280 thoughts on “Walking a Mile in Someone Else’s Chappals”

1. i apologise for nitpicking.

   but i am thankful for human frailty, a sense of humour and the ability to forgive:)The linked text

2. correct link

3. Muralimannered, you grew up in an ashram in Virginia? What was the name?

   yogaville

   the only one, as far as i know.

4. Muralimannered, you grew up in an ashram in Virginia? What was the name? yogaville the only one, as far as i know.

   Did you grow up with that guy from Weezer (also a Yogaville resident at some point I hear) ? I’m guessing he’s a bit older

5. Did you grow up with that guy from Weezer

   Rivers Cuomo.

6. Rivers Cuomo.

   I’ve met him. It was only much later that I found out about Weezer and his role in it.

7. Did you grow up with that guy from Weezer (also a Yogaville resident at some point I hear) ? I’m guessing he’s a bit older

   there were two IYI Yogaville sites–one in Connecticut and the current one in VA. Rivers, i gather, lived in the earlier Connecticut site.

   He’s also a great deal older than myself, so I wouldn’t have really had the ‘experience’ of growing up with him anyways.

8. Let’s keep a Thanksgiving thread thoughtful and thankful and positive. Why can’t we have a holiday from the usual arguing? I complimented Floridian because I liked his comment and hoped it would set an example for others to do the same. Instead, you’re picking apart what he said. What are you thankful for?

   Because, dearest SM Intern, each of us is The Argumentative Indian in his/her own right. About Floridian’s belief that he is exposed to more clever people over here, if he means more clever Desis, or even more clever Americans, that impression he has could have something to do with immigration policies that brought a disproportionate number of Desis with advanced degrees to Amreeka, but I totally can’t condone that selective process by giving thanks to God for it.

   Like I already said, what I love and the thing that keeps me here is Stephen Colbert, or, if you will, the fact that he can happen while the most horrendous misconduct is going on abroad in our name— and my kids. who are terrific tri-nationals but also completely American, and free to choose or not choose who to identify with. Also the great water supply and Cheri Oteri.

   Here I lie, enjoying the two screen experience, my Viao catching signals from my AirPort nicely, thanks to Google, which helped me find the way change the WEP string on my AirPort the right way, so that now, I don’t even have to get up and go to my big computer (so loaded with Adobe applications and FinalCutPro and Quark that I’m most fond of it) to party at SM. I’m watching John Howard leave and Kevin Rudd appear with my other eye, and Vijay Mallya saying whoever wants to play in India needs to play with him–so I’m thankful for techie stuff, yes, absolutely!

9. I had to come back on here and clarify my statement – especially since some people on here labelled me a troll because I dared make a statement that most of you know is true but won’t ever admit to.

   I have worked for half my professional life in Bangalore and half in the US. The difference in the working styles and productivity of my co-workers couldn’t have been more stark. Here, I don’t have to worry about showing the boss that I am working hard by staying at work until 10 pm. I do my deliverables and go home. As long as the work gets done, I am fine. Secondly, I wasn’t really doing anything cutting edge when working in Bangalore – despite all the blah blah blah that your read in the media, I was doing shit work supporting engineers in the US. Here, I work with engineers from top-notch schools, actually work on next generation products and can come and go as I please.

   So, I stand by my original post. And no I am not a troll. Let’s be honest for a change and admit that the opportunities to work with leaders in so many different fields are something that we take for granted here but which are not available in India.

10. “5. And finally, for giving us the opportunity to produce a generation of desis who have the brains and sensibility to write SM, because at your age, we sure as heck couldn’t have written (thought) like this.

    I know gratitude towards America does not come easy to the highly educated, mostly mainstreamed DBD’s, and in my younger, more arrogant days, I, too, used to believe that I made the difference, not the country.”

    I fully agree and echo the sentiments expressed above. And I am thankful.

11. A 55 Thanksgiving edition would have been cool!

12. Thankful for family, friends, food (great food), music, winter, and all the crazy people in this world that smile and never yawn.

13. Pongali, not sure what your point was, especially since it didn’t make sense, but that’s why your first comment was deleted. If you’re interested in the personal lives of the bloggers here, perhaps you should email them directly vs. doing whatever it is you were attempting.

14. This has turned out to be a very interesting thread! Muralimannered–my brother lives near (he is at UVA Hospital) Yogaville–should I visit it next time I’m down there?

15. 208 Amrita, “About Floridian’s belief that he is exposed to more clever people over here,…”

    Amrita, I didn’t make that remark. You are confusing me with PardesiDesi. To his credit, though, his conclusion was based on actual work experience in both countries (read #209).

