wrong and things that need to be done to make it right.I think in a way his ideas will save and protect Islam.

Rushdie said that the “deeper alienations” that lead to terrorism might be more to do with the “closed communities” of the traditional Muslims in western countries rather than to the events taking place in Iraq and Afghanistan, adding that governments and community leaders inside the Muslim world should support reformation in the Muslim world, reports the Daily Times.

"Jihad", "Martyrdom" and "Terrorism" are now so commonly associated with Islam,that the religon itself is wrapped in a bloodied shroud. The sad part we're losing out on the essence of the religon. Governments (especially Blair and Bush) are trying to understand Islam to understand terrorism and I think trying to understand Islam to understand an anti-religious acts of violence is plain associating violence with Islam.

I agree with Hanif Kureishi and Salman Rushdie that it is alienation that is leading to more Muslim immigrants taking to the bomb. In turn Muslim communites seem to be moving into a closer tight-knit circle that leads a closure of ideas, culture and civic privileges.

With a vast Muslim diaspora traversing the globe, they need to understand that they have given the world a lot of "Culture" and "Economy" and we need more. That will be a good starting point for a reconciliation.

2005-08-08T03:05:00.000-07:00

I just read this article of the net titled: Spice Girl Kitschy but Indian, Gurinder Chadha has no qualms about her films fitting that bill.

The constant in Chadha’s films is only getting more apparent—The cultural dilelmmas of the Indian diaspora. One may accuse Chadha of stereotyping with all the Punjabi family-arranged marriages fare. She’s aware of the charge. ‘‘You say that as an Indians living in India. Ask those staying elsewhere, and you would get many appreciative nods. We make films for people with our cultural perspective,’’ she defends

I am fine with the cultural dilemmas, but the movies create such a cliched narrative. As an Indian in India, I found diasporic films invigorating until they all started to say the same thing, being on the other side I also think the themes around diasporic Indianness to be hackneyed.And Punjabi culture isn't representative of Indian culture.

Ethnic and Exotic are adjectives that we shouldn't whip up too much, but Ms. Chadha is doing just that with her Mistress of Spices. Magic, Spices, Beautiful Woman, American Lover.....your cultural perspective Ms. Chadha.

We needs to stop making such marginal film.

A parallel blog

2005-08-05T23:08:00.000-07:00

Well apart from my Ph.D blog, I have a new blog http://fitfastfun.blogspot.com . It will be a personal blog on fitness and fun. Fitness and fun are my other priorites apart from work and the Ph.D.

I am planning on compiling a list of academia, Ph.D scholars or students wanting to share some on-line camaraderie and exchanging of ideas and work. If you have a website better still, I'll create a link for you. Please email me at cecilia_abraham@yahoo.com

Have a good weekend!!!

Colonial Rule and Multiculturalism

2005-08-05T03:02:00.000-07:00

I am into academic research, in ways boring. In certain ways exciting, being a researcher especially a social science researcher would mean one is researching on the current happenings of the world and this research document will one day be the history and politics of the world. Isn't that exciting, years later the world will understand why the way its markets, culture, hsitory, communications, international realtions are the way they are. The precursors were always there.

July was a month, when the London Bombings tooks place. It was also a time, I could have sipped a glass of wine and applauded Prime Minister Manmohan's Singh for his speech at Oxford. Yes for long we have cried hoarse over British rule, but here was a speech that found positive implications of the colonial rule.

Today, with the balance and perspective offered by the passage of time and the benefit of hindsight, it is possible for an Indian Prime Minister to assert that India's experience with Britain had its beneficial consequences too. Our notions of the rule of law, of a Constitutional government, of a free press, of a professional civil service, of modern universities and research laboratories have all been fashioned in the crucible where an age old civilisation met the dominant Empire of the day.

These are all elements which we still value and cherish. Our judiciary, our legal system, our bureaucracy and our police are all great institutions, derived from British-Indian administration and they have served the country well.

My research on the diaspora and films take place in a post-colonial India so I critically look at colonial rule and must say the culture that has emerged has held India in good stead and created intellectuals that we are.

When I read about The London Bombings and the the Pakistani connection, I can't help but remember Hanif Kureishi's novel - My Son the Fanatic.

A film I wrote for the BBC, My Son the Fanatic, about a young man who becomes a fundamentalist while his father falls in love with a prostitute, also emerged from this material.

