At times like this, with the carnage right now in the city of Mumbai, where I grew up, a city I love dearly, that I really, really miss being in India. What a shameful and dastardly deed. The three top police who died, all those innocent victims and their families. How can people be so cruel? They even went into a women's nursing home and opened fire.... these are barbaric acts? Can we not grow up in the 21st century? Why do humans have to resort to such acts of terror? When will India stop feeding the illiterate masses with religious fanaticism?
I am sad, very sad at this act. Extremely relieved that people near and dear were safe in their homes. What if they were not? What if I was not there? I hear my children watching their tv in the next room, oblivious to what's happening to their mom's world. They don't have the same connection to the country as I do and I know it. Maybe that's good and maybe not.
It is Thanksgiving tomorrow. I will be thankful for keeping my family safe and healthy. What about all of those who are suffering in Mumbai? I don't feel like a celebration; I know I will because my children will not understand why I don't want to. For their sake I must put up an appearance and I will.
God help the people there rebuild their lives.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Elections
Right now, I am in the position where I am neither here nor there. I arrived in the United States several years ago now it feels, from India, did the usual, got my greencard. I didn't feel like applying for citizenship - it just felt like if my heart had to speak, it couldn't leave India - it is my one link to my parents and I just felt like no, I didn't want to give it up. Practicality eventually took over and I applied for citizenship during the summer. At the time, the U.S. presidential elections seemed far away and I thought I'd get it before then.
So here I was, not being able to vote in India and not being able to vote here. These elections, being so historical in nature, really got to me and I really felt bad at not being able to vote. However, it was not to be. I have my interview next week and Obama got elected this week. I missed the boat this time.
The United States has become my adopted country and I feel really good at being able to absorb the values from both countries - it feels good to pick the good and discard the parts not worth looking into . I walked into a coteachers room that day of the elections - she is African American - and it never really occurred to me right until I walked into her so emotional to think back on what exactly it meant to the black population. Years and years of slavery, years and years of repression, years and years of feeling discarded and being made to feel inferior - so many memories waiting to be healed... Unbelievable. I was really moved, then realised to myself that it was only in this country, my adopted country, that something like this was possible where a black person rose from the ranks to become the shining star. How many other countries really offer this opportunity?
In India, much to everyone's denial, the caste system does exist everywhere - don't touch the person who sweeps the gutters, who takes out the garbage, who works in lowly jobs. Don't treat these people as your equals because they aren't - we are superior. This is ingrained in people right from childhood. With such mindsets, how can the suppressed people ever get out of their ruts? It is painfully sad. I can sit thousands of miles away and write about this but unless people like me start in their own small way, I am afraid that we will never see a change.
So here I was, not being able to vote in India and not being able to vote here. These elections, being so historical in nature, really got to me and I really felt bad at not being able to vote. However, it was not to be. I have my interview next week and Obama got elected this week. I missed the boat this time.
The United States has become my adopted country and I feel really good at being able to absorb the values from both countries - it feels good to pick the good and discard the parts not worth looking into . I walked into a coteachers room that day of the elections - she is African American - and it never really occurred to me right until I walked into her so emotional to think back on what exactly it meant to the black population. Years and years of slavery, years and years of repression, years and years of feeling discarded and being made to feel inferior - so many memories waiting to be healed... Unbelievable. I was really moved, then realised to myself that it was only in this country, my adopted country, that something like this was possible where a black person rose from the ranks to become the shining star. How many other countries really offer this opportunity?
In India, much to everyone's denial, the caste system does exist everywhere - don't touch the person who sweeps the gutters, who takes out the garbage, who works in lowly jobs. Don't treat these people as your equals because they aren't - we are superior. This is ingrained in people right from childhood. With such mindsets, how can the suppressed people ever get out of their ruts? It is painfully sad. I can sit thousands of miles away and write about this but unless people like me start in their own small way, I am afraid that we will never see a change.
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