This project consists of Indian-American views of all aspects of life in the United States and India. Most interviewed in this project were born in India and came to America in search of better education, or because their spouse came for more educational and business oppurtunities. They discuss their reasons for immigrating to the United States, and their reasons for remaining to raise their children. They talk about the ways they practice Indian traditions and values in an American context and the importance of the larger Indian-American community in their lives. They also discuss advantages and disadvantages of living in America, and what they miss or don't miss about their homeland of India. Other topics discussed are educational background, work history, religion and religious practice, and raising children.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Bhatt, Jay
Bhola, Harbans
Joshi, Ramesh
Kapoor, J. M.
Khandelwal, Manjula; Khandewal, Pramod
Krishnan, Viswanath
Panchal, Nina; Panchel, Vipul
Pratap, Siddharth
Tumuluri, Vidyasagar
Interviewee: | Anonymous |
Call number: | 99-021 |
Date(s) of Interview: | February 24, 2000 |
Physical Description: | 26 pp.; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 70 minutes; index |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Restricted; Interviewee is to remain anonymous. Scholars need to obtain permission from interviewee prior to using interview in publication. |
Interviewer: | Sheehan, Steven |
The interviewee, born in 1959, was raised in an affluent family and community in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. From childhood, she had an interest in Eastern philosophy and religion and eventually did an MA and PhD in Zen Buddhism. After receiving her MA, the interviewee married her husband, and they spent several years in Bihar, India where he was employed by the state and she worked as a professor of Buddhism and logic. During that time they had two children. In 1990, the interviewee and her family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia where she again taught Zen Buddhism and her husband worked on his PhD. Presently, they live and work in Bloomington, Indiana. The interviewee is an independent scholar and devotes much of her time to researching Hindu and Buddhist female deities. Her husband, also a PhD, is a professor at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. As they've only spent a decade outside India, they still maintain many India-specific traditions, speak Hindi in the home, maintain an Indian diet, and follow the Hindu religion.
Allahabad University
Indiana University
Indic Society
University of British Columbia
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Bihar, India
Bloomington, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
religious studies professor
Eastern philosophy
Hindu goddess worship
Hinduism
Indian Independence Movement
Indian politics
Indian weddings
Santoshi Mata (goddess)
Western philosophy
Zen Buddhism
marriage customs
parenting philosophy
racial discrimination
symbolic logic
vegetarianism
Interviewee: | Anonymous |
Call number: | 99-011 |
Date(s) of Interview: | November 11, 1999 |
Physical Description: | 34 pp.; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 75 minutes; index |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Restricted: Interviewee wishes to remain anonymous. |
Interviewer: | Margolin, Amy |
Anonymous, currently a student at Indiana University studying public health, was born in Keralu, India and was raised in south Florida. Upon earning her degree she plans on obtaining a position in a cancer research facility in Florida in order to be near her family and to work with other Indian Americans. Anonymous maintains strong ties to her Indian heritage, and hopes to pass many of the values, traditions and customs she has learned from her parents onto her children. Anonymous' family are Jacobite Christians and anonymous currently attends St. Paul's Catholic Church in Bloomington, Indiana. During the interview she spend some time discussing American and Indian view of religion and the different ways the cultures practice religion. She also discusses the racial discrimination she has encountered in the Midwest that she never felt while living in Florida.
Indiana University
University of Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Kerala, India
behavioral scientist
graduate student
Hinduism
Indian Christians
Jacobite Christianity
cancer research
multilingualism
naturalization
preventative healthcare
public health
racial discrimination
vegetarianism
Interviewee: | Anonymous |
Call number: | 99-022 |
Date(s) of Interview: | March 15, 2000 |
Physical Description: | 18 pp.; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 50 minutes; index |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Restricted: Interviewee wishes to remain anonymous |
Interviewer: | Sheehan, Steven |
Anonymous was born and raised in Hyderabad, India. After earning a medical degree, she entered the profession in India, but she did not enjoy it. On the encouragement of her family and friends she moved to Texas to further he medical education and has remained in the United States ever since. She discusses her experiences in India as a professional woman. She talks about the difficulties of adjusting to live in American. She speaks of the ways she has adapted to American culture and how she tries to incorporate Indian activities into her American lifestyle.
Chicago, Illinois
Hyderabad, India
Indianapolis, Indiana
Portland, Oregon
Texas
Hinduism
Indian medical profession
Indian music
Interviewee: | Bhatt, Jay |
Call number: | 99-013 |
Date(s) of Interview: | January 11, 2000 |
Physical Description: | 32 pp.; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 80 minutes; index |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Open |
Interviewer: | Sheehan, Steve |
Jay Bhatt, born 1975 in Elkhart, Indiana, is a first generation Indian-American. He descends from a Gujarati family. Although he has visited India five or six times, he does not really follow Indian "pop" culture, such as Hindi film and music, He does profess a deep interest in Hinduism, and identifies himself as a devout follower. In the interview Mr. Bhatt talks about maintaining Indian traditions and values in the United States, the compromises he has had to make, and the differences between the ways Indians born in India and Indians who are born in America identify with Indian culture.