Go read Hanif's article on Multiculturalism in the Guardian.

Yesterday in the Hindu I read an editorial where the author spoke about the multicultural identity in Britain, France and the US. I found that to reflect my thoughts as well. France and Britain expect total loyalty and giving-up of home culture from the immigrants, the Americans are comfortable with the hyphenated identity - Indian-American.

Ph.D woes

2005-08-04T03:46:00.000-07:00

The trip to Leh has tired me out, but I gotto get back to the Ph.D grind. Need to get the proposal out of the way, get through the Doctoral committee interview and finish the thesis well in time.

But I am kind of tired, need to restart the engine.

Darchiks - Aryan Village

2005-08-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

I was away visiting my husband Puneet in Leh. I had a wonderful time. One outing stands out - a visit to Darchiks, an Aryan village high up in the mountains. I tried looking up Darchiks on the internet, not much information available.

The Indian army, has a unit here, the place is legendry, because it appers it is a village of full-blooded Aryans. Goes back in time when Alexander and his army were crossing the Indus, a few men couldn't cross the Indus and therfore stayed back and went up North the Indus, losing track of the army that went down South. Too tired and wanting to just stay alive, they created a community up there and for 1000 of years stayed there, until the army went up there in the late 70's. So a little diaspora of Aryans sits here.

However, during my visit, I didn't see the blue eyed and blonde Aryan, I saw mostly mongoloid features and lot of the kids looked genetically deformed, probably from the inter-marrying within the same families. Ofcourse some stand out with sharp features. The village was rather quiet when I visited, it was work time. Work is mostly growing apricot and barley.It appears the locals are used to tourists and the army.The Indian army runs a women empowerment centre there. In fact the army does a lot of service for the civilians in Ladakh, under the Op Sadbhavana scheme.

The movement of operation Sadbhavana is based on idealism. The theme of the operation is achieving the progress of the nation through building up confidence amongst each other.Operation Sadbhavana, the local masses decide their requirements and place their demands to the Govt accordingly. The human being is the central point of focus in Sadbhavana. The protection of the locals residing in the border villages is the duty of the Armed forces. The biggest challenge faced by the Armed forces is to stop the border infiltration. The peacekeeping Operation Sadbhavana is a new model of the human defense.

A rumour has it that a while ago many German women came to Darchiks to impregnate thmselves with a full-blooded Aryan man. Now that is some story.

Here comes my interest, the movement of people began even before we knew. War and ambition has take people away from home in ancient times. Intresting how world populations have been travelling since.

Steve Raymer, a picture is worth a thousand stories of culture

2005-07-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

I visited Steve Raymer's site, where I found "Images of the Indian Diaspora". These pictures are copyrighted,if you want to have a peek-a-boo, visit the site . There are listed under his current projects.

But unlike other mass migrations, the Indian Diaspora maintains far-reaching cultural ties with the motherland. Indians do not so much assimilate the culture of their adopted lands, but instead bring the culture of India to the 110 countries where they live.

Foot soldiers of Globalization - Indian workers in Dubai

2005-07-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

Everytime I scan the web to find out more about the Indian diaspora in Dubai, I reach no where. I have a lot of friends working there, doing well. Most of them are now leaving Dubai, to live in Canada and Australia.

Me, being a researcher on "Films on the Diaspora", I look around for audio-visual stories, I have seen movies from Mississippi Masala to Bride and Prejudice, the story line is the culture of India, that we like to fantasize about, exotic to point of being 'only exotic'. But what I yearn to see is the story of the Indian diaspora in the Middle-East, we have heard horror stories of maids being confined, of workers having no legal rights.

So when I read this article Dubai's Kerala Connection - Hidden behind the Gulf State's development are Indian "foot soldiers of globalization" which also had pictures, I think I have found a man who is equally interested in capturing the diaspora in pictures as I am.

Steve Raymer is an associate professor of journalism at Indiana University in Bloomington and was a National Geographic Magazine staff photographer for more than 20 years. He is working on a photographic book about the Indian Diaspora.

Seducing the Desi

2005-07-11T01:41:00.000-07:00

Why is everyone after "Desi Dollars" - From the Indian Government to the large American Multinationals who'll stop at nothing to seduce the Desi's to part with their hard earned money.