16. Thanksgiving

    Warmth starts in the kitchen and drifts through the air, small stresses and preparations for gathering family, friends, and pet companions, both old and new; political and spirit-guided conversations, opening how we are as latecomers join in. With a light rain drizzling in a scattered storms forecast, the grand dinner is set outside, wind drifts playful oak leaves into dinner plates and coffee cups, such rustic dining declared. After deep naps and late parties, the full moon rose with the cricket’s song.

    The Christmas and holiday season begins on the radio and store shelves, and with aspirations and accommodations, the goal is to not be shy of peace.

17. Hooray for this post, it felt like a weekend-long house party, with the same people commenting for days. Thanks, posters, it was fun to slip out of the eating-shopping-entertaining-cleanup cycle every now and then to read about everyone’s take on the holiday.

18. Finally, we should also thank the indian government for subsidizing technical education at the cost of its primary education infrastructure (and hence its poorer citizens) so that technically educated indians–the most privileged– could “escape” (after being subsidized) for a better life in the u.s. where apparently they suddenly realize what they were missing. In fact they can then further rant about the stupidity of the average indian (whose taxes funded their “superior” education), and bemoan the lack of mobility in india while they extol–nay, wax eloquent– the virtues social mobility in the u.s. again, a belated happy thanksgiving…

19. funny, my father thanked nehru at the dinner table for providing him with a medical education. not sure to what degree this was done at the expense of primary education, as sigh! bemoans, but in my fathers case he grew up village poor and malnutritioned. he knew various “ism” would keep him from reaching his full potential in india. So he “escaped.” at the dinner table was another doctor who really had to escape bihar for less abstract reasons, if you catch my drift. so another thanks to Nehru for making sure his collectivism was hedged by his liberalism, so he could never become a castro who believes individuals exist for the good of the state, at the expense of their individual freedom.

    karma comes around they say. and now those escapies are returning to help India realize her full potential. thanks to the financiers and venture capitalists who are on the ground doing this. so thanks to the likes of vinod khosla. thanks to all those succesful immigrants who are giving to pratham. thanks to america for exporting capitalism. and india for importing it.

20. yeah, i’m sure that that the indian population in the u.s. is comprised overwhelmingly of low caste biharis and other low caste north indians; but you didn’t really understand the drift of my comment (and i don’t think you tried since certain words distracted you and you in turn imputed meaning to them, no disrespect). the point was that it is kinda ironic that the very strata of indian society that overwhelmingly benefited from the indian state after independence “escaped” to the u.s. and they remain blissfully oblivious when they (with some reason; so good for them) criticize stratification in india ,when in fact they were the primary beneficiaries of such stratification.

    any by the way where in heavens name (again no offense) did you detect a disapproval of “capitalism”, in my comment?

21. thanks to america for exporting helping India rediscover capitalism.

    Chettiars were practicing capitalism when ur-John Smith was fighting off Normans and drinking mead

22. typo, i meant “and” above…

23. Chettiars were practicing capitalism when ur-John Smith was fighting off Normans and drinking mead

    good for you loycipher, for pointing that out; and to add, so were the jain banias and shroffs…not to speak of armenian and mopilla merchants in india….

24. the point was that it is kinda ironic that the very strata of indian society that overwhelmingly benefited from the indian state after independence “escaped” to the u.s. and they remain blissfully oblivious when they (with some reason; so good for them) criticize stratification in india ,when in fact they were the primary beneficiaries of such stratification.

    i got your point. i dont necessarily disagree with the gist, other than to add that privilege is relative. your average immigrant is probably bourgeoisie: professionals, nerds, etc; as opposed to land owning aristocarts who i would say are the ones who benefit the most from india’s stratification, castism, socialism, and statism. sure, that makes them more privileged than some, but also less then others.

    and also to add that men like my father and uncle at the table, both of whom remember independence day, aren’t really “blissfully oblivious”, they experienced it first hand. and most importantly, one can see the good karma of indian liberalism coming back in the form globalization.

    any by the way where in heavens name (again no offense) did you detect a disapproval of “capitalism”, in my comment

    ?

    i didn’t

25. i didn’t mean your father; i meant the kind of attitude exemplified by floridian’s comment (again this is not to say i have a necessarily normative take on it). cheers…

26. the point was that it is kinda ironic that the very strata of indian society that overwhelmingly benefited from the indian state after independence “escaped” to the u.s. and they remain blissfully oblivious when they (with some reason; so good for them) criticize stratification in india ,when in fact they were the primary beneficiaries of such stratification

    This will forever haunt the conscientious Indians who have emmigrated and do reasonably well here. Maybe this is the reason that they are torn apart in their own way with the question what use is their work for society in general and India in particular.

