The past month or so has taught me that there are a lot of people out there that want to see this blog, and what it is all about, succeed. The emails we recently received offering technical support, as well as the offers of financial support we have gotten, have led me to conclude something similar to what one forward looking American politician once said. To paraphrase:
“We’ve earned capital in this blogosphere, blog capital, and now I intend to spend it. It is my style.”
So with that I am announcing the creation of The Desi Dad Project.
For the past six months I have been mulling this idea over in my head. Photographs, even without any words or explanations, can convey a tremendous amount of information and history. Just look through these pictures of some of the first Indian Americans that came to the U.S in the early 20th century, most of them Sikh Punjabis. Recently, with the immigration debate in this country raging on, we have discussed the signifigance of the 1965 Immigration Act and how many of our fathers immigrated to the U.S. as a result of this act. Eventually this led to many of our births. 🙂
So this is what I am proposing, particularly in light of Father’s Day which is just two weeks away. I want you guys to upload a single picture of your dad. I want a photographic archive that captures the spirit of what it meant to be an immigrant in this country as part of the second wave. I want to capture that part of our collective history before it rots away in old albums in our basements, attics, and closets. This project won’t end with Father’s Day though but will keep accepting phtographs.
Here are the criteria you must meet before uploading a picture of your father into this new archive I am proposing:
- Your father immigrated to the United States between 1965 and 1985. If he arrived a couple of years before 1965 it is okay, but please do not upload pictures taken after 1985. I am looking for pictures that capture the experience of a SPECIFIC generation for the purposes of this project.
- Your father came from a country in South Asia (e.g. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc.) or from ANY other country so long as his ethnicity can be traced back to a South Asian country.
- The picture you upload has to have been snapped in America.
- I strongly prefer that your father should be the only person visible in the photograph (feel free to crop the original picture). Pictures of individuals tell a different story than pictures of families. If you don’t have ANY pictures of you father alone then maybe you have one with the two of you together.
Don’t just upload the first old picture of your father that you find. Put some thought into it. Select a picture that you feel best captures the spirit or attitude of your father in that particular time in American history. Pictures in front of famous or historical American landmarks or taken at historically significant events would also be fantastic. Remember that the main point of this is to capture through pictures what it meant to be a South Asian immigrant in the U.S. during the second wave which followed the ’65 Immigration Act.
IMPORTANT: Follow (to the letter) my instructions below for how to upload your picture. Make sure that if you scan it you use high resolution (300 dpi) so that we can all have good quality images to look through. Email this post to as many friends and relatives as possible. The larger this database of pictures the bigger the story it will ultimately convey.
There are TWO ways to upload your father’s picture into The Desi Dad Project Flickr album which can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/thedesidadproject
Method 1) Upload the picture to your own Flickr album first. If you don’t have a Flickr account then it only takes a minute to create one. If you have a Yahoo account then you can use the same login and password to log in to Flickr. They are partners. When you upload your picture title it your father’s name followed by the approximate year that it was taken in. For example:Venkat Santosh Subramanium, 1967
or
V.S. Subramanium, 1967
or
Venkat S., 1967
You can also add a brief description of your dad such as where he immigrated from and what his profession was or the context of the picture. You don’t have to though. Once you have uploaded your picture go to Search–> Groups at the top of the Flickr page. Type in “The Desi Dad Project.” Once you click on the link you should click on “Join this Group.” Next, go back to the picture of your dad in your own album and click on it to see the full image. Above the picture you will see several icons. Click on the icon that says “Share with Group” and select “The Desi Dad Project.” That’s it. Easy as pie. Note that you can only upload a single picture so consult with your siblings, choose wisely, and properly edit the name and description before uploading.
Method 2) I strongly urge you to use Method 1. If you just refuse to open a Flickr account then you can EMAIL the picture to the following address as an attachment:
map77fire [at] photos.flickr.comVERY IMPORTANT: You MUST put your dad’s name followed by a comma, followed by the year the picture was taken in the SUBJECT line of your email. The body of your email should contain the description of your father only. Make sure to TURN OFF ANY AUTOMATIC EMAIL SIGNATURE that is normally included at the bottom of your outgoing emails.