Indiana University Asian Culture Center
Indiana University Indian Student Association
Ahmedabad, India
Chicago, Illinois
Elkhart, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Dandia Ras
Diwali
Gujarati culture
Hinduism
Indian student associations
dating customs
immigration
Interviewee: | Bhola, Harbans |
Call number: | 99-017 |
Date(s) of Interview: | January 28, 2000 |
Physical Description: | 42 pp.; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 105 minutes; index; interviewer's notes |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Open |
Interviewer: | Margolin, Amy |
Professor Harbans Bhola, an education professor at Indiana University - Bloomington, was born and raised in Amritsar, India. He lists his father, Gurdial Singh Bhola who was an attorney and religious studies scholar, as the major influence on his life. Prof. Bhola has had a diverse career in the field of education, travelling the world for organizations like UNESCO to set up literacy programs. Prof. Bhola talks about his children, and the different ways they identify with Indian culture. Prof. Bhola discusses his plan to write his memoirs after he retires, and to start writing fiction and poetry as he did when he was younger.
Indiana University
UNESCO
Bhola, Gurdial Singh
Amritsar, India
Bloomington, Indiana
Delhi, India
education professor
Indian legal profession
Punjabi culture
Sikhism
joint families
naturalization
Interviewee: | Joshi, Ramesh |
Call number: | 99-012 |
Date(s) of Interview: | December 6, 1999 |
Physical Description: | 33 pp.; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 105 minutes; index; interviewee's business card |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Open |
Interviewer: | Sheehan, Steve |
Ramesh Joshi was born and raised in the Punjab state in northwest India. One of several brothers, Mr. Joshi was a member of a politically active family during the Indian Independence Movement. His father, Diwan Chand Joshi, was a spokesperson in Punjab for Independence. Ramesh Joshi earned an advanced degree in sociology in Punjab and then taught for a short time at a disadvantaged school near his home town. In 1971, Mr. Joshi married and moved to the United States to earn a master's degree in rehabilitation. While working at a variety of public administration jobs, Mr. Joshi had the opportunity to raise money in the United States to help rebuild his high school in his home town in India, which he is very proud of. Currently, Mr. Joshi is a hotel business owner and is heavily involved in the Indian American community in Indiana, community service activities in America and India, his family, and his career.
Gita Mandala
Goodwill Industries
Rotary Club
Joshi, Darveen
Joshi, Diwan Chand
Joshi, Manu
Joshi, Veenu
Franklin, Indiana
Mukerian, Punjab, India
Ohio
Punjab, India
hotel owner
public administrator
small business owner
Diwali
Indian Independence Movement
Indian community associations
Indian dance
Indian foodways
Indian music
Indian politics
Indian traditional dress
charity work
dating customs
hotel administration
local politics
marriage customs
multilingualism
naturalization
parenting philosophy
sociology
vegetarianism
volunteerism
Interviewee: | Kapoor, J. M. |
Call number: | 99-015 |
Date(s) of Interview: | January 18, 2000 |
Physical Description: | 31 pp.; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 120 minutes; index |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Open |
Interviewer: | Sheehan, Steven |
J. M. Kapoor was born in Uttar Pradesh, India. After earning an undergraduate and graduate degree in sociology in Lucknow, India, Prof. Kapoor was given the opportunity to come to Michigan State University to conduct research. He eventually was offered a job in Indianapolis and has remained there ever since. Prof. Kapoor enjoys living in the United States, especially the economic benefits, but does regret giving up his Indian citizenship and plans to spend more time in India when he retires. Prof. Kapoor give some of his American income back to social projects in India, mostly to fund health care for poor people. Although Prof. Kapoor still maintains many Indian traditions in America, he feels he did not work hard enough to pass those traditions onto his children. He discusses the history of Indian immigrants in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the different Indian community associations that have been in place over the years.
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Hyderabad, India
Indianapolis, Indiana
Lucknow, India
Uttar Pradesh, India
Gurudwara
Hindu-Muslim conflict
Hinduism
Indian Independence Movement
Indian community associations
charity work
domestic help
joint families
naturalization
parenting philosophy
philanthropy
racial discrimination
social work
vegetarianism
Interviewee: | Khandelwal, Manjula; Khandewal, Pramod |
Call number: | 99-016 |
Date(s) of Interview: | January 19, 2000 |
Physical Description: | 50 pp.; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 112 minutes; index |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Open |
Interviewer: | Sheehan, Steven |
Manjula and Pramod Khandelwal, both born in Agra, India, came to the United States in the late 1960s and have settled in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Khandelwals discuss their reasons for remaining in America, mostly because they feel India has become unsafe and unclean since they immigrated. They talk about the ways they maintain Indian traditions in America. The family is active in the Indianapolis Indian community association, and Mrs. Khandewal is a practicing Hindu. They also discuss the changes they see occurring in the Indian population within Indianapolis as it grows larger.
