Radhika gupta by Freestyle Academy

ICC Milpitas preserving a past, building a future

written & designed by Radhika Gupta

acknowledgments I would like to thank Freestyle Academy for providing me with all the tools to produce this documentary. I would like to thank all the teachers for their help with this project. I would also like to thank ICC for letting me feature them in this documentary.

table of contents PREFACE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPER 2

CHAPTER 3

CONCLUSION

preface As soon as I heard about the Documentary project at Freestyle, I knew I wanted to do a documentary featuring the Indian Community Center in Milpitas. As a second generation immigrant in America, I had struggled with finding a balance between my Indian roots and the “American” culture I found myself surrounded by. I always had a deep attachment to India, so maintaining that connection was very important to me. For minorities, finding a balance is important when living abroad. For Indians, people with such a vibrant culture, it’s hard to decide how much of their roots they want to keep and how much to abandon. ICC helps people of all ages find that balance. They integrate Indian culture and bring Indian values into the Western World. They help generate an appreciation of Indian culture amongst people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. As a second generation immigrant just trying to find myself, hearing about an organization like ICC really meant a lot to me. Through this project, I’ve learned a lot both about ICC and the nuances of the Indian Diaspora as well. I’m so grateful that ICC allowed me to make a documentary featuring them and I hope you enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed creating it!

introduction The first thing you hear is noise. Not loud, not over the top, but not quiet, either. A peaceful murmur. The second thing you notice is the smell, so rich, so fragrant. Like spices and old fabric and maybe a hint of jasmine. The colors are bright and vibrant. They hold whispers of a royal past, a rich history. But everyone knows it’s different here, in America. We’re not rich, we’re not royal. With our folded little green cards, we are the outsiders. We are the minority. We came here hopeful and full of dreams. Those little green papers are easily mistaken for tickets to a brighter future, a better life. Direct lines to six figure paychecks and 401ks. In bold letters: Permanent Resident. Here forever. Stuck. But ICC is different. With the colorful walls, the faint sounds of old Bollywood songs, the smell of kesar and elaichi, it feels different. Strange and almost unAmerican. It feels like home. ICC was designed as a haven of sorts for those of the Indian Diaspora (but it is not exclusively for Indians!). The Indian Diaspora is term used to describe people who have migrated from the Republic of India and their descendents. Non profits like ICC that work to keep culture alive are instrumental to a community that struggles with finding a balance. ICC helps people of all ages bridge the gap between their dual cultures. It’s become a second home for many people in the community. As the Indian influence spreads throughout the world, creative and recreational spaces targeted specifically towards Indians become increasingly important. ICC has grown with the globalization of Indian culture and it becomes a more popular community center every day.

CHAPTER one: history T

cialized and commodified in the West. he Desi Diaspora (Desi literally tant?”). Throughout time, certain aspects You know the saying lost in translatranslates to “my countrymen” in Hindi but is generally used of Indian culture have been commer- tion? That can almost be applied to to mean someone of South Asian descent) has been and continues to be one of the most significant diasporas. Statistically, people of the Desi Diaspora assimilate well economically but perhaps a little less so socially or culturally. “[The Indian Diaspora] is similar to many other recent immigrant streams that include disproportionate numbers of the highly educated. Yet [Indian expatriates] also bring with them a distinctive history and culture that differentiate them from many of their fellow immigrants” (Bacon, 7). More so than other Desi groups, Indians show a serious trend of taking their culture with them and refusing to let it go. Through the Diaspora, the “Throughout time, certain aspects of Indian culIndian community has affected art, ture have been commercialized and commodified literature, pop culture, the economy, in the West. You know the saying lost in translamedia, health, and much more! (“Why tion? That can almost be applied to this trend.” is the South Asian Diaspora Impor-

this trend. While we see certain ele- often manifests in community/cultural centers or various associations. ments of Indian culture making ICC Milpitas was founded in their way into the 2003 by the Godhwhani west (eg. yoga, brothers with the the color run purpose of provid- an event ing a platform that has for Indians clearly to celebrate been and raise inawareness about their culture. At first glance, ICC looks like any other non profit comspired munity center, by holi, but in reality, it’s bindis, so much more. With henna “tatits variety of programs, toos”, etc), they ICC is able to cater to a wide are often decontexdemographic of people. From chiltualized and stripped of dren to seniors and even non-Indians, their cultural significance (Sandu). While certain Indians are more ready ICC has become an important part of to appreciate the so called globaliza- the Milpitas and Greater Bay Area tion of their culture, many others feel community. There is not an unhappy moment they need a specifically Indian outlet for them to properly celebrate their at ICC. On any given day, there are heritage. This need for Indian interac- several people using the various fation combined with the emphasis put cilities and programs ICC provides. on the importance of community ties Some of these include the gym, the often leads Indians to form their own various ballrooms for rent, the speakclose knit communities abroad. This ers and artists ICC hosts regularly, 12

and much more! ICC also offers free legal and healthcare clinics for those in need! These facilities are not just limited to the Indian community, anyone can use them. In fact, ICC regularly hosts or lends out it’s facilities for weddings and parties for people of all backgrounds. They’ve hosted traditional Ethiopian weddings, Chinese and Taiwanese birthday celebrations & a couple quinceaneras, just to name a few. Pragati Grover, executive director of ICC Milpitas, says ICC is a “great place for people from different backgrounds to come…learn about Indian history, culture, music, art - it’s all offered under one roof!” She continues, “For a person to grow, they need to be open to other cultures and languages [these things] shape you, and really make you who you are”. ICC is a great place to do just this. The staff and volunteers work hard to help ICC stay true to its motto - unite, serve, and celebrate!

