IC
voices
Awaiting Justice
Thank you for drawing attention to hate crimes and how they don’t get very far within the criminal justice system (India Currents, July 2012, Color of Justice). India Currents does a great job of reminding people to fight injustice and not be complacent. I am so thankful for what India Currents does for the community. Arun Paul, CA I was reading the cover article (India Currents, July 2012, Color of Justice) and it brought back bad memories of when I was assaulted on June 6, 2010. I was the victim of a hate crime incident. A Caucasian lady hailed racial slurs at me while I was walking on the street at a traffic signal. She called me Curry Whore, BinLaden, Buddha and asked me to return back to my country. I never got justice in the case. The case was never reported in the media. This incident has been very traumatic for my family and me. I would like to share my story in order to create awareness among the South Asian community. I am still awaiting justice. Name withheld upon request
An Old Association
I am very pleased to know that India Currents is celebrating 25 years of excellence. My hearty congratulations to your dedicated team of workers behind this unique magazine. I have been associated with this magazine and its founders, Arvind Kumar and Ashok Jethnandani. We had discussed the necessity for a community magazine in the early days and the importance of promoting Bhaarateeya Samskriti for the welfare of the Indian community. India Currents has contributed much to the development of our art culture and the performing arts institutions. The individuals who have supported the magazine with their periodical advertisements are pillars of our community. It is heartening to see that the India Currents team continue to publish with the same zeal and fervor with which it was started. 25 years of serving the needs of a discriminating community is a feather in your cap. Shortly after the launch of IC another trend setting movement was begun here in Yogaville, Virginia, at the Satchidananda Ashram: “Naatya Adhyayana Gurukulam summer camp.” It is one of its kind in this part of the globe. What we started as an experiment, has now completed 24 years. We will be stepping onto the threshold of our 25th year soon. 6 • india currents • august 2012
I can only say that we have also grown with the magazine. V.P. Dhananjayan, Virginia
A Memorable Music Residency
I just saw your beautiful magazine India Currents of July 2012 sent by a friend from the Bay Area. The magazine featured my interview. (India Currents, July 2012, Amjad Ali Khan Comes to Stanford) Thank you Teed Rockwell for an excellent writeup. I had a very memorable residency at Stanford University. Teed met me a few times while I was teaching there. I also had the honor of listening to his beautiful instrument the Touchstyle Veena. My wife Subhalakshmiji, Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan join me in sending our love and best wishes for your beautiful magazine India Currents and all who work there. Amjad Ali Khan, India
Underlined Insights
Just a note to say how much I appreciate articles by Sarita Sarvate (The Last Word by Sarita Sarvate). Although I don’t always agree with her views, I find that her insights are piercing. There are two articles (In Transit, Bhagavad Gita to the Rescue) up on my fridge with underlining that I re-read and think about all the time. Amy de Lorimier, CA
Sarita Sarvate’s article on Paris (India Currents, July, 2012 A Letter From Paris) was excellent. I would like to congratulate her in French: Chere Madame Sarvate, J’ai lu votre article sur Paris. C’etait excellent. Je connais parfaitement les Francais et l’article m’a rappele toutes les attractions, les coutumes, les manieres des Parisiens. Mes salutations distinguees. (Your article has reminded me of all the attractions, the customs and ways of Parisians. My greetings.) Des Khurana, Anaheim, CA
The Long Hand of Letterwriting
I agree with the article (India Currents, July 2012, The Lost Art of Letter Writing). I still write long and loving thank you notes or notes to say I miss you. I’m grateful for friends who still enjoy writing and receiving! Jeanne E. Fredriksen, Illinois
The “First” Second Generation
I found this article (India Currents, June 2012, Raising An Indian American Teen) interesting. I did not find it interesting because I have a teenager (I have a preschooler), but because the story is one I have encountered before. The author missed an entire population of South Asians who were teenagers in America during the 1980s and 1990s. Yes this
has already happened once. Many of these former teenagers of Indian descent are now nearing middle age. These are people we see in the media, or people who work in our local hospitals and colleges and even in politics, leading change. In talking with many of these people, I believe we will find that they encountered many similar challenges in their own upbringings. I feel it is worth examining the “first” second generation, because you will find that the list of “issues” was practically the same as it is today, with the only major additional challenge being that of the incredible predominance of the Internet. It is inherent in relatively educated Indian circles to have certain expectations about success, education and social decorum. You can take an Indian parent out of India, but you can never completely eradicate the Indian in them, and thus, at least a little bit is going to be passed on, whether or not your child wants it. How one’s child manages his or her cultural background and values, and accepts his or her own identity with confidence is where the real challenge lies. Dyuti Sengupta, S.F. Bay Area
A Cautionary Note
Like everyone else, people mistake party food and snacks for regular meal options. Samosas and Chaat (India Currents, June 2012, A Recipe For Fixing Harmful South Asian Diets) are only for once in awhile. It is important to include dark greens, bright yellows and red vegetables and whole grains every day in your diet. Mary Lindemuth Arulanantham, Facebook
Diffusing Identity
Thanks for the editorial (India Currents, June 2012, Unchecked). Another thing to take note: A growing number of U.S. raised Indian Americans are now intermarrying with other ethnicities. It will be interesting to see how the Indian American identity is defined in the third generation especially amongst those kids with one Indian parent and one non Indian parent of another ethnicity. Leena, Online
SPEAK YOUR MIND!
Have a thought or opinion to share? Send us an original letter of up to 300 words, and include your name, address, and phone number. Letters are edited for clarity and brevity. Write India Currents Letters, 1885 Lundy Ave. Suite 220, San Jose 95131 or email letters@indiacurrents.com.