Brebeuf Preparatory School
University of Washington
Agra, India
Indianapolis, Indiana
Newark, New Jersey
Seattle, Washington
Hinduism
Indian Independence Movement
Indian community associations
Indian politics
acculturation
joint families
marriage customs
parenting philosophy
racial discrimination
vegetarianism
Interviewee: | Krishnan, Viswanath |
Call number: | 99-020 |
Date(s) of Interview: | February 21, 2000 |
Physical Description: | 14 pp.; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 35 minutes; index |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Open |
Interviewer: | Sheehan, Steven |
Viswanath Krishnan, a computer science major at Indiana University, Bloomington, was born and raised in India. He speaks of his decision to come to the United States to study, and his plans to work after graduation to save enough money to earn a master's degree and return to India. He discusses the relationship between Indian-born Indians and American-born Indians, and the difficulties of having an Indian student association that serves both groups. He also speaks of Indiana University's India Student Associations's relationship to other international campus groups.
Indiana University
Indiana University Asian Student Union
Indiana University Indian Student Association
Bloomington, Indiana
Delhi, India
Kerala, India
Madras, India
student
computer science
extracurricular activities
international students
Interviewee: | Panchal, Nina; Panchel, Vipul |
Call number: | 99-014 |
Date(s) of Interview: | January 12, 2000 |
Physical Description: | 33 pp.; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 70 minutes; index |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Open |
Interviewer: | Sheehan, Steve |
Nina and Vipul Panchal, born in 1972 and 1971, are Indian-Americans who met in medical school and have settled in Indianapolis, Indiana. Nina, born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana, discusses being an Indian child in an American context. Her parents forbade dating and sports activities and encouraged her to focus heavily on academics, especially science and medicine. Vipul, although born in India, was raised mostly in Detroit, Michigan. He discusses being a minority and the racial discrimination he experiences from his peers in school. The couple discusses the ways they try to bland their Indian heritage with their American lifestyle, and their relationship with their parents, who they feel are more traditional than they are.
Chicago, Illinois
Detroit, Michigan
Elkhart, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
physician
patriarchal societies
Hinduism
Indian community associations
dating customs
immigration
marriage customs
racial discrimination
Interviewee: | Pratap, Siddharth |
Call number: | 99-018 |
Date(s) of Interview: | February 11, 2000 |
Physical Description: | 21 pp.; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 50 minutes; index |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Open |
Interviewer: | Sheehan, Steven |
Siddharth Pratap was born in Babares, India in 1972 and moved to the United States when he was four. Mr. Pratap discusses his educational background in different cities in America, since the family moved around a lot when he was growing up. He started his undergraduate education in Georgia where he met his future wife. He then transferred to Indiana University - Bloomington, partially to be near his parents, who had moved to Indiana. Currently he and his wife are living in Nashville, Tennessee where he is pursuing a PhD. in biology. Mr. Pratap discusses his feelings of embarrassment as a child of Indian traditions, that he says has changed to interest as a young adult. He speaks of his marriage in India, which was a double ceremony, since his family is Hindu and his wife's is Indian Christian. Mr. Pratap also discusses the importance of passing on an appreciation of Indian culture to his children in the future.
Indiana University
Benares, India
Bloomington, Indiana
Nashville, Tennessee
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Hinduism
Indian Christians
Indian community associations
Indian weddings
racial discrimination
Interviewee: | Tumuluri, Vidyasagar |
Call number: | 99-019 |
Date(s) of Interview: | February 11, 2000 |
Physical Description: | 31 pp.; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 55 minutes; index |
Physical Location: | Interviews are housed in Weatherly Hall North, Room 122. Copies are also housed at the Indiana University Archives in Herman B Wells Library E460. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for the Study of History and Memory office. |
Access Status: | Open |
Interviewer: | Sheehan, Steven |
Dr. Vidyasagar Tumuluri was born and raised in Andhra Pradesh, India. He attended medical school in India, and in the late 1960s came to the United States for further study. His first residency was in Rhode Island, where he first stayed with a host family to help acclimate him to America. He eventually moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and is currently living in Carmel as a practicing hand surgeon. Dr. Tumuluri discusses his involvement in the Indian Association of Indianapolis, and his work establishing a Telugu association his native language. He discusses his children and the ways he has tried to pass on values and traditions that are important to him. He also speaks of his reasons for remaining in the United States to raise his family.
Carmel High School
Educational Commission of Foreign Medical
Graduates
India Association of Indianapolis
Telugu Association, Indianapolis
Andhra Pradesh, India
Indianapolis, Indiana
Newport, Rhode Island
hand surgeon
Indian community associations
Indian dance
Indian music
exchange families
medical school
parenting philosophy
vegetarianism