Trying to teach India in Houston

2005-07-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

(The Gandhi statue in Houston, set up by the India Culture Centre, Houston)

I read a news item, where NRI , Krishna Vavilal is about to raise $1 million for India Chair in Houston varsity.

I really am interested in 'Indian Culture and its Preservations'. One of the best ways to preserve a culture is to make it an academic course in a University. One of the best ways to live a culture is to live in it.

The project is to collect $ 1 million (about Rs. 4.5 crores) to set up an Indian Chair in the University of Houston wherein the future generation of the Indian Diaspora could learn and study about the vast and rich cultural heritage of India and its glorious history.

However, once you read the above article, you tend to get the feeling that the Indian diaspora in the US, wants the younger generation to learn more about India. A very laudable effort. But one must realize academics puts perspective into a higher intellectual or artistic realm. Students begin to think they know much about the topic, but do they feel for it, do they live it? And I am sure the second-geners, are facing the tough act of balancing the Indian and the American, will the course address that challenge.

I really am one for confluence of culture and scholarship, but I think the course also needs to address how the younger diaspora can get into mainstream society. Rather than just another community trying only to preserve its culture, which is fine, but you could promote culture much more by being in the mainstream.

This course shouldn't become a right-wing Indian department, but a secular course where anyone interested in India could pick up a course.

Good Luck to Krishna Vavilal.

if you want to know your Indian ancestry

2005-07-07T03:38:00.000-07:00

(This is a Mauritian stamp commemorating the end of Indian slavery)

For all of you People of Indian Origin, I found a site, that will allow you to get information on your ancestral family back home. I think this is a great service by the Government of India - to offer the "Old Diaspora" particularly the immigrants who left India early in the century, a chance to get to their roots. I wonder if they'd be interested. If yes why? If no why?

I heard about this site awhile ago and finally got around to doing a google, when I landed this site.Trace your Roots in India

This website is designed to address the queries from the members of the Indian Diaspora on their ancestral roots in India in a systematic manner, in an interactive mode by developing a database through a questionnaire , transmission of the data to the administrative unit in the relevant district in India.

Beautiful - Ash, Beautiful - India

2005-07-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

She is beautiful, she is everything gorgeous and she's Indian.

I find that people in India find Aishwarya beautiful, abroad she seems to be representing the modern Indian woman. And I find most of the NRI blogs that I read, enamoured by her.

NRI Director, Gurinder Chadha featuring Ash in two of her movies "Bride and Prejudice" and "Mistress of Spices" , speaks a lot about the NRI obsession with the lady and how she represents the new Indian as being 'transnational'.

1. Is it that the NRI's want to believe that Ash is beautiful because she is Indian?

2. Do they think she is lending her face to sell India in the West. Oprah! David Lettermen...

3. Does the NRI believe that Aishwarya is an Icon, representing Indian modernism?

4. Is she the one thing they can be proud of from back home?

Whatever it is, I appreciate the market-savvy lady - wrapping the whole world around those lovely eyes.

A Ph.D update

2005-07-05T00:37:00.000-07:00

I had a meeting with my Guide today and he was satisfied with my progress on the proposal. So I am going to be having a Doctoral committee interview in the second week of August and that will clear the line for my body of work to be translated into table of contents, chapters, paragraphs and then an entire bound thesis.

I have also applied for a fellowship to study in the US - the land where Desi's make movies about Desi's.Crossing my fingers, for I would love to interact with South Asian scholars in the US myself being located in South Asia. Imagine the exchange and the cultural difference we might have.

Well gotto run!

The Coolies

2005-07-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

I have been extremely busy trying to finish of my proposal for the Ph.D. It is tough getting the proposal together. But hopefully by the next week, I get the first draft out.

I found this article on the "Coolies" by Francis Assisi.

From 20th century’s indentured Indian laborers, who crossed Kala Pani in steamships, to today’s globally savvy professionals, who jet across intercontinental and cultural space, all Indian immigrants may be viewed as coolies: hitech coolies, coding coolies, medical coolies, intellectual coolies, academic coolies, scientific coolies, and business coolies.

The Indian diaspora consisting of coolies left largely for economic and social reasons,in the colonial times. To take away the coolie identity has take a long while. Why is the term being resurrected again? We provide world class service and labor at a lower price, does that make us coolies.

