A t the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. ... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again."
A These famous words were uttered in a monumental speech by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, as it approached midnight on Aug. 14, 1947
This year on Aug. 15, when the Indian flag is hoisted above the Red Fort in New Delhi, what will be going on in the hearts and minds of young Indian Americans born in the United States? What does India's Independence Day mean to them? For some it is a time to reflect on their culture and heritage, and for others it offers a celebration of the arts and music at various community events. But for some, Independence Day, with its haunting images of the bloodshed during partition, brings bittersweet memories, and a select few are even indifferent to the historic event
"India became ruled by its own people and thus could develop its own identity," said Keshav Khanijow, 21, a recent college graduate from Fremont, Calif. "I like to think of August 15th as the birthday of our national Indian identity."
Indian Independence Day also causes many young Indian Americans to reflect on their roots and what the nation of their parents' birth has gone through since gaining freedom from colonial rule
"For me, India's Independence Day is about celebrating our roots. Our roots makes us who we are," said Jignesh Gandhi, 25, a consultant from New York. "I think it's pretty amazing that a nation with so much poverty, lack of education and sectarianism could sustain a democracy for over 60 years
This day commemorates our ancestry, struggles, triumphs and future."
Having been brought up some 8,000 miles away from their parents' homeland does have an effect on how some young Indian Americans feel about Indian Independence Day
"Growing up in the U.S., India's Independence Day hasn't had a tremendous impact on me. It's just another day," said Neil Wadhwani, 26, an MBA student living in Atlanta, Ga. "If I am reminded of the day, I usually say a prayer."
While some Indians born in the Unites States experience a diluted sense of connection with India, the Indian population in the United States continues to rapidly grow. Younger Indian Americans are starting to show an unusually strong sense of pride and express that growing up in larger Indian communities has helped foster this pride
"I celebrate the Fourth of July more heavily, though, because we get that day off here," Wadhwani said, referring to the American Independence Day
"On August 15th, I am even prouder to be an Indian than I normally am," said Amit Shah, 20, a college student from Chicago. "I wear an India flag Tshirt that day!" Not all young Indian Americans had an all-positive outlook on the day. Many revealed that Independence Day caused them to reflect mostly on the partition of united India that occurred as the British left the subcontinent
"As a member of the Sindhi community, Independence Day has a bit more meaning for me," said Amrita Chabria, a 22-yearold student from Boston. "Sindh became entirely a part of Pakistan and my family lost their homeland."
Snehal Shingavi, 33, a Professor of English in Austin, Texas commented on the injustices that come to his mind on
this day. "India was [before] a single country. New rulers used new power to suppress the rights of minorities to their independence from India and Pakistan
Some of the most violent clashes ever between Hindus and Muslims occurred during Partition. Over one million people died in the ethnic cleansing that took place during the largest population transfer in world history."
Certainly, the religious clashes that led to partition are remembered and affect how young Indian Americans think about Independence Day today
"I think Indian Independence Day feels more like a Hindu Independence Day. There are strong religious overtones," said Saiee Shevade, 21, a physical therapy student from Princeton, N.J. "We lost a part of ourselves when we created Pakistan and I think this makes the day bittersweet."
Some young Indian Americans were able to provide an unusual perspective on Indian Independence Day from the standpoint of India's cultural heritage and artistic traditions
"Indian Independence Day is pretty significant for me mainly because our culture is so rich and I marvel that we have been able to maintain our culture through colonial rule, and even in the diaspora," said Fiza Najeeb, 21, a college student from Pleasanton, Calif. "Every year on Indian Independence Day, my parents visit the homes of other Indian Americans and I usually join in."
"I think our freedom from British rule was awesome because it was a catalyst that made the arts accessible to a mass audience," said Anisha Muni, 24, a Kathak student from Flushing, New York. "Post-independence Kathak, specifically, was no longer limited to court dancers, and was opened up to students and art aficionados from all sections of Indian society."
