Well, thanks to everyone for the lovely welcome, I’m very happy to be here–if a little nervous about suddenly bloggint to a large audience. My blog the lawyerwriter seems to generate a few hundred hits a day, which pretty much sums up my known friends, enemies, family and ex-boyfriends. From what I can tell, Sepia Mutiny gets about 16,000 hits a day. So this is a little like having a spotlight thrown on you while you’re singing in the bathub. You’re glad for the attention, of course, but you really wish you’d had a few more lessons to prepare yourself for the sudden publicity.That said, I haven’t the foggiest idea of how to reach a wide audience, unless it’s to counsel them against going into law school simply because they’d seen too many episodes of Law & Order. See–already, I’ve lost half of you. Yes, my references are very American–I was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, raised in San Jose, CA, and have spent the last ten years in New York City. I am proudly a “Southie” and doubly proudly the cousin of Siva Vaidhyanathan, recently of The Daily Show fame.
It’s tempting to introduce myself by answering the Proust Questionnaire which is in the back pages of every issue of Vanity Fair magazine(who knew that David Brubeck hates his nose?), but perhaps who I am and what I’ve done will reveal itself better over the course of the blog. I tend to write about pop culture and media–I like to see how desi culture is represented in the West–particularly America–since, for most of my life, it wasn’t at all. I didn’t mind being the only brown girl in my kindergarten class–it was pretty fascinating to see what assumptions everyone had about me, and my culture. I am an attorney, but I use my legal expertise largely in a consulting fashion, if at all, or in my writings about law. I did not like the law firm life, and it certainly didn’t like me. In fact, given that I never saw my friends or my boyfriend of the time, I think the only people who were happy were my parents.
So under the rubrick of “desi,” I would be categorized, I think, as second generation South Indian-American, originally from Madras (never been to Chennai) heavily influenced by hippie Northern California culture and too much Manhattan nightlife. Most of the desi influences in my life are back in the Bay Area , (insert a shout out to the Almaden Valley posse here!), but I have a feeling that will change with this blog. I’m currently reading The Argumentative Indian by Amartya Sen, which discusses India’s long history of rationalism and intellectual debate. It’s encouraged me to approach this guest blogging experience a little differently than I approach the lawyerwriter. There I write what it is in my own head, just to flex my writing muscles. Here, I hope my writing reaches fellow oddballs in the desi community–and perhaps beyond.
Of course, all my writing is personal. It’s not that I’m particularly fascinating; it’s just that you really should write about what you know. If more people did that…actually, wait, I’m a ghostwriter. I’d never get a job again.
Never mind.
(thanks for the welcome)
Karibu.
Welcome.
Vannakam, Swagatam, Namaskar, Wassup.
Welcome to the Mutiny!
Welcome! I knew you’d be here sooner or later..knew it as soon as I doubled over with laughter while reading your Vikram Chatwal post.
Please do a Proust Questionnaire! That’s a great idea, and should be compulsory for all guest-bloggers.
(vat!? Too late to get me, suckers!)
As for that heading – all I can say is “live long and prosper” Neeraja 😉
Another Bay Area Desi!!
Velcome! I’ve read your blog and it’s going to be great having you on SM.
(I personally would like to give a shout out to the entire posse up in ‘Frisco, Berkeley, Concord, Oakland, and Napa. Much love.)
–Cheap Ass Desi
You have an interesting and prolific blog.
But I couldn’t help but notice a “me” vs. “Indians” theme across the posts. What is up with that? Are you a Desi in Name Only? Are you confused about Indian-ness?
Case in point: http://lawyerwriter.blogspot.com/2006/03/theyll-never-invite-me-to-party-again.html
“Because, I can say without a doubt, that Indian girls are exclusionary….they seem to have colossally bad taste in men, …Nobody walks the walk, but they sure can talk.”
From where does a casual and broad based assault on 500 Million women arise?
Of course, all my writing is personal. ItÂ’s not that IÂ’m particularly fascinating; itÂ’s just that you really should write about what you know. If more people did thatÂ…actually, wait, IÂ’m a ghostwriter. IÂ’d never get a job again.
🙂
I’d love to do a Proust Q here! Enjoy your stay at the Mutiny.