Forget about "Celebrating Indianness" - "Celebrate being British Indian"

2005-06-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

This morning I read this article from the Hindustan Times - Celebrating Indianness.

I read it and I felt a sense of despair, on one hand the Indian Diaspora doing very well for themselves and therefore very welcomed into the British genteel society. However, despair set in when I read this paragraph

One may call it globalisation of the Indian culture or cultural synchronisation or trans-cultural movement or cosmopolitanism or put it lightly the emerging curry and tandoori factor, the reality is that there is now an amazing awareness of all aspects of Indian culture among the English. Be it yoga, ayurveda, or the various forms of Indian spirituality, music, fashion, food or even family values and the tradition of respect for elders, all are widely known and accepted even by the inner city conservatives.

Every where the diaspora went, they took the Indian culture with them and remoulded them to suit their new society.On one hand Indian culture is termed as conservative, very Indian. On the other it is has opened itself to incorporating other foreigh elements, to suit the society the diaspora lives in.

However, my sense of despair arises from the fact this "hybridity" of cultures is merely hogwash and is still not accepted into mainstream. Diasporic culture will always be a minority culture, so using it to gain acceptance into the mainstream society isn't good enough.I think the diaspora likes to think itself as distinctly "Indian" or distinctly 'British/American/African'. Hence the Indian yoga, Indian spiritualism with a foreign passport...

Want to know what I mean - Forget about "Celebrating Indianness" - "Celebrate being British Indianness".

I welcome a discussion on this!

The Hyphenated Indian

2005-06-28T00:09:00.000-07:00

When I tell people that my current interest is Films on the Indian Diaspora, ofcourse not many people understand my fascination for a genre that is so steeped in culture and identity.

By analyzing these films, I try to understand my own suburban Indian identity. When you are in a culture, you hardly pay attention to it, it engulfs you every day but it is no different from the rest of the community.

Now look at the NRI, there is a beauty their struggle to hold onto a "culture", to hold on to "Indianness", to identify themselves as belonging to two worlds and always being the hyphenated Indian.Yes, in the process there is confusion and immense sadness as all diasporic literature and film reveal. But there is an undoubted consciousness of being some where, some part Indian.

Like I said, before my Ph.D is a respect for higher scholarship and a chance to understand "What it means to be Indian in today's world?"

Ph.D - Plagiarism

2005-06-27T00:32:00.000-07:00

I had asked some of peers for their "Ph.D Proposal". Just to have an idea, how to go about mine. They seemed skeptical. Fair enough! But it peeved me to think that they didn' trust me enough to share their work, when our thesis topics were so different.

At times like this, I think I am happy doing a Ph.D while working, so I don't have to interact with peers who aren't helpful. And since I meet my Guide just once a month, it makes our discussions more fruitful.

I just googled for 'Ph.D Plagiarism'. This is what I found,

Very soon, PhD research scholars in the country would be required to submit their theses online thanks to a radical plan of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to create an electronic Indian Theses Database

For more on UGC plans e-thesis to stop PhD plagiarism and increase access click!

I am glad with the help of the e-database of thesis, we would have access to some good thesis work, imagine a good thesis lying in the back row of a back shelf in the last left hand corner of the library covered with dust and yellowing. What a waste of data, resources and ideas! And at the same time there is a curb on copying of authentic research work.

I am hoping this ensures that the quality of our thesis rises.

A comment that I'm going to think about

2005-06-22T00:59:00.000-07:00

"Progressive Indian-American Woman" - Left a comment on the blog. I thought it was a very thought provoking comment, for somebody like me studying the diaspora.

You say - The second generation can now have a connection to what is happening back home.

Three observations about that -

1. the second generation do not consider their parents' home country necessarily as "back home". I think to them it is just the latest fad to which they have a bit more of an "in" than their non-ethnic (or differently ethnic) peers.

2. A level of connection to the parent's home country is possible because the home country too is becoming more like America. Just take Bollywood as an example - before Aishwarya I don't think there were any actresses who were fluent enough in the lingo and the ethos of the global culture. Sure, there were the likes of Shabana who were articulate in English, but they had a certain authentic Indian-ness to them that the likes of Aishwarya lack - Aishwarya is just an Indian-by-costume.