Many young Indian Americans cited that they felt that people needed to learn more about the Indian independence movement and Indian history, in general. In addition to participating in the arts, the arts were also helpful in educating Muni at an early age
"I learned a lot about Indian history by watching the TV series, "Bharat Ek Khoj," with my father when I was a kid," Muni said
Bollywood has proven to be equally helpful for some, in this regard
"I gained much of my knowledge of the Indian Independence Movement from Bollywood films, like ‘Rang De Basanti' and ‘Lagaan,' " said Trishna Punjabi, 27, who works in marketing in New York
"For me, Indian Independence Day represents a meaningful dichotomy. It represents a simultaneous progression into modern times and preservation of old South Asian culture. We could preserve our culture because we were now in control," said Romeo Dasgupta, 25, an accountant from Queens, New York. "During the time of Indian independence, things were very tumultuous, but it was an era that gave birth to many great personalities."
Nearly all young Indian Americans could cite Gandhi and the famous Dandi salt march as important to the Indian independence movement
However, there was a surprising level of awareness of the usually lesser known figures and events of the freedom movement, demonstrating the effect of the increasing Indian communities all over the United States
Generally, interest in South Asia is on the rise around the United States both academically and in popular culture
Many young Indian Americans stated as their local Indian communities grew and as they gained more Indian friends, they became more interested in their own history. College groups also play a crucial role in engaging young Indian Americans in celebrating Indian holidays and traditions
"I began to embrace an Indian identity more in my 20s as I made more Indian friends," said Zulfikar Musliwala, 25, a senior accountant from Flushing, New York. "I really like it."
"My whole academic career is centered around India and the rest of South Asia," said Komal Garewal, 21, a college student from Middlebury, Vt
"I'm joining my parents for our local festival this Independence Day for the first time in a long time!" said Sonal Mukhi, 30, a training consultant from San Francisco
Most young Indian Americans said there were festivals going on locally this Saturday and that they would be participating
Notably, many were actively seeking to create a more diverse and culturally rich atmosphere than in years prior
"There is a local India Day Parade which I hope will honor India's diversity and tolerance by letting all Indian Americans, including gay Indians, march in the parade," Jignesh Gandhi said
"My parents have always observed Indian Independence Day by participating in local activities," Muni said. "This year, we will be doing community outreach for the U.S. Census."
A t the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. ... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again."
A These famous words were uttered in a monumental speech by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, as it approached midnight on Aug. 14, 1947
This year on Aug. 15, when the Indian flag is hoisted above the Red Fort in New Delhi, what will be going on in the hearts and minds of young Indian Americans born in the United States? What does India's Independence Day mean to them? For some it is a time to reflect on their culture and heritage, and for others it offers a celebration of the arts and music at various community events. But for some, Independence Day, with its haunting images of the bloodshed during partition, brings bittersweet memories, and a select few are even indifferent to the historic event
"India became ruled by its own people and thus could develop its own identity," said Keshav Khanijow, 21, a recent college graduate from Fremont, Calif. "I like to think of August 15th as the birthday of our national Indian identity."
Indian Independence Day also causes many young Indian Americans to reflect on their roots and what the nation of their parents' birth has gone through since gaining freedom from colonial rule
"For me, India's Independence Day is about celebrating our roots. Our roots makes us who we are," said Jignesh Gandhi, 25, a consultant from New York. "I think it's pretty amazing that a nation with so much poverty, lack of education and sectarianism could sustain a democracy for over 60 years
This day commemorates our ancestry, struggles, triumphs and future."
Having been brought up some 8,000 miles away from their parents' homeland does have an effect on how some young Indian Americans feel about Indian Independence Day
"Growing up in the U.S., India's Independence Day hasn't had a tremendous impact on me. It's just another day," said Neil Wadhwani, 26, an MBA student living in Atlanta, Ga. "If I am reminded of the day, I usually say a prayer."
