Toronto, home to one of the largest South Asian community in North America, is referred to as Canada's economic engine.It's population is reflective of all the countries from where immigrants have come and made it their home.It boasts the most diverse of cultures and peaceful integration of various ethnic minorities with their majority counterparts.Soon this minority populace bleeding into the home turf ,spreading roots and sprouting new Canadians will be a healthy mix of east and west.Who said the twain shall not meet ? Mr. Kipling you stand corrected sir,just as you make us stand and wait at your namesake subway station here.
It is not uncommon for us to see how people of all nationalities speak their mother tongue and their offsprings follow suit.But as soon as they step out of their common circle of friends the language of communication switches. Is language then just a means of communication? Is it not a part of our identity any more?Does it not define our ancestory and culture and then it begs the question... does it matter? Who cares say some, as we are all here from various countries and in order to integrate we must adapt . Does adapting mean losing our identity like perhaps the melting pot of the United States or be a multicultural society like Canada? Canadians are so serious about this that multiculturalism is the law here. The multiculturalism act of 1988 called Bill C -93 makes the principle of racial and cultural equality, law. Inspite of this racism and discrimination still exists. How long does it take for a society ( lets say South Asian ) like ours to be accepted totally as an equal?v We may be the second or third generation ,own our homes ,pay our dues (taxes),be gainfully employed ,eat ,dress and talk like the next guy on the street yet be referred to as Indian ,Pakistani etc. This is the broader picture and perhaps springing from a phobia of losing jobs to the immigrants etc. a myth attached with every country allowing immigrants into their fold.
The worse that one can encounter is the discrimination or alienation by an existing immigrant towards a newcomer from their own motherland. " It hurts more" complained some one on the platform waiting with me, "when a desi pretends to be a non-desi to their fellow workers".I was stunned .Insulting, and shameful thought I. "No I swear ."came back the reply."Does my desire to hang out with desi people during lunch at work and speak in Punjabi/Hindi embarass them?"I am still reeling under the question of accusing stare that states that people who lived in foreign countries long do not like to mingle with their countrymen at work..Perhaps we do not notice it but it must happen for my source is still staring me in the faceI I tell him he can take comfort in knowing that he can now listen to desi music ,find desi food and have someone understand his language at any place in Toronto . People like us had it worse three decades ago. Pioneering desis fought battles on many fronts including discrimination associated with first generation immigrants. Integration is easier now as people understand and respect our country of origin.
I still wonder if this discrimination by a desi towards another desi exists.Is it a common phenomenon?. If so then what is the reason?. Are all foreign countries where desis have settled in stages experiencing similar problems? How can this be solved or at least not manifested as superiority by one generation of Indians over the other? As I leave the subway station I am dejected and disappointed that a city as vibrant and accommodating to newcomers like Torotno ,can still have people who harbour feelings of "not wanting to be perceived as a desi and me not wanna be hanging around desis just 'cause my parents are one "attitude. Sad.
-Poonam Gupta, Tornto
Courtecy: Times of India
It is not uncommon for us to see how people of all nationalities speak their mother tongue and their offsprings follow suit.But as soon as they step out of their common circle of friends the language of communication switches. Is language then just a means of communication? Is it not a part of our identity any more?Does it not define our ancestory and culture and then it begs the question... does it matter? Who cares say some, as we are all here from various countries and in order to integrate we must adapt . Does adapting mean losing our identity like perhaps the melting pot of the United States or be a multicultural society like Canada? Canadians are so serious about this that multiculturalism is the law here. The multiculturalism act of 1988 called Bill C -93 makes the principle of racial and cultural equality, law. Inspite of this racism and discrimination still exists. How long does it take for a society ( lets say South Asian ) like ours to be accepted totally as an equal?v We may be the second or third generation ,own our homes ,pay our dues (taxes),be gainfully employed ,eat ,dress and talk like the next guy on the street yet be referred to as Indian ,Pakistani etc. This is the broader picture and perhaps springing from a phobia of losing jobs to the immigrants etc. a myth attached with every country allowing immigrants into their fold.
The worse that one can encounter is the discrimination or alienation by an existing immigrant towards a newcomer from their own motherland. " It hurts more" complained some one on the platform waiting with me, "when a desi pretends to be a non-desi to their fellow workers".I was stunned .Insulting, and shameful thought I. "No I swear ."came back the reply."Does my desire to hang out with desi people during lunch at work and speak in Punjabi/Hindi embarass them?"I am still reeling under the question of accusing stare that states that people who lived in foreign countries long do not like to mingle with their countrymen at work..Perhaps we do not notice it but it must happen for my source is still staring me in the faceI I tell him he can take comfort in knowing that he can now listen to desi music ,find desi food and have someone understand his language at any place in Toronto . People like us had it worse three decades ago. Pioneering desis fought battles on many fronts including discrimination associated with first generation immigrants. Integration is easier now as people understand and respect our country of origin.
I still wonder if this discrimination by a desi towards another desi exists.Is it a common phenomenon?. If so then what is the reason?. Are all foreign countries where desis have settled in stages experiencing similar problems? How can this be solved or at least not manifested as superiority by one generation of Indians over the other? As I leave the subway station I am dejected and disappointed that a city as vibrant and accommodating to newcomers like Torotno ,can still have people who harbour feelings of "not wanting to be perceived as a desi and me not wanna be hanging around desis just 'cause my parents are one "attitude. Sad.
-Poonam Gupta, Tornto
Courtecy: Times of India
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