CHAPTER 2: SENIORs M

oving is always hard. Leaving everything behind and having to completely start over in a new place could never be easy. And it only gets harder to adjust with age. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many seniors of Indian descent. Many Indians come to the US at an older age, uprooting themselves from familiarity to emigrate to what their children have championed as the land of opportunity. So what specifically causes so many seniors to completely start over? The Indian community places a very high value on the importance of social relations, especially family ties. In the Indian worldview, “to remove a person…from the web of social relationships is to take away part of his or her identity” (Bacon, 19). This concept of staying close to or even living with your children or parents past a certain age seems so foreign to the average white, American family. But it’s quite common in various POC (people of color) communities to stay

close to your family, even if it means living with them after college and acquiring financial independence. As Aishwarya Rai, former Miss Universe and leading Bollywood actress and billionaire, so beautifully put it, “It’s fine to live with your parents because it’s also common in India that we don’t have to take appointments with

“In the Indian worldview, to remove a person . . . from the web of social relationships is to take away piece of his or her identity”

Grover, when asked about her assimilation experience, says “I feel as though I have assimilated quite well”, she smiles, “though my children may or may not agree”. She continues on to note the stark difference between emigrating in your 60s versus your 20s. She says, “I came here in my early 20s and I assimilated really fast because I went to school here, started working, [and could observe and absorb the culture]. Someone who comes here in their

our parents to meet for dinner” (qtd in Letterman, 2005). Normal or not, emigrating at a later age continues to prove to be a problem. Studies show seniors are at a higher risk of depression than any other expatriate age group (Mui and Suk-Young Kang). 17

sixties is most likely dependent on their child. […] The kind of independence they had in India, they’re not able to have here […] so loneliness becomes a

“They...became more lively...you could really programs, amongst see the glows on their faces because life, once others, had again, becomes meaningful for them” have a great

impact on and several events or small the senior organized activities for community at ICC. Dr. Sagar Sharma, them to attend. Some vice president of the senior program, of the more popusays he saw “lots of seniors coming lar ones include to ICC a little lonely or depressed games of “antak- but after [the seniors] participated in shari”, a popular these programs, their whole demeanIndian singing or changed! They […] became more game. The first lively. All kinds of things changed player will sing and you could really see the glows on a snippet of a their faces because life, once again, song and the feels so meaningful for them.” following player has a limited amount of time to come up with a song that begins with the last letter (or rather, sound in big hindi) the previous player probsang. lem” (Gro Another one of the more popuver). ICC’s lar events is the weekly talent show senior outreach program attempts held every Friday. Lovingly referred to combat this issue by providing to as, “Rang Manch” (रंग मंच) or “the programs that encourage seniors to theater”, this show allows seniors to interact with others and form connections and friendships that will last enjoy the company of others as both viewers and participants, sometimes a lifetime. even both! Some popular acts include Some of the programs ICC ofjoke telling, singing, dancing, even fers for seniors include yoga almost giving short presentations on topics daily, group discussions on various they’re knowledgeable about! These topics, dance, art, and music classes 20

o t g n i m o c e “We lov l l u f e c a l p e ICC, a saf ” ! s e i t i v i t c a of senior

l e t a P i t n a v a J & i a h -Bikub

CHAPTER 3: YOUTH

n addition to it’s senior community, ICC has a vibrant and active youth community. Their programs for the younger generation emphasize personal growth more so than cultural immersion and creating a sense of familiarity. In fact, their youth programs encourage people to challenge themselves and expose themselves to new experiences and activities. Some of the most popular and successful programs ICC offers for their youth are the summer camps. They offer a series of week long camps with a variety of focuses. They’ve got Bollywood, speech and debate and just about everything in between! Neha Anand, a high schooler who has been volunteering at ICC’s summer camps reminisces fondly about her time there, “when you [are there you see] everyone is happy to be there, the directors and all the aunties are also proud that you’re there...it’s nice and you feel like you wanna keep coming back...A lot of the counselors I worked with had been in the camps as children... and they came back later to be counselors. Which is nice because [they’re giving back]”. She noted that ICC’s summer camps in particular pull the widest age range (children in camps and the teen counsellors) and the most diverse groups as well because not all the camps have an Indian or even South Asian focus. One of the more popular year round facilities is ICC’s Table Tennis