3. As the parent of second-gen teens, I can tell you that the much-vaunted connection to the home country is an illusion. Those of their desi peers who are steeped in desi culture are choosing the Aishwarya brand of it. Nothing wrong with that, except that along the way what is lost is a connection to the concept of India (Bollywood is not India), an understanding of the history and even the geography.

What is worse, I think, is that this so-called connection is a result of self-selected self-exotification. It is at the expense of the ability to fully participate in the here and now - they are unable to hold their own in a mainstream American milieu and over time the self-segregation becomes a permanent part of who they are. One young woman I know comes home each weekend from State U - why, I feel like asking, has she not made friends at University? why is she not finding activities at college that spark her interest and consume her energy?!

Just my 2c.

Thanks a ton Progressive Indian-American Woman!!

What a Shame!!!!! - Dual Citizenship

2005-06-20T03:59:00.000-07:00

There is some good news for all those Desis, wanting to avail dual citizenships for emotional, sentimental, political and economic reasons. You can now be a dual citizen!!!!

BUT

The Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs Jagdish Tytler on April 28, told the Rajya Sabha, that the Ministry of Home Affairs had received nearly 2,000 applications from Indian diplomatic offices for overseas Indian citizenship.

25 million Indians in the diaspora and only 2000 applications!!!!I don't blame the diaspora for this. Who would want to be Indian, when the only meaning of offering dual citizenshsip by the Government of India is for investment reasons.

Foreign Investment is not a reason enough to hold a "Blue Indian passport". What about the history, the culture that binds us.We need the NRI expertise, the skill, a reversal of the brain-drain so that India develops. In this context being "Indian" matters the most.

Culturespotting

2005-06-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

Now there is going to be a MTV - Desi aimed at the second generation Indian Americans.

It's a mass culture tap into the notion of transnational identity -- the idea that despite a degree of assimilation, immigrant communities now retain close ties to their native cultures, thanks to easy air travel, transglobal business and trade, and you-are-there communications technologies. Unlike previous generations (say, that of my grandparents and parents, early 20th century immigrants and first-gen Americans, respectively), the "old country" isn't being left behind forever. This hybrid identity leaves a lot of young Asian-Americans hungry for pop culture that reflects their ties to both West and East

So my question is is there only going to be a hybrid culture. Is there no pure form of culture? For eg: Bhangra is pure, Bhangra with hip-hop beats is hybrid. Will hybridity, make us lose out on the essence of tradition. Is tradition getting lost?

I really don't think so, lets go back to Darwin, for a culture to survive beyond its confines of country, it should integrate and appeal with the current popular culture.

Funny, second generation Indians will have a connection to what is happening back home, but the older genration who left India couldn't make the connection. I think the 'Confused Desi' tag is over in these globalized times.

The world is changing, older things don't change they merely evolve. A large reason is the latest communication technologies.

Identity is not undergoing a crisis, just getting redefined.

Pravasiya Bharatiya Divas - 2006

2005-06-17T03:58:00.000-07:00

Kochi may host ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2006’ . I beleive my hometown of Hyderabad, also offered to host the event.

I will be participating in some form or the other at this event. Let me make plans to get there.

There is an internship program on the India Day website- Diaspora Youth Internship Program, for those interested.

Giving Up - Oh No!.

2005-06-15T22:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a PH.D takes control over your life, it fixes time lines, disrupts a normal family life, takes over your thinking, frustrates you and in extreme cases tests your confidence and self-esteem.Working part-time without peer or grant support is discouraging. And you want to give up.

I am at that point when my Ph.D topic seems rather limited in its scope, actually I think it is my mind which is limiting. I have to meet my guide tomorrow, he wants to know the larger questions my Ph.D will address. I have written that down several times. I'll just try again.

I know there is a scope to study Diasporic Film...the appeal intellectually, academically and signify how very hyphenated the Indian is becoming.

Back to work!

“New Southeast Asian Cinemas” - Conference

2005-06-14T00:46:00.000-07:00

I would love to attend this conference in Bangkok, I am currently a Ph.D scholar from the University of Hyderbad, India working on "Capturing immigrant experience on Diasporic Film". The conference deal only with Southeast Asian cinema alone.It would be good to see how South Asian diasporic cinema is different from Southeast Asian transnational/diasporic cinema.

