Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Tri-color calling.....

The gates of the Rastrapati Bhavan, New Delhi

With August 15 approaching, many a thought comes to the mind as one remembers India gaining independence so many decades ago. Unity in Diversity as a paradigm is taught and expressed many times over in the Indian Constitution as well as in most patriotic narratives and discourse. That there are diverse groups of people is a given in the Indian scenario. Often, looks, clothes, religious, regional and linguistic affiliations, caste and gender play a deciding role in asserting one's identity.

In the 'melting pot' that is the U.S., often these distinct identities and sometimes the not so disparate aspects of identity seem to be relegated to the back seat. Recognized as a general category of "Indians," many of those who belong in there find themselves re-evolving themselves and seeking new avatars. Sometimes lumped together with other Asians or South Asians and we scratch our heads when asked to enumerate the race. Not African American or Black, not Caucasian, not Hispanic, not Asian, not Native American-our choices are limited. How about proto-Australoid?!

The approach to living in America is to conform to a different lifestyle and different categorization. Assimilation is the buzzword whereby every concerned individual follows a uniform lifestyle that the culture imposes on people. Its all about homogeneity.
And this lifestyle manifests its trust and faith wily nily in affirmative acts where:

  • Everyone deserves the opportunity to participate fully within the economic communities.
  • Workplaces are enriched by the diversity of their workforces.
  • People are valued for their differences - not in spite of them.
The legal instruments that have axiomatic implications are:

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • Civil Rights Act of 1991
  • Equal Pay Act of 1963
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
  • Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  • Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Diversity changes its flavor here. It is an umbrella that shelters people from wrongfully being treated because of their race, gender, war veterans, disabled and the elderly. For instance, Chapter 151B of the General Laws of Massachusetts speaks of unlawful discrimination against race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry or sex. Many a time job postings will have a small byline saying EEO or equal employment opportunity.

It all seems to be oriented to securing a peaceful, harmonious work place peace that contributes to the production of goods and knowledge that make up this super consumer and profit making economy. Somehow the diverse elements of individual affiliations are superseded by the overriding concern of the general good. It undermines the wealth of knowledge that exists in each diverse trait. Discourses on diversity are relegated to workplaces where prejudices, biases and "isms' such as racism, ageism, lookism or what have you are tackled by the strong word of law.

Most Indians deal with changed business strategies and work ethic. And battle with their identities as Sikhs explaining why they wear turbans; as Hindus explaining why their women wear a dot on their forehead; why Muslims will fast during Ramzan; why Christians also wear sarees and so on. And why Indians don't celebrate Thanksgiving! Many Indian festivals happen when the sun and the moon show the time and the moment and never can really predict the date when one wants to take the day off to celebrate.


That is what living amidst a fruitful diversity of cultures is all about. It is unpredictable, varied and certain not homogeneous in form or content. Fifty nine years of independence and a civilization that is a several thousands of years old has much to offer. That Indians excel at what they do, is no cause for surprise and is certainly not a surpise to me!

Also published on Lokvani at http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=3441

4 comments:

Indiver said...

I like the point about different categorization that immigrants have to deal in the country to which they migrate. I don't like it, but it is there. So I guess one has to live with it. One can only try and chip away gradually and influence people around oneself in the new country. But changing knowledge, attitudes and practice (all three of them) is a very very difficult task! But this usually starts with trying to explain the manifestations of one's identity - turbans, bindi, etc.

I never thought that assimilation can possibly be a tool for getting along in the workplace, in order to optimize production of goods and knowledge. It is a very interesting thought. This is yet another argument that makes me believe that the human motive for wanting to continue make things better can sometimes spiral out into societal/cultural/political/economic processes that have far-reaching implications like this. In its most extreme form it mutates into greed - for money and power - that drives each and every aspect aspect of human and community behaviour.

And what about the current generation in India, esp. those in the middle class, living in citieis and large towns? From the little I've seen, the identity of a 20 something is undergoing a considerable change as well. I can remember being 20, and if I compare it to the youngsters of today, they might be from another planet! The point I'm trying to make is that Indians living in India might not be facing re-classification in a dramatic as they face when they move into another country. But there are lots of changes in the way their identities are shaped. There is a reason why words like metrosexual have come into common use.

I am not so sure about your point about Indian's exceling. I guess they are like any other human being -- we might have a little more bounce in our step at times, that's all.

Rina said...

Stepping out of India and choosing to live in another country brought home the reality of "identity" in a very personal way. Enjoyed reading your write-up with its slight academic flavour! I think you have inspired my next blog --something on identity.

Rina said...

Stepping out of India and choosing to live in another country brought home the reality of "identity" in a very personal way. Enjoyed reading your write-up with its slight academic flavour! I think you have inspired my next blog --something on identity.

Rina said...

Stepping out of India and choosing to live in another country brought home the reality of "identity" in a very personal way. Enjoyed reading your write-up with its slight academic flavour! I think you have inspired my next blog --something on identity.