While some Indians born in the Unites States experience a diluted sense of connection with India, the Indian population in the United States continues to rapidly grow. Younger Indian Americans are starting to show an unusually strong sense of pride and express that growing up in larger Indian communities has helped foster this pride
"I celebrate the Fourth of July more heavily, though, because we get that day off here," Wadhwani said, referring to the American Independence Day
"On August 15th, I am even prouder to be an Indian than I normally am," said Amit Shah, 20, a college student from Chicago. "I wear an India flag Tshirt that day!" Not all young Indian Americans had an all-positive outlook on the day. Many revealed that Independence Day caused them to reflect mostly on the partition of united India that occurred as the British left the subcontinent
"As a member of the Sindhi community, Independence Day has a bit more meaning for me," said Amrita Chabria, a 22-yearold student from Boston. "Sindh became entirely a part of Pakistan and my family lost their homeland."
Snehal Shingavi, 33, a Professor of English in Austin, Texas commented on the injustices that come to his mind on
this day. "india was [before] a single country. new rulers used new power to suppress the rights of minorities to their independence from india and pakistan
some of the most violent clashes ever between hindus and muslims occurred during partition. over one million people died in the ethnic cleansing that took place during the largest population transfer in world history."
certainly, the religious clashes that led to partition are remembered and affect how young indian americans think about independence day today
"i think indian independence day feels more like a hindu independence day. there are strong religious overtones," said saiee shevade, 21, a physical therapy student from princeton, n.j. "we lost a part of ourselves when we created pakistan and i think this makes the day bittersweet."
some young indian americans were able to provide an unusual perspective on indian independence day from the standpoint of india's cultural heritage and artistic traditions
"indian independence day is pretty significant for me mainly because our culture is so rich and i marvel that we have been able to maintain our culture through colonial rule, and even in the diaspora," said fiza najeeb, 21, a college student from pleasanton, calif. "every year on indian independence day, my parents visit the homes of other indian americans and i usually join in."
"i think our freedom from british rule was awesome because it was a catalyst that made the arts accessible to a mass audience," said anisha muni, 24, a kathak student from flushing, new york. "post-independence kathak, specifically, was no longer limited to court dancers, and was opened up to students and art aficionados from all sections of indian society."
many young indian americans cited that they felt that people needed to learn more about the indian independence movement and indian history, in general. in addition to participating in the arts, the arts were also helpful in educating muni at an early age
"i learned a lot about indian history by watching the tv series, "bharat ek khoj," with my father when i was a kid," muni said
bollywood has proven to be equally helpful for some, in this regard
"i gained much of my knowledge of the indian independence movement from bollywood films, like ‘rang de basanti' and ‘lagaan,' " said trishna punjabi, 27, who works in marketing in new york
"for me, indian independence day represents a meaningful dichotomy. it represents a simultaneous progression into modern times and preservation of old south asian culture. we could preserve our culture because we were now in control," said romeo dasgupta, 25, an accountant from queens, new york. "during the time of indian independence, things were very tumultuous, but it was an era that gave birth to many great personalities."
nearly all young indian americans could cite gandhi and the famous dandi salt march as important to the indian independence movement
however, there was a surprising level of awareness of the usually lesser known figures and events of the freedom movement, demonstrating the effect of the increasing indian communities all over the united states
generally, interest in south asia is on the rise around the united states both academically and in popular culture
many young indian americans stated as their local indian communities grew and as they gained more indian friends, they became more interested in their own history. college groups also play a crucial role in engaging young indian americans in celebrating indian holidays and traditions
"i began to embrace an indian identity more in my 20s as i made more indian friends," said zulfikar musliwala, 25, a senior accountant from flushing, new york. "i really like it."
"my whole academic career is centered around india and the rest of south asia," said komal garewal, 21, a college student from middlebury, vt
"i'm joining my parents for our local festival this independence day for the first time in a long time!" said sonal mukhi, 30, a training consultant from san francisco
most young indian americans said there were festivals going on locally this saturday and that they would be participating
notably, many were actively seeking to create a more diverse and culturally rich atmosphere than in years prior
"there is a local india day parade which i hope will honor india's diversity and tolerance by letting all indian americans, including gay indians, march in the parade," jignesh gandhi said
"my parents have always observed indian independence day by participating in local activities," muni said. "this year, we will be doing community outreach for the u.s. census."