Southeast Asian Cinemas at the Borders
August 15-16, 2005, Thammasat University, Bangkok Thailand
Conference Co-hosts: Thai Film Foundation and The Southeast Asian Studies Program (Liberal Arts, Thammasat University)

Southeast Asian film continues to be an important site in which the struggle over the imagination about selfhood, communities, and nation takes place. Not only is film about the imagination, but film is also a powerful culture industry working within the market and various national regulations and policies. The second conference takes up these interwoven themes through its twin goals of enhancing teaching and research in Southeast Asian films.

Minorities at Risk

2005-06-13T01:25:00.000-07:00

The last week I was away in Sri Lanka, for a workshop on Knowledge Sharing.

Ofcourse I was also scouting around for diaspora stories, and I found so many interesting stories.

We have a large Indian (Tamil) diaspora in Sri Lanka. The Indian Tamils were brought to Sri Lanka from southern India in the 19th and early 20th centuries by the British who needed a cheap supply of labor for the plantations.

Greater political representation and equal civil rights for the stateless Tamils are among the key concerns of the Indian Tamils. In the economic arena, improved working conditions, especially better wages, and greater educational and occupational opportunities are viewed as vital to the group's future. As most Indian Tamils are estate laborers, the privatization of the country's tea plantations in the mid-1990s has resulted in some short-term costs. Social and cultural concerns include the ability to use Tamil in dealings with the government, freedom of religious belief, and protection against attacks by the dominant community.

Apparently this group is called a MINORITY AT RISK

Walking down the streets of Colombo, I looked for the Indian Tamil, i saw a lot of them. I also happened to meet a Gujarati girl called Tasneem, who is Sri Lankan but speaks Gujarati at home and is a Borra. She is to be married to an English man. Her grandparents came to settle in Sri Lanka from Gujarat and never returned to India.

Never realized we have a part of the great Indian diaspora this close to home.

When I was there Sri Lanka director Vimukthi Jayasundara's "The Forsaken Land" won the prestigious Camera d’Or award for Best First Film at Cannes.Jaysundara, was trained at the Institute of the Cinema and Television of Pune, in India. For more......

culture mixin'

2005-05-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

I am on holiday with the husband, but I just couldn't help making notes of what is happening on the diaspora scene. And two news items struck me as worth reading about.Updating while the husband is watching football. The only thing that can keep us apart.

New York's Indian film festival to push new talent from India.

For the first time, the New York -based Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) Film Festival is accepting Indian independent projects, with organisers saying the event would work to give a platform to new talent.

Chutney is hot and we are not just talking of grandma’s tangy preparations here. It is also a form of music now making waves everywhere. But not all are aware of its Indian roots.

Chutney is an up-tempo, rhythmic song, accompanied by the dholak, the harmonium and dhantal. Originally, chutney songs made references to deities and were offensive to religious leaders. Now, chutney has become extremely popular and new compositions are being written. When India’s men in blue visited Trinidad and Tobago, they took back chutney music with them. Indian singe-rs have adap-ted chutney music for desi audiences.

I love this culture mixin'!

Off on a holiday

2005-05-20T00:06:00.000-07:00

I am on hilday until June 4th, after which I am off attending a workshop on Knowledge Sharing, so going to get back to active blogging from June 13th.

Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

2005-05-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

India's first NRI themed movie, is running for over a decade and is in its 500th week.

Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge became a cult film for a generation of Indians living abroad who identified with the two stars.

If one looks at the Indian film Industry it was during the 1990’s when globalization came , the character of the NRI in Bollywood films evolved one from Westernized to an NRI who is Western in his commerical consumption but with an Indian heart. Today, Indiannes within the diaspora is determined more by religio-cultural relations and traditional Indian values. And our movies capture that, therfore the resounding success of such NRI-themed movies.

DDLJ is a movie that epitomizes the relationship between the diaspora and the homeland, one where there is yearning for the homeland yet there is the Indianness of heart whilst living abroad.

A lot of critics have claimed that in most of the Bollywood movies featuring NRI’s , India the country does not exist, but Indiannes is commodifed to suit the NRI’s imagination of India and is also used as his/her justification for living away from the homeland while remaining faithful to its values.

The Ph.D Blues

2005-05-11T23:12:00.000-07:00

I am just in-between finishing off urgent work assignments and taking a holiday. So the Ph.D is on the backburner. Phew! I've got to meet my guide next week. Most times I wish I enrolled for a full time Ph.D.