NOTE: **By uploading a photograph on to this website you are giving me permission to use the photograph that you upload in whatever more permanent display I ultimately choose for this historical collection or whatever else I choose to do with them as related to The Desi Dad Project. Also make sure to get permission from your father if you are still able to.**
Now let me explain before someone asks, “Abhi, why are you being so sexist? Why can’t we upload pictures of our Moms? They are just as important.”
Answer: Three reasons. First, because Father’s Day is coming up. Second, because in most cases our father’s came to this country first and many of them came alone. And third, and most importantly, there WILL be a Desi Mom Project next May, just in time for Mother’s Day. 🙂
If you have any questions please email me or leave them in the comments. Thank you all in advance for participation in what I hope will turn into one hell of a database of images for our community to share. Let your friends know about this project, please. This project does NOT END on Father’s Day. It is an open album.
Hey – what if our Dads immigrated to Soviet Canuckistan?
You guys down there are always forgetting about us.
great idea abhi.
i think we should hold a contest for the most stylish dad… since we’re talking mostly the ’60s and ’70s, i bet we’re going to see some fly threads…
sigh
Fine. Be that way. I’ll have to wait for my kids (once I have one/some) to get on (the next generation of) this Mom project and post pics of me in the fiiiine plaid flannel threads of the 90s immigrant experience.
What’s the matter Abhi, your mom was too wise to let you use her picture, so you had to fly with the dad only idea? 😉 In light of Father’s Day, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that this project was just circumstancial. But then, next year, you will have to do something just as cool for Mother’s Day.
If we posted pics of desi dads and desi moms separately, how would they be different? I wonder if they would tell us a different history of the South Asian diaspora in the US.
Abhi:Should they have become “dad’s >< 65-85 or just entered the country at that point??
Abhi, this is the greatest idea of all time. Excellent use of the word “snapped”.
hmmm… half of my question got cut off. Should they already be a dad by 1985 or just have entered the country by 1985?
your idea is a good one -by why all the criteria mate? the photo has to be snapped in the US? erm – what if he was on holiday somewhere else? it would still apply surely and fit the purpose of this project just as much.
bloggers with such INS style rules make me laugh.
Abhi: Is this the way you are wishing me “Happy Father’s Day”? that’s OK by me. Your “Rules of Engagement” are too stringent. You need to relax a little bit as already suggested by some. By the way you have not followed your own rules. Where is my name or the year of entry to US or the year picture taken, or how I make ends meet, etc..? I think asking people to use the Photo of their Dad and give you permission to use “any which way you want” isn’t going to sell this “project” of yours….That is my two cents on this. Anyway…Good Luck Thanks.Dad
what about dads who wish to remain anonymous? e.g., first name only?
This is excellent, abhi! I hope there’s a repeat, as all of said pictures of my dad are in his posession.
I can think of several pics I might share – but since I won’t have access to those pictures between now and Father’s Day, I’ll share my memory of it here: My dad, striking a heeero-style pose, in some unknown location, with bunch of kids (non-desi) looking on. He is seriously stylin’…and has a huge grin on his face. He was either in graduate school, or just graduated with his first job – I don’t know the exact date of the picture, except that it is in the early 70s.
I kept this image close to heart as a kid, and as a teenager…because my dad was hip to nothing (that my brother and I thought was cool), and had a permanent frown of worry etched on his forehead. What this pic reminds me of are hopes, dreams, and ambitions. I’ve always known him as a realist…I see an idealist in this picture.
Abhi, now you’ve got me all weepy and nostalgic. I hope this project is an open one – the next time I go ‘home,’ I’m finding that picture.
Abhi- your blog, your post, your idea (great one, BTW). Not that you shouldn’t be open to suggestions, but I think your rules make a lot of sense- you are trying to get a snapshot of a very specific segment.
Although I realize you were just covering yourself, the notion that this could be interpreted as sexist is ridiculous- few would call it sexist if it were Mothers-only, and the timing wrt Father’s Day is perfect!