27. @ 218,

    Finally, we should also thank the indian government for subsidizing technical education at the cost of its primary education infrastructure (and hence its poorer citizens) so that technically educated indians–the most privileged– could “escape” (after being subsidized) for a better life in the u.s. where apparently they suddenly realize what they were missing. In fact they can then further rant about the stupidity of the average indian (whose taxes funded their “superior” education), and bemoan the lack of mobility in india while they extol–nay, wax eloquent– the virtues social mobility in the u.s. again, a belated happy thanksgiving…

    sigh !, Have you read Vijay Prasad’s “Karma of Brown folks” You will like it.

28. You guys can’t take a break from the complaining, even for a holiday weekend. Doesn’t it exhaust you, to be so offended by people who don’t mean to upset? It’s so easy to be negative, to call out immigrants for being leeches as the impoverished masses shiver and starve…but we’re all here because of those leeches. Those leeches are our parents.-

    I get that it’s important to be critical and contemplative, but some of you don’t seem to understand that there are certain times and threads which are more appropriate for your outrage. Thanks for constantly ignoring what the intern/blogger was trying to do with this “virtual thanksgiving”. Some of us have really enjoyed your boorishness.

29. i didn’t mean your father; i meant the kind of attitude exemplified by floridian’s comment

    How do you know that Floridian is “blissfully oblivious” of anything?? How do you know whether or not Floridian came from privilege in India or not?? How do you know that Floridian was beneficiary of stratification or he/she does or does not criticize stratification??

    How do you know that Floridian is not one of those Indian immigrants success stories, where immigrants utilize their entrepreneurial spirit (which was suppressed) and created jobs and wealth?? and may be more capable of comparing business echo systems between the two countries?? It is easy to judge (easier when you have no idea about the person).

30. @ 228 ,

    I get that it’s important to be critical and contemplative, but some of you don’t seem to understand that there are certain times and threads which are more appropriate for your outrage.

    For the love of …, I agree with you completely

31. How do you know that Floridian is “blissfully oblivious” of anything?? How do you know whether or not Floridian came from privilege in India or not?? How do you know that Floridian was beneficiary of stratification or he/she does or does not criticize stratification??

    jesus, read what i said carefully….for your benefit i’m quoting myself again (this time with relevant parts italicized nd boldened to aid comprehension):

    i meant the kind of attitude exemplified by floridian’s comment(again this is not to say i have a necessarily normative take on it)

32. …and observations are not necessarily complaints. brij, thanks, i’ll look into vijay prashad’s book.

33. …and observations are not necessarily complaints

    Agree with you also completely 🙂

34. This has turned out to be a very interesting thread! Muralimannered–my brother lives near (he is at UVA Hospital) Yogaville–should I visit it next time I’m down there?

    rob,

    Yes, definitely make a trip out there if you can. Charlottesville–Yogaville will take no more than an hour’s drive.

35. *everyone* on this earth should thank the United States for (well, more precisely, thank the large body of scientists and intellectuals in the US – both foreigners and americans) for playing such a prime role in most aspects of scientific/technological progress the world has made from the mid 90’s till now. Thats the core. I don’t think there was anything particularly remarkable about the US apart from this aspect. (oh, that and its beautiful landscapes :P)

    random @ 190, you forgot to include Hollywood. All these foolish science/scientists come last.

36. well, we all benefit from India, and her Diaspora’s, success…as this article points out.

37. we’ve even earned Mr. Kobayashi’s begrudging respect. Which is why we’ve allowed him to join the team.

38. I’m watching John Howard leave and Kevin Rudd appear with my other eye,

    It’s time ‘Honest John’. The Lodge beckons for KRudd.

39. No more liquor commentary from me!

    Could I tempt you with Jamesons ?

    floridian, i lift my bourban towards your single malt

    Manju how about a Wild Turkey?

40. #208 Amrita, “About Floridian’s belief that he is exposed to more clever people over here,…” Amrita, I didn’t make that remark. You are confusing me with PardesiDesi. To his credit, though, his conclusion was based on actual work experience in both countries (read #209).

    Sorry about the confusion, Floridian. PardesiDesi, I still think being identified as a clever person at the outset of one’s otherwise undefined new phase of life creates a change in the ierms upon which one interacts with the people in one’s immediate environment, I can assure you nobody back home thinks I’m anywhere neat the sharpest knives in the drawer.