Velcome!
And DIN, relax, save the criticism for something on this blog.
“Desi In Name Only?” “Confused about Indian-ness?” I don’t know what those terms mean. I find that they are often thrown at desis whose tastes are too far outside traditional desi culture. Know any desi goths, for instance?
I’m not of a mathematical frame of mind; I don’t break down percentages of how much of me is American, and how much is Indian. Each calls to me in different ways
That said, the post you’re referring to was the heated and drunken result of an extremely irritating night around a particular type of indian female I have the dubious pleasure of encountering over and over again. It was certainly not intended as a blanket disapproval of every brown-skinned woman on earth.
Welcome! Anyone raised in San Jose is ok with me =) Looking forward to your posts.
And since CAD gave all her shoutouts, I will throw in my “San Jo! You Kno!”
Wow, I can’t believe we used to say that.
Neeraja: Fair enough.
Your experience may simply be a sampling bias…my Korean friends have enormously funny stories describing the archetypes one finds in Korean clubs. And they often throw around statements maligning the entire race as a result. Ask your Korean friends about the “BR” kids.
As for your question about Indian goths. I know exactly two (one is a burning man freak, the other is traversing a spectrum of identities – although the burned-in brand on his back is permanent). Given the small fraction of the population that Indians make up, I would say that these two may actually represent “Gothness” in larger percentage terms than my non-Indian friends.
Actually, we do. 😉
Oh yeah, forgot about San Jose– I’d like to say “Wassup” to my crew out there, too (well, the “crew” here is just a fragment of the Cheap Ass Desi clan).
Anyway, back to Neeraja—
Salaam, Merhaaba, Namaste, Namaskar, J’ai Swaminarayan, J’ai Sri Krishna, Sat Sri Akaal, Benvenuto, Benvenidos–
Velcome Priend.
much respect!
perhaps i’ll get you to love the quantitative in future posts….
Welcome, welcome!
As the third consecutive woman in this guest blog role, I think that you will represent fabulous.
Hopefully you can add to the furry pink accents to the bunker that is well needed. My advice: Treat the monkeys in the North Dakota Bunker gently. And pay no attention the trolls. 😉
So you, Abhi, and I graduated from Simonds Elementary and now waste innumerable hours writing when we could be doing something productive like flipping condos. I hope the two other Indian geeks/nerds from our school fared better. Go Cougars!
Big up to the Yay Area! =) And a big welcome Neeraja, I’m looking forward to your posts–your intro has already caught my attention.
Welcome!
This is the third time in a row that a guest blogger is female…way to go SM! You guys in the bunkers are doing quite well!!
Neeraja, I look forward to your posts. Excuse me while I rummage through your blog for that Vikram C post that cicatrix talked about!
Is it only me who finds this weird ? I mean, all that I cared about in my kindergarten class was whether my toys were better than the person sitting next to me. Hmmm… maybe that explains why you are blogging on SM and I am not.
Or wait… were you a teacher teaching a kindergarten class ? In that case, you’re HOT !
And that’s the best kind…and au contraire – it’s like glancing in a mirror (a lot of the time) or peering down a long hallway (some of the time…I leave the law to little bro).
So glad to see you here!
Bienvenue!
I had a goth phase. My friend is a huge Punjabi druggie kid– still stays true to his share of Hot Topic threads, jingling chins, dog leashes, and other dark and permisciously interesting miscellanea.
“…too many episodes of Law & Order. See—already, I’ve lost half of you. Yes, my references are very American..”
Hey, I resent that..they’ve been airing L&O in India for years now! 🙂
and welcome to SM, Neeraja. I look forward to your posts.
See, you are learning already Neeraja. (almost) nothing is ‘too american’ for indians anymore…
Welcome welcome Neeraja! 🙂 Looking forward to a lawyer-writer’s musings!
Valkommen Neeraja!
Your website is marvelous. And that Vikram Chatwal piece? High-larious. I’m much looking forward to hearing about your forthcoming book as well.
Did I read somewhere (here or on your site) that you have a blue streak in your hair? Any short haired desi with a blue streak (literal, figurative) is cool by me.
Wilkommen! Desi lawyers who counsel desis about law school in ways that include the possibility of not going are most needed.