Center, also in Milpitas. There’s a large concentration of South and East Asian kids that take advantage of this facility but people from all over use this facility. Grover mentions that “every time there has been a US representative at the Olympics for table tennis, they have trained at the ICC Table Tennis Cen-

ter”. ICC also offers a preschool and

daycare program for their youngest members. Though ICC’s welcomes people from all over, it often earns a special place in the hearts of Indian youth in the Bay area. Obviously there is a vast difference between the experiences of first and second generation immi-

grants. Evidence suggests a grow-

ing culture crash as “adults struggle to ICC is a place where children can it felt like there weren’t Indians here adjust to the way things are done [in learn about their heritage and connect but there’s actually plenty of people for America], while adolescents...become with people from similar backgrounds me to connect with..[and ICC was anacclimated with the more liberal culture who, typically, have had similar experi- other place] where I could reach out to they’re exposed to and [perhaps more ences as second generation immigrants. my roots but still keep a balance [with willingly] leave behind the culture of Meeting other people who’ve had simi- American culture] because I’ve experilar experiences creates a sense of com- enced both [cultures].” their homeland” (Collins-Smith). She feels that ICC, by raising This is in line with a larger phe- munity that then encourages immi- nomenon where Indiawareness an children typically about and lean towards struccelebrating tural/socioeconomic Indian culture has really assimilation and as helped her they grow older, drift have a deep back to more behavioral assimilation or rooted appreciation for acculturation. This her heritage basically means that and ancestry. children initially try The increased to completely shed exposure to their roots but eventually come back and Indian culture and the decide to retain their friendships traditional culture she’s made at while still practicing ICC have had norms and behaviors effects that of American society. will last a lifeGrover observes this time. Anand, particularly in teens like many other as she notes “I’ve noticed a cycle. I think “I think it really begins in their twenties, they want children of the it really starts in their Diaspora, feels 20s [because] in their to come back to their roots and rediscover them.” blessed that teen years they resist she’s grown up it, along with everything else their par- grant children to rediscover their roots with multiple cultures - that she has ents want to introduce to their kids. But without shame. Anand says that at a more than one place on the map that is in their 20s they want to come back to younger age she “felt like I was such a meaningful to her. their roots and discover them.” minority, that I was so exotic because 26

Taken at the ICC Table Tennis Center.

conclusion

Despite the fact that it’s only been around for a few years, ICC Milpitas has become a house-

hold name in the Greater Bay Area. As the community center’s influence spreads, it begins to matter beyond the Indian community. In a place as diverse as Silicon Valley, cultural hubs like ICC that allow people to learn about and expose themselves to various cultures are key.

Through its facilities and programs, ICC has made community center history! They’ve been

able to foster a space that caters specifically to South Asians, a highly underrepresented group, while successfully integrating people of several other ethnicities and nationalities. Through their mission to preserve a past while creating a future, ICC has truly struck a chord in peoples hearts.

ICC continues to raise awareness about issues both on a local and more global scale while

maintaining a certain element of fun. The dedication and hard work the staff puts in is apparent and a driving force that motivates a growing number of people to get more involved in the community center. ICC’s fusion of the old and the new creates multi-generational and cross cultural ties that really make it a second family for people all over the Bay Area.

works cited Anand, Neha. Personal interview. 8 Mar. 2015. Bacon, Jean. Life Lines: Community, Family, and Assimilation Among Asian Indian Immigrants. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1996. Print. Collins-Smith, Sean. For Indian Family, Adaptation and Assimilation in America. Virginia Commonwealth University, 11 Aug. 2011. Web. 8 Feb. 2015. Grover, Pragati. Personal interview. 24 Feb. 2015. Lal, Vinay. “Manas: The Future of the Indians in the Diaspora.” Manas: The Future of the Indians in the Diaspora. UCLA, 2010. Web. 9 Feb. 2015. Late Show With David Letterman. Columbia Broadcasting System. 8 Feb. 2005. Television. Transcript. Mehrotra, Meeta. Triple Outsiders? Gender and Ethnic Identity Among Asian Indian Immigrants. Diss. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State U, 2004. Blacksburg: n.p., 2004. Print. Mui, Ada C., and Suk-Young Kang. Acculturation Stress and Depression among Asian Immigrant Elders. National Association of Social Workers, 1 June 2005. Web. 31 Mar. 2015. Pavri, Tinaz. “Countries and Their Cultures.” Asian Indian Americans. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2015. Rao, K.V. “Diverse Origins and Destinations.” Indian Americans. UCLA Asian American Studies Center, 16 Feb. 2003. Web. 09 Feb. 2015. Sandhu, Sabeen. “Chapter 8 Instant Karma: The Commercialization of Asian Indian Culture.” Asian American Youth: Culture, Identity, and Ethnicity. New York: Routledge, 2004. 131-43. Print. Sharma, Sagar, Dr. Personal interview. 2 Mar. 2015. Venugopal, Arun. Asian Indians Are Slow to Assimilate. SAJA Forum. Manhattan Institute, 27 May 2008. Web. 8 Feb. 2015. “Why Is the South Asian Diaspora Important?” Who Are South Asians? South Asian Concern, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.

Radhika Gupta is 16 years old and a junior at Freestyle Academy. She currently lives with her parents and younger sister. She enjoys literature, dance, traveling, and basically any and everything Desi. In the future she hopes to pursue a career either in journalism or international relations.