But on second thoughts, I really don't want to live in an academic ivory tower nor do I want to get so involved in the commercial work force that I forget the intellecutal gusto of the academia. So here I am doing my two bits.

I never thought a Ph.D would be so intellectually fun yet one helluva anxious roller coaster ride. Sometimes it is a crisis of motivation, on other days you just can't get the concept clear and on certain terrible days you wonder if the work your producing will have any kind of impact or in any way be taken seriously.

It is hard to be intellectually active, self-disciplined and strong.But you've got to do what you chose to do.

Diasporic Actors - Do they really act?

2005-05-10T01:20:00.001-07:00

Kal Penn

Purva Bedi

Sheetal

Sepiamutiny led me to Kal Penn's blog .

I am often intrigued by these actors, too desi to make it into any mainstream cinema and IMHO too undesi to make it in Bollywood. Their acting abilities are only to portray and break stereotypes of the South Asian Community, their physical characteristics are more important than their acting skills, their brown looks are often used to capture the ethnic, not character emotions that mark a fine actor.

A lot of South Asian Actors from the diaspora will only be portraying their "Indian Ethnicity" on screen, never a true acting talent. I do feel it is time that these actors realize that the genre of "South Asian Diaspora Film" has few story lines so they can never really break the mold of the "confused", "identity" character. The other thing is doing smaller roles in mainstream TV and film, just because you’re brown is never going to give you the label of world class actor.

I think South Asian film makers and production houses need to produce films that have strong story lines with actors from the diaspora who do more than just display cultural dilemmas. They need to produce films of historical relevance, social purpose, commercial value and artistic integrity.

Desi Diasporic Journalists

2005-05-05T22:34:00.000-07:00

This was a long over due post, I had the good fortune to meet Desi journalist – Francis Assisi, in February during a conference on the diaspora. He is currently editor at Indolink, where he also writes a column INDiaspora: Desis in Pardes. He covers issues contemporary, racy, complex , debatable and academic. He has for long urged the Indian diaspora to accept its ‘marginality’ in the American society and learn to accept the status of being Indian American.

A soft-spoken man, with an in-depth knowledge and passion for the diaspora, his manners are impeccable. My emails to him get back a prompt reply with sound advice, I remember when I started the blog, he was the first to ask me to collaborate and get in other students as well. He gave me leads to South Asian academics in the US. That is how I discovered the only book to talk of South Asian Diasporic Film –Beyond Bollywood.

I later learnt that the Assisi has had a dual career in medical research and in journalism. He also contributes to Mantram magazine (New York) and the International Indian (UAE). He has done pioneering research on identifying the first people of Indian origin in America (Indentured slaves taken to colonial America around 1860)

I also read Shashi Tharoor’s columns regularly, the UN high Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information of the United Nations. He is also Indian and a writer, espousing the cause of the Indian Diaspora. He writes articles on the diaspora , but hardly telling us why the story or the relationship between the diaspora and India is important. He criticizes the government for looking at the NRI only to increase India’s economy. I think to a large part it is true, but then here is a man of experience who can do more than just criticize. He should offer more solutions on how the diaspora can engage in an active dialogue with the Indian government. Shallow NRI observations really don't help.

I think the Diaspora needs more journalists that write actual stories on the diaspora, to speak of issues that have been pervading their lives. We need journalists who act as intermediaries between India and the Diaspora only then can there be an honest, creative and enriching relationship between the two. I am talking about the kind of real informative and objective journalism, Francis Assisi writes about.

Let us preserve the "Slave" legacy

2005-05-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

In my quest for finding video and film that captures the "Indian Diaspora", I found a documentary "Pure Chutney". Pure Chutney is an exploration of the delicious - and even difficult - mix of Trinidadian-Indian culture.

Another film The Gravel Road (Chemman chaalai)tells the story of an Indian girl stifled on a Malay rubber plantation.

This film is a striking work within Malaysian cinema. Alongside Malaysia's native population, the country has two large ethnic groups: the Chinese and the Indians. The latter are almost completely absent from the film scene, because only films spoken in Malay are entitled to any financial support. That did not stop Menon from making the first Tamil-spoken film in Malaysia.

