Are there any realistic depictions of second-gen NRIs in Bollywood? - Page 3

Originally posted by: canuck-umz

You just reminded me how my grandpa (RIP) became friends with Upen's father. Both of them were in the same hospital ward or something years ago so they started chilling together. 😆

For a moment, I thought you were talking about the movie and I had to re-read it... haha seriously? That's hilarious. Upen is British, right? Were you there too? Did you bump into Upen? 😆

Originally posted by: Mahisa_22

Even people who wear western attire 90% of the time do poojas and stuff at home. Take me for example. I cannot remember the last time I wore salwar-kurta but I'm reasonably religious. As are all my friends. We all drink, smoke occasionally and go out and party, but at the same time we do poojas, keep vraths and know how to cook sabzis.

To each their own. I can only talk from my experience and what I've observed. Most of my friends as well, do Pooja on certain religious occasions as their parents arrange for that, but they all lean towards atheism or have an agnostic perspective.

I guess, it depends on parents on how much effort they put into inculcating and teaching the desi stuff to their children. In my family, the foreign born kids of my relatives can't survive on Indian food when they're here. They need their pizzas or Western food, (as their parents proudly announce) when they come to India.

So, I guess it depends on the family.

Originally posted by: Mahisa_22

It's good to know that your kids and their friends are so well-acquainted with their roots. But from what I've personally seen (and heard from the huge number of NRI friends/family/distant relatives😆), the kids are like coconuts, brown in skin, but American in terms of mannerism, social customs and gestures. 😆

Jokes apart, my mom now advises some of our family to stop trying to impose the native culture because it'll confuse the kids about your identity, and do more harm than good. 😳

As I see it, this is a very sensitive issue for second-generation kids. In their childhood, they are heavily confused between two nationalities (because at that age, they don't understand the difference between nationality and cultural identity). Their school tells them they are Americans and must adapt to and uphold the American way of life, and at home they are told something entirely different. So it confuses them and makes them rebellious. And most of the kids I see are fully American in every way.

What is the difference between Indian culture and American culture?? If one understands that...there will be no confusion....is it the food?....there are junk and healthy food in both the cultures...if your kid likes healthy American food ...let them eat it.....is it the way we greet our elders?? hum pair chhoote hain, namaste karte hain....they do handshakes, hugs and kiss.....as long as respect is there ...either way is fine...my kids follow the Indian way with Indian elders...American way elsewhere....is it the way we celebrate our festivals?? Festivals mostly depend on what religion you follow....Christians anywhere in the world will celebrate Christmas and go to Church....nothing to do with America...just like Hindus will celebrate Holi. Diwali and Muslims Eid in any part of the world...nothing to do with a country....why do people think that NRI kids are anymore confused than Indian kids?😆

Originally posted by: Mahisa_22

I don't think she made a conscious effort to run away from her roots. It's just her overbearing parents who constantly interfered in her life and made her rebellious.

Also, is there any rule that you need to love your indigenous culture? People should have to the freedom to choose what they identify as, both in terms of gender and other identity.

People have the freedom to choose what they identify as at least from what I know. Katrina in Namaste London was an OTT character and so were her parents. But if a second generation kid like her sticks their nose up and looks down on their own culture and where they came from, how will you name that attitude if not self-loathing?! You don't have to actively love it and go gaga over it but you need to respect where you came from too if you demand respect for your choice to be "British," don't you think?

Originally posted by: SmittenKitten

For a moment, I thought you were talking about the movie and I had to re-read it... haha seriously? That's hilarious. Upen is British, right? Were you there too? Did you bump into Upen? 😆

Lol yeah, I found it cute how these two elderly men became friends while they were in a hospital. Yeah Upen is British. I wasn't there lol. My brother told me this story. Not sure if he was present or not.

So did you go to an Ivy League school?

Don’t agree. I have seen many and when I say many, I mean vast variety of 2nd gen NRI kids whose parents originate from different parts of India.

90% of them know Indian culture and traditions and they follow at least 50% of it. Many ABCDs that I know take pride in being Indian descent. Some who has parents from different states of India, even try to learn both languages from Mom and Dad sides.
Only on IF I have seen ignorant ABCDs.

Originally posted by: SmittenKitten

People have the freedom to choose what they identify as at least from what I know. Katrina in Namaste London was an OTT character and so were her parents. But if a second generation kid like her sticks their nose up and looks down on their own culture and where they came from, how will you name that attitude if not self-loathing?! You don't have to actively love it and go gaga over it but you need to respect where you came from too if you demand respect for your choice to be "British," don't you think?

Did she ever actively bad-mouth India? I can't remember. If she did, then it's wrong, period. You have no right to disrespect anyone.

But she just wanted to live her life as an adult, and her dad was trying to baby her like Indian dads do. She never actively tried to pretend to be white or stuff like that. She was pretty neutral towards her roots-- no hate, no love.

I know some second generation NRIs whose pronunciation of my mother tongue is better than mine!

As SmittenKitten mentioned there is no one homogenous group.

Many of the observations I see of Indian kids here are from well to do families, where English is spoken at home, so much so that it's their mother tongue. But there are many many more kids in India who are much more steeped into our "culture". Just go to a village or a small town or a poor neighborhood in a metro to find them.

Coming back to interest in second gen NRIs about culture, again it depends. Some are fully whitewashed, especially if say one of their parents is white. Many though may show rebellion in their teenage years, but as they grow they're attracted back to their roots.

Language is a hit and miss. Most butcher the pronunciation, but then you'll find examples of kids speaking impeccable Hindi/other Indian languages as well!

Originally posted by: Mahisa_22

Even people who wear western attire 90% of the time do poojas and stuff at home. Take me for example. I cannot remember the last time I wore salwar-kurta but I'm reasonably religious. As are all my friends. We all drink, smoke occasionally and go out and party, but at the same time we do poojas, keep vraths and know how to cook sabzis.

If being religious is culture then it doesn't depend on the country ...it depends on the religion....an Indian Muslim or Indian Christian...won't do to the temple or follow the Hindu religious stuff....they follow theirs...does it mean they don't follow Indian culture?? Similarly...the Americans follow the religion they are from...they go to Churches, Mosques, Gurudrwara or Temples based on that....like I said before....it has nothing to do with Indian or American culture..it has to do with religion.