Now, when will you stop accepting pics? My dad’s best pics are in storage somewhere in the Midwest right now, so it may be a while until I can send a pic.
The sikhpioneers website was a revelation. The one thing that I noticed in most snaps was a sense of tiredness in those eyes. Very similar to the eyes of the South Asian labourers in the Middle East – courtesy of the tough life they endure here. Also, though these are B&W photographs, I think that these guys have much darker complexions than most Sikhs; perhaps the result of toiling long hours in the sun. Hopefully, nouveau-labourer-migrants in the Middle East too are paving the way for a generation that doesn’t have to go through the hardships that they are undergoing at the present. Sorry about the morose texture of the comment; I felt that there was a strong parallel here. Moving on, this project should be fun; my dad doesn’t qualify, but I look forward to seeing Flares, “step-cut hairdos”, and many more monstrosities with much anticipation:)
excellent idea my friend.
you got that right..first dad, then mommy then bro then the most reluctant, mua
Naturally, no one can disagree with the Father. So, let’s just say I agree more with the Son. Without them rules, you’d end up with a formless and (IMO) relatively less interesting mela.
Maximum respect on a a good project. I hope it’s fruitful.
FOBulous idea, Abhi! DesiDancerDad was quite the handsome chap.
-can we submit pictures that also have kids (us) in the pic?
wow, great idea…
I expect to see a lot of big watches, big sunglasses, bellbottoms, butterfly collars, etc.
Yes, great idea. Abhi, I am apart of the “other” group that had both my parents come over. However, it was my mama -like many other malu-nurse-mamas- who allowed us (and my extended fam’s) to build a life in the US. I can’t wait to see the pics of your the dad’s who stepped off Air India first, but I would love to see some historical record (pics) of indian’s immigration regardless of gender. I guess it’s easier said than done, not sure if you want to do that, but if you or anyone is interested email me.
Make sure to read every word of my post everyone. I have tried to account for everything:
Just in the country by 1985
Without criteria this would just be a photo album. This is meant to highlight a history. The pictures should be snapped in the U.S. because this particular project is about American history after all.
If they want to remain anonymous I’d prefer first initial last name. You can tell more from the last name then the first. If you insist however then a first name is fine.
Never.
I’d prefer your Dad alone but if you don’t have a good one then one with the two of you from that time period will be okay.
and what about anonymity/quasi anonymity (first names only or a blog-like pseudonym)?
So if our newly Canuckified Dad was in NY for a holiday, the pic qualifies?
Crap, wrong country AND wrong timeframe.
fantabulous idea.
yes, this is excellent.
Wow….excellent idea…how about a project that collects stories of immigrants, how they arrived in the country, what they did etc..maybe starting a blog where people can post their diaspora stories along with these pics??
I think the rules make good sense– after all, the idea is to capture a specific moment (two decades) of time for a specific project. To allow snapshots taken outside the US etc would sort of dilute the whole purpose…the first generation of desi men (many of whom later became dads) in the US.
My only objection: there should be a parallel moms section too. Its too long to wait for the next mothers day so hey lets do one on Aug 15 for “Bharat Mata”! But no, come to think of it, I guess that’ll be too narrowly Hindu and narrowly Indian to boot :).
My only regret (only for purposes of this project!): my dad/parents stayed in des so I can’t send along his/their pics…she said relentlessly assuming theres going to be a mom project too.
Come on Pissed of Canuck, You’re already included, Canada is practically our 52nd state. A little socialist, like Minnesota, but with more colorful (if somewhat less valuable) currency. 😉
I’m tempted to send in pic of my old man, but doubt he’d approve. I recall a very stylish shot of him from the 70s, complete with bell bottoms and lamb chops.
Great idea, Abhi. Especially because, apart from memory or nostalgia, this project also speaks to style. You pick up Hanif Kureishi and you get a picture of his father’s sartorial sense: we have very little of it this side of the pond. Nothing more than a few embarrassed lines that hang close to the ground with their load of pathos. For captions, ask your contributors to send “Name of place where photo was taken, year, Dad’s favorite Indian film and/or star.”
