My family left India 5 generations ago, in the late 1800s. We also had the “advantage” of being “separated” so our “Indian” culture was maintained. Most of us w

My family left India 5 generations ago, in the late 1800s. We also had the “advantage” of being “separated” so our “Indian” culture was maintained. Most of us who made it here and stayed were probably not from upper castes. But there always was a strong link and loyalty to the motherland at least until my grandfather’s generation. You can probably guess where I’m from. The first thing our people lost here was the language. Amazingly, Tamillians speak English in the fast-merged way Tamil is spoken but they speak absolutely no Tamil. Same goes for north-Indian language speakers. Now even the accent is being lost as the most superior accent in this country is obviously the one maintained by the ruling class (white). Then, clothing. Our traditional dress became considered inferior for everyday use and only gaudy dress for weddings and other functions remain. Now, my grandmother who looked after her father in law and changed his diapers on his deathbed is completely abandoned. She is so distraught because the generation of my parents is the first to break a pact that I assume goes back millennia in Indian culture; that children will care directly for elders (no old age homes). It’s interesting however that the social-religious aspects of Indian culture from the late 1800s have been quite meticulously maintained, although there is little impetus for philosophy. It is, however, still uncommon for Indian unmarried children to live with anyone other than parents. The first time I visited India I was completely abhorred, for many reasons. I was extremely sure that I am not an Indian. But after living there for many years I can say that most differences between the west and India in this regard comes from the importance in India of the group over the individual, a situation which (seems to me) to be reversed in the west. And there are deep cultural values which exist in me to this day which emanate from India and I have been lucky enough to realise. I have acknowledged that a large part of my personal life will be reconciling these two men that meet within me, the westerner and the Indian...