41. Melbourne Desi, is he known at home as KRudd?

    jesus, read what i said carefully….for your benefit i’m quoting myself again (this time with relevant parts italicized nd boldened to aid comprehension):

    !sigh, that would be EMboldened.

    Doesn’t it exhaust you, to be so offended by people who don’t mean to upset?

    for the love of……., yes, I agree, it did exhaust me to feel vaguely offended while in a daze of gustatory anticipation. If I were less exhausted, for example, I coulda shoulda woulda told young Daniel that it would be the same if he felt left out on Diwali in Delhi, but missing one’s folks and foodstuffs while expatting and saying the place one’s in doesn’t satisfy doesn’t mean the same thing at all. And Daniel, if you’re reading this, don’t cry in churches, buddy, use your phone.

42. Lets be thankful for the 650,000 Sand #$%#s killed in Iraq.

    Let’s be thankful for the destruction of native civilizations, made fun of by self-congratulating janissaries so that upper caste Indians can come over here and absorb themselves into prosperous whiteness when the typical Indian is a half-starved wastrel, thanks to his government, and thanks to the opportunists without a national sense, who left it all behind.

    Let’s be thankful for all the old parents we’ve brought here to rot alone in front of television sets, because we’ve found that money matters more than family.

    Let’s be thankful for the 100,000,000 Turkeys slaughtered on Turkey day.

    Let’s be thankful for the crassest consumerism ever known to man, a de-spiritualized culture, and global warming which leads to global oblivion.

    Let’s be thankful for being among the ten percent of mostly white people (and now a few asians) who live away from the constant threat of disease and starvation, thanks to our own brilliance and natural ability to “work with smart people” of course.

    Let’s be thankful for obesity, alzheimer’s disease (and now autism) all diseases of prosperity.

    Have a great Sunday night. Be sure to check your portfolio before tomorrow’s opening, and readjust the damn 401k, will ya? That emerging markets overexposure will kill you, every time.

43. So Amber, will you join me in proposing we stop killing turkeys to commemorate the slaughter of American Indians and observe at least minute of silence on Thanksgiving Day for those to whom we owe everything?

44. Or really at least five minutes of silence.

45. Melbourne Desi, is he known at home as KRudd?

    Yes, he is often called KRudd. Rudd is Howard-lite. NLP at its very best. He brought in the Chinese vote due to his Mandarin skills. Funnily, KRudd was seen to be cool compared to Honest John!!! Also, Honest John was just too old. I just pray he does not let his cronies destroy the economy. Unlike many other democracies, this election does reflect the will of the nation. Largely due to compulsory voting. I wish India would implement compulsory voting – at least that way the middle class has no excuses when a Lallu is elected.

46. Let’s be thankful for the destruction of native civilizations, made fun of by self-congratulating janissaries so that upper caste Indians can come over here and absorb themselves into prosperous whiteness when the typical Indian is a half-starved wastrel, thanks to his government, and thanks to the opportunists without a national sense, who left it all behind.

    I hate to Lou Dobbs it here, but Amber there’s a warm, open-sewage trench just calling your name in any number of rural locations in India. If your vaunted ‘national sense’ compels you to stew in misery and despair, by all means leave the opportunity to us’evil’ opportunists who escaped not only societal discrimination but also rape, murder and other assorted iniquities associated with being the wrong minority in the wrong place at the wrong time.

    As for the ‘prosperous whiteness’ you speak of, there is a free market here (not pure) and everyone may participate. If it bothers you that the vast majority of this wealth was created by caucasian people, I suggest you take your ‘utopian’ visions of brown-only prosperity and park it next to National Socialism.

    Better yet, endow a chair in “Whiteness Studies” at a (gasp!) whiteness-engulfed American university and collate the results into your very own “The Oppression of Whiteness” series (like the Subaltern one but spicier!).

    Don’t be so quick to assume that SM is an Indians-only space, they’re certainly a majority but i don’t see any signs here warning Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Nepalis and Lankans to keep out.

47. Manju how about a Wild Turkey?

    I thought you were tempting ua with jenna.

48. Murali, I agree with your first and last paragraphs wholeheartedly.

    Perhaps I have misread you, but it seems you are reading Amber’s comments on whiteness as some kind of blanket prejudice or advocacy against white people, which is not necessarily what was implied. Amber’s use of the term whiteness is spot on, except for the fact that no one from the subcontinent is becoming white.

49. I thought you were tempting ua with jenna.

    Jameson is wild but not a turkey 🙂

50. He brought in the Chinese vote due to his Mandarin skills.

    Aha, thanks for clarifying that, Melbourne Desi. All this time, i thought he was Chinese.