Don’t threaten to torture the poor girl, razib. She just got here 🙂
Neeraja: Ah.. finally a girl from good old Almaden Valley. I am surprised Abhi did not stumble upon you at Simonds, Bret Harte, or at Leland High. As for Abhi I think he was a border line between “nerd” and an “egghead” while we lived in San Jose. I am still hooked on the beautiful Almaden Valley Wine. Welcome to SM, throw away your legal “Brief” in the air (you are liberated Northern California Girl …right?) and get ready for some serious “Grilling”….. Abhi’s Dad
Welcome! love the posts on the your blogs, from whatever i read
downtown new york? now we’ll def have some FUN
Neeraja is now my hero. Welcome aboard!
Can someone link to this hilarious Chatwal post =)
Mr Horse?????
I have a saucy new hero!
I somehow picture Jai turning into Abhi’s dad as he ripens 🙂
And quite fetching in black and metal at the Ministry / Revolting Cocks concert a couple of weeks ago, if I should say so myself.
Most Indian girls/women (and boys/men) have been exclusionary to me, which is why I find the Mutiny very refreshing and welcoming. [Caveat: This comes from my personal experience, so please feel free not to jump all over this comment.]
finally .. a reason to return to sepiamutiny. (just kidding abhi!).
we need more of sepia’s exes and enemies to check out the cite anyway. welcome neeraja. watch out for the hindu fundamentalists.
and you blog drunk-awesome.
I propose a guest blogging stint by Abhi’s Dad! Is that possible, Mutineers? Uncleji, would you be game?
Welcome, Neeraja (and whoa!) Seems like every break i took today led back to your blog :).
And for the person who wanted the link to the Vikram Chatwal post–
http://lawyerwriter.blogspot.com/2006/04/our-very-own-rico-suave.html
well i like sepia mutiny mostly on the desi stuff!! enjoyed this journal on “i’m so turned on by indian accent”
Manish,
Ahh, I don’t think I deserve that honour 😉
Anyway, like I’ve mentioned before, I’m comparatively quieter and more well-behaved in real life than I may appear to be here — any risque comments on my part tend to be restricted to the lucky lady I happen to be involved with at the time, unless I happen to be single.
In the meantime, of course, let the badmaashi continue…..
I second the motion! 😉
oooh..thirding!!
we’ll finally get to know the man beneath the spacesuit 😉
MW/MV/JAI/AK/Cicatrx: Thanks for the cheers but, as Abhi said once, ” Loose lips sinks Ships”. What can I say? He is the Boss!! May be some day I will start my own Blog and invite him as a “Guest” from Moon or Mars!! Applause?
Great idea, Yo Dad!
But I hope your blog is all about your family. We want to know all the embarrassing details of Abhi’s younger years 😉
Interesting– I was the only brown girl in my Bay Area kindergarten class as well. So was my sister, my older cousins, etc. For that matter, I was only one of a handful in my high school, each of us a different type of South Asian and all of us left reeling with the burden of correcting misconceptions about our various subcultures. I believe that experience was character-building, not isolating. Upon reaching college, I was one of the countless South Asian students at my university. This was a wholly new experience– I had never been around that many South Asians at one time. However, I saw them as individuals with whom I shared a collective heritage. Most of us were not the South Asian lemmings you so often describe in your blog; we spanned all majors, listened to countless styles of music, had bizarre interests, etc. I had South Asian and non-South Asian friends alike and wasn’t really bothered by what people thought. I found that most South Asians on campus held the same attitude. It was wonderful to be around people who had real pride in all aspects of their rich heritages, South Asian or otherwise. While we could be frustrated with our people and shy away from them on occasion, we didn’t shun them or make blanket statements about them as though our personal experiences or opinions on our heritage were more valid. I know that I saw myself as both an insider and an outsider in the South Asian community, and I still do. I was the only South Asian English Major out of close to 500 English Majors who graduated my year. While that made me different from most of the South Asians I knew on campus, it didn’t make me better. I know so many South Asians whose attitudes toward their heritage and their own individual identity sound exactly like yours. Your opinion and experiences are valid– but so are everyone else’s experiences, even the lemmings. The rest of our individual truths do not suddenly become collective because we like the occasional South Asian film, attend a convention with members of our subculture, are pre-med, etc. I encourage you to be more open-minded toward your South Asian sisters and brothers– we are a more diverse group than you think.
