MEMO FROM NARA

'Donald Trump, the President of the USA celebrated DIWALI at White House and hailed the contributions of Indian-Americans.’ A news item I read in news papers published in India. I felt it is a great compliment our fellow Indians got.

Millions of Indians live in the United States of America. They live there as students, doctors, engineers, computer scientists, business men and women and what not? Indians are found in all sorts of professions. The USA, land of opportunities gets benefits from all these millions to uplift their economy. Every individual Indian in fact, contributes to the growth and progress of this rich country. They are peaceful, tolerant, hard working and above all intelligent. Most of them have become Indian Americans by getting the so called ‘green cards.’ They have the privileges of American citizens. Some Indians are married to Native Americans or other races who turned to be American citizens. Their children automatically become Americans and enjoy the citizenship rights. Likewise there thousands and thousands of Indian thrive in this great country!

Indian families continue to spend years and their generations find it as a better place to live and work. We feel they are a happy lot living in a foreign land with all sorts of comfort. I am not very sure whether they justify our feelings. Since the living conditions, strict law and order and above all their ‘mind-your-business’ attitude help everyone to live free and happy.

In fact, Indians who live in America or any other country eat like Indians. Few people switch over to the food habits of Americans after living for generations. Indian restaurants and shops provide Indian foods and goods. Most of the Indian groceries are being imported from India either legally or illegally and distributed to super market outlets. Basmati rice, curry leaf, mangoes, coffee, tea and things like that are very popular in the US markets. So Indians although live in a far off land, can get those desired items without difficulty.

I found that Indians belonging to different States of India group together and form associations so that they meet and establish a close relationship to help each other at times of difficulty. They do learn and teach Indian classical music and dances and perform during the festival days! Such groups are found all over the country. Hindi speaking, Tamil speaking, Telugu speaking, Malayalam speaking, Kannada speaking, Gujarati speaking groups have their own associations.

The parents and grand-parents of these Indians in the US get 6-month visa initially from the US Embassy after a routine interview before plan to make a travel to see their dear ones. When they proceed to the US the airlines limit their luggage so that they restrict all kinds of Indian stuff for their dear ones. However the parents make some good tasty things which their descendants like most and pack for them pickles, sweets, banana and tapioca chips and good lots of spice powders for Indian curries. Interesting life indeed!

I too undertook such pilgrimage with my wife for two times to visit my daughter and son-in-law and their kids. Life in a foreign country is an opportunity but it is restricted, disciplined and systematic. Enjoying such a life needs more hobbies and liking for touring and learning about others and their culture and country. More and more people are moving to this country everyday to earn and to have a decent life.

We do find some of the Indian-Americans are in the political fields as diplomats, senators, ambassadors, scientific fields, space science, IT fields so successfully. It gives us a great satisfaction. USA is in the minds and hearts of young men and women in Indian Universities. They dream to go to this country of opportunities and make their life bright and happy. Let their dream come true and let them prosper.