Americanization - Losing Identity - II
Since there was so much to write about this, I chose to write a blog instead of comment on my previous post.
One of the commenters opened a topic about some companies demanding western/professional decorum even in chennai. Fair enough given that companies are visited by foreign based clients and one has to be in an international setup than Indian. Fortunately most companies are ok wth Salwar Kameez as a formal attire. But this need has given rise to new class of woman called " Jean Clad Janaki". With bindi on her forehead, jeans and a flashy top and some flowers she typically fits an extreme south cum western look. Worser thing happens when she speaks. Used to make me think ' God can't she work on her English ? God can't she sound original ? CAn someone teach her how to dress ? " . With no offence intended, I fell many girls back in India, specially in South can undergo a makeover and spend sometime grooming themselves, their dressing sense and most importantly their English. A girl may not be interested in clothing too much, but a minimal amount of concern is a must, especially when she is representing a new face of India.
Coming back to US, a friend talks and walks like Americans. She throws huge luncheon party on thanksgiving day with vada, payasam etc, she does NOT watch Indian movies and further she pronounces dilute/ anti as "Dailute/ Antai", like how americans pronounce. That is yet another genre. Another distant relaitve married an American and now he CANNOT speak good tamil. 10 years fo stay here has converted his lifetsyle and his tamil is gone for good ! Sad, very sad !!!!
There is brighter side too. Many Indians still learn vedas, teach their kids various arts, interact well in Indian communities and feel proud of themselves. Hope they spread in number and teach the rest.
Many indians intend to return to India someday from US. I just pray god, that they have enough discerning power to decide on what to take from here and what to leave.
One of the commenters opened a topic about some companies demanding western/professional decorum even in chennai. Fair enough given that companies are visited by foreign based clients and one has to be in an international setup than Indian. Fortunately most companies are ok wth Salwar Kameez as a formal attire. But this need has given rise to new class of woman called " Jean Clad Janaki". With bindi on her forehead, jeans and a flashy top and some flowers she typically fits an extreme south cum western look. Worser thing happens when she speaks. Used to make me think ' God can't she work on her English ? God can't she sound original ? CAn someone teach her how to dress ? " . With no offence intended, I fell many girls back in India, specially in South can undergo a makeover and spend sometime grooming themselves, their dressing sense and most importantly their English. A girl may not be interested in clothing too much, but a minimal amount of concern is a must, especially when she is representing a new face of India.
Coming back to US, a friend talks and walks like Americans. She throws huge luncheon party on thanksgiving day with vada, payasam etc, she does NOT watch Indian movies and further she pronounces dilute/ anti as "Dailute/ Antai", like how americans pronounce. That is yet another genre. Another distant relaitve married an American and now he CANNOT speak good tamil. 10 years fo stay here has converted his lifetsyle and his tamil is gone for good ! Sad, very sad !!!!
There is brighter side too. Many Indians still learn vedas, teach their kids various arts, interact well in Indian communities and feel proud of themselves. Hope they spread in number and teach the rest.
Many indians intend to return to India someday from US. I just pray god, that they have enough discerning power to decide on what to take from here and what to leave.
Total Comments 2
Comments
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Hi,
Slowly the tables are turning around.... With rupee appreciating steeply and expected to appriciate further, it is going to be difficult for the Indians to og overseas.... Slowly, already people have started moving back to India....
But the craze of americanisation is still there.... It will take a long time to get out of our system.... But with the current generation, people dont want to move out of the country.... They dont mind visits, but want their roots to be in India....Posted 26th December 2007 at 05:06 AM by Vysan
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Dear Veda Sir, I am not in economics, but most of us taking it a credit that the value of dollar is going down and our rupee value is going up........and we are giving reasons that our economy is growing.......our stock is booming.....but here I would like to point out one thing that American economy is going downdue to heavy investment in wars (Iraq and Afganistan)......the per day expenditure in Iraqi war is much more than our one year growth of stcock market......
And if indian economy if growing why our great economist are not comparing the rupee value to POUNDS/EUROS........
Anyways, I am going away from the actual thread.
Hi Meen, really gr8 write up......enjoyed the JEAN CLAD JANAKI version of Indian ladies.....
Keep posting.Posted 11th January 2008 at 12:08 PM by Meeta