Why is it that we give so much prominence to the newer diaspora, the old indentured slaves are often not talked about. India had her fair share of the boat people in the late 18th and early 19th century. Their lives are now buried in few academic journals and other political NRI lobbies. Their grand/great grand children still carry the brown genes of 'Indianness'. Some of them are making films on their histories.

As a nation, I think we must be proud of our "slave legacy". Proud not that we sent out slaves, but proud of who they became. Slaves were sent in all false hope and ignorance to work in the Sugar Cane fields in the Carribbean and Africa, build the rail-road of California, slog on Teak plantations in Malaysia, Burma etc. But three or four generations later, most of them hold positions of power and intellect. They have always looked back at India, all the time for their tradition, culture and feeling of home.

As Indian, I am proud of the non-violence, Gandhi, the developing country status, t- but most of all I am proud of those "Indentured Labourers" that left India, ignorant and lonely, but genrations later they still balance the love for their past homeland and committment to their personal betterment, such as the young film-maker Deepak Kumar Menon.

We need to document these legacies more on film and art. Literature has been doing it so far.

If you dear reader knows of films/documentaries on the Diaspora, please let me know.

The Commonwealth Film Festival

2005-05-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

The Commonwealth film festival has a slot for Diaspora films:

Diasporama: tales of displacement from Diaspora filmmakers. Don't miss Pink Ludoos, Canada's answer to Bend It Like Beckham!

Mathieu Ravier, the film festival's director says: "Beyond the ever popular cinema of Bollywood there is a fantastic range of diverse and entertaining South Asian films that rarely make it to our shores. For a limited time we bring you an exclusive sample of what this year’s best South Asian filmmakers are up to."

Other South Asian diasporic films to be showcased:

Punjabi Love Stories - a fascinating world of seduction, sex and youthful desire

Meet the Sumdees - ('sumdees' = urdu for 'in-laws')

Diaspora News

2005-05-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

Indian Arrival Day celebrations May 30 - the day when the first ship carrying over 200 indentured Indian labourers reached Trinidad and Tobago 160 years ago.

Indian diaspora filmmakers dominated at the recent 5th Annual ReelWorld Film Festival held in this Canadian city and several also walked away with awards.

An article by the Diasporic journalist Francis Assisi on Project Indian Diaspora: Encyclopedia of Indians Overseas.

In addition there will be archival and modern photographs of people, costume, buildings, cultural traditions, and economic activities, documents, artifacts - as well as a comprehensive array of maps, diagrams and important statistics. The editors claim that “Every writer has been asked to contribute photographs, as well as directing us to other sources of material. The photographs will convey a sense of period and a sense of place, so reinforcing the themes that will emerge from the text - demonstrating not only what members of the Indian diaspora have in common with one another, and with India itself, but also what has come to differentiate one community from another.

Honigman explains why Gandhi’s idealistic vision for India failed in its own right and why it would be expected to fail when applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Sam Pitroda said the intention of the council is to attract the talents of intellectuals, professionals, industrialists, scientists, university professors and other experts from various fields to help India in its quest for wealth and development. "We have seen a change in our traditional mindset and people back home are receptive to new ideas and modernization", he said.

Culture belongs to which people????

2005-04-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

As I delve deeper into the "Cultural Analysis" of India, I begin to fear that we (In-Resident-Indians) are being propelled into looking at our culture as an expat-NRI-immigrant would.

Indian literature is largely dominated by immigrant Indian writers in English - Amitav Ghosh, Jumpha Lahiri, Rohinton Mistry, Shashi Tharoor, Vikram Seth, Naipaul etc. The marketability of these books in Indian are enormous, they are Indian writers isn't it?

I appreciate these writers for building up stories around India.Alas! Their stories are all too ethnic to a point of being termed backward in the modern context.Even diasporic films are dominated by these stories.

Bollywood films, the largest Indian cultural icon is now catering to suit NRI audiences, so Indian Directors are beginning to say stories that the NRI's want to hear - the story between trendy and traditional.

With cross over films like "Bend it like Beckham" and "Bride and Prejudice" directed by diasporic film makers becoming box office hits,it is the same story of portraying India as a land of the exotic and ethnic, therefore an amusing diversion, but not providing an authentic version of contemporary India.

So the culture version of "India" is now being largely defined by diasporic intellectuals. Where do the resident Indians figure?

I would love to hear views.