I know so many South Asians whose attitudes toward their heritage and their own individual identity sound exactly like yours … The rest of our individual truths do not suddenly become collective because we like the occasional South Asian film …
Then, the individual truths of us non-lemmings (to use your terminology) ought not to be collectivized either. We’ve all had different experiences. Leave it at that.
I encourage you to be more open-minded toward your South Asian sisters and brothers– we are a more diverse group than you think.
Hence Sepia Mutiny, which has really renewed my faith in my fellow South Asian westerners, women and South Asian western women.
I think “y” makes some interesting and valid points. I identified with almost everything she said, though it was Political Science for me, not English (that was my minor).
2nd and 3rd generation South Asians in America are genuinely confused about identity — both their own and the identity of their distant brethern on the subcontinent. Case in point: identifying oneself as “South Asian”. What the hell is that? I don’t know a single person in India that calls themselves “South Asians”. They may call themselves Punjabis, Sirdars, Tamils, but South Asian? This is akin to asking a frat kid in Alabama if he considers himself a “North American”.
As a result of confusion about self, many 2nd and 3rd generation kids project their confusion on entire nations and peoples. The 8000 mile distance has the effect of blurring hundreds of languages, foods, cultures, ideals, ambitions, stereotypes into one giant mess.
Try this experiment: name 10 stereotypes of people within India. Example: XXX are stingy. XXX are really smart…
Of course, the stereotypes aren’t the point. The point is this: how detailed is your knowledge of Indian [Punjabi, Sikh, Tamil, …..] or Pakistani, or Bengali culture.
The not too shocking answer: for many 2nd and 3rd generation kids — the knowledge is lost. All many know are caricatures.
And now circling back to my original point: perhaps Neeraja suffers from casual caricaturization or perhaps that is all she knows?
I was ostracized by the Desi community because I was left-handed. It wasn’t until I was in college and met other left-handed desis did i realize I wasn’t alone. It was incredible to find a “safe space” for left-handed desis. Right isn’t always right, someimes it’s left! LEFTIE-PRIDE. WE ARE ALL LEFT-HANDED!
DesiInName:
First of all, if identifying oneself with the marker “South Asian” is “inauthentic” and “confused”, presumably one is supposed to declare…what? Regional identity? Religious identity? Indian identity?
Second of all, how do you know that there aren’t any 1-gers that proclaim themselves to be “South Asian”? I actually know plenty of 1-gers who see themselves as South Asian. Also, how are you asserting that out of a billion Indians in India, no one claims to be “South Asian”?
Thirdly, may I ask how you’re making this broad generalization about 2-gers and 3-gers?
If 2-gers and 3-gers are “projecting their stereotypes” onto India is indicative of how confused they are, in that case, Indians in India as well as 1-gers are confused as hell themselves: have you ever hung out with Indians and heard them talk? “Punjabis are like this”, “Gujaratis are so and so”, “Muslims do this”, “It’s Hindu mentality”. Stereotyping Indian communities is not exclusive to 2-gers and 3-gers, for as I have stated, 1-gers and Indians in India do this as well.
Try this experiment: go to India and ask people to name 10 stereotypes of people within India. Or go to a locality in the US where there is a strong concentration of 1-gers and ask them this question.
What is “Punjabi culture”? What entails “Pakistani culture”? I’m not being facetious, I am being serious. What kind of knowledge should we have about “Bengali culture” in contrast to the knowledge that 1-gers supposedly have? I’m not saying that there are general differences between the 1-gers and 2-gers, but how are you stereotyping the two?
This assertion is so baseless and visceral that it does not merit an answer.
Why do you keep taking swipes at Neeraja?
I think that you are confused and you are suffering from the casual caricaturizations that you yourself have made of the 2-gers and 3-gers. Usually, people who accuse others of being confused are confused themselves.
–Cheap Ass Desi (Not to be confused with “Krazy Ass Desi”_
Oops, typo:
Correction: I’m not saying that there aren’t general differences between the 1-gers and 2-gers, but how are you stereotyping the two?