Just one request — I don’t care if he meets your eligibility criteria or not, can we stipulate that there will be no pictures submitted by Fofatlal’s kids, please. The one you’ve got up there is more than plenty.
Come on guys..add some pics.
awesome idea abhi! i definitley agree with shruti though about the moms. most of my dad’s pix from back then include my mom and i’d feel bad cropping her out because she’s just as much a part of the whole experience as he is…any chance of expanding this pix idea to both parents? awesome idea though, i’m very excited to see this project!
Even when people come over as families to some extent every immigrant is on their own. By asking for pics of just your dads I was trying to see if I could capture that aspect of the experience. I will definitely follow up next May with the moms. If you have a picture of you and your Dad together then that is okay. Thanks.
Abhi:
A wonderful idea. Now if only I can get my Dad to agree (yeah, he’s not too enthused about being all over the internets).
Regards, Kumar
Are we getting our visa into this damned project or what? Or are you going to frisk us at the cyberborder?
When it comes down to it, you Yankees are all the same, aren’t you? Snobs. Exlusionary, elitist hoity-toity imperialist snobs. Whatever happened to your Constitution, or Declaration, or whatever it is you have down there – what happened to the bit about it being self-evident that ‘all men are created equal’? I guess we’re not all equal when it comes to the Desi Dad Project, are we? I mean, where do you get off? Just who do you think you are?? Wasn’t there a time when you people threw tea into some body of water to revolt against this sort of imperialist tyranny? And now you impose it on us? Are our Dads not as good as your Dads? If you prick them, do they not bleed? To think we lent you Alexander Graham Bell just so you could talk to each other. And this is what we get in return?
If you think we’ll take this example of cyber-apartheid lightly, you are sadly mistaken. Camouflage is our greatest asset. Methinks you will have a hard time telling the Canadian landscape apart from the Yankee one. Ha! We will simply bombard you with our Canuckified Dads, so many of them that at last you will be forced, through sheer editorial incapacity, to accept at least a few of them in what should be known as the UNIVERSAL Desi Dad Project.
I’ll tell you what. Upload the picture and I will keep all the Canucks in a “special section.” Think of it like a ship in port from which the pictures aren’t allowed to disembark after their journey from India.
Just clearly label it Canada or “America Jr.” Whichever term you prefer. 🙂
Very kind of you, thank you. Please excuse my former rabidity. I’ll label it Soviet Canuckistan just so there’s no question of an identity crisis.
kumar- don’t ask permission, ask forgiveness. he’ll never find out. Hell, my dad wouldn’t recognize himself from 30 years ago.
Abhi, Didn’t you spend considerable time in Michigan? That practically makes you Canadian.
How about we start a project for the Canuck desi dads? Given how many desis there are in Canada, it should make for a project almost as big as the “real” one. Heck, Brampton alone could provide fodder for a follow-up book.
“Michigan- Like Canada, only much cooler”
Abhi, what a great idea! “Bhagwan tumko khush rakhe, beta.”
Kind of off topic – read Ramesh Mahadevan’s piece on Visiting Dads.
http://mahadevanramesh.com/Articles/dadies.html
I have tons of pictures of my father in US circa 1965-67. Let me make the effort of scaning them.
Michigan Schmichigan – tepid, not cool.
No NO NO!! More from Outraged Canuck, please! We all need a good slapshot to the head with hockey stick once in a while 😉
Cool idea! Let’s bring out the sideburns and polyester shirts and plaid pants!
I think the Dads would like to see this too. How much do you want to bet someone will recognize someone else? After all, there are only 2 degrees of separation among desis.
I think in addition to dad’s names, there should be an indication of who’s father is being put up…
maybe something like:
dad’s name, year (SM handle)
maybe?
This is so unfair. I mean yes, I do love my dad….. but, huh my mum’s pics are pretty indicative of the era too especially the one in a pink saree… she looks just hot.