Comments on: An American from India..! http://waternoice.com/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/ Online magazine for Indian Americans in the Bay Area Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:31:19 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Krishna http://waternoice.com/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Krishna Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:26:46 +0000 http://waternoice.us/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/#comment-58 Nativity is not something that can be switched by taking an oath, no matter however hard one may try. Neither watching movies, reading books would help. It will live on in your belief and value systems, linger on in the food you like, the way you eat,live and raise a family. While making the most of the unparalleled opportunities that America has to offer, remember to give some back too. You'll be doing India a lot proud that way. All the best ! Nativity is not something that can be switched by taking an oath, no matter however hard one may try. Neither watching movies, reading books would help. It will live on in your belief and value systems, linger on in the food you like, the way you eat,live and raise a family. While making the most of the unparalleled opportunities that America has to offer, remember to give some back too.

You’ll be doing India a lot proud that way. All the best !

]]> By: Deepa http://waternoice.com/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Deepa Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:13:32 +0000 http://waternoice.us/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/#comment-47 Most Indians I know take on American (or the friendlier neighbour 'Canadian') citizenship for purely practical reasons. With the dual citizenship option in place at least within Commonwealth nations, it is now easier for most non-resident Indians to taken on a second identity. I believe that one doesn't have to have an Indian passport in order to be patriotic and uphold Indian values. Indians (read politicians!) living in India, holding Indian passports are causing far more damage to the nation than the diaspora of NRIs often accused of perpetuating the brain-drain. That being said, my Indian passport is still very dear to me. No doubt, it is merely a few pieces of paper that confirm my nationality to the rest of the world. But to me it is more than that; it gives me a sense of security, permanence and belonging. And hope too. I may take on a second nationality for practical reasons and respect that nationality for the purpose it serves, but I am very clear about where my loyalties are. Tell me if there is one Indian with all his/her adoption of foreign culture and identity who has not been moved to tears upon listening to the Jana Gana Mana, and I shall take back my words. Reminds me of the famous…‘You can take an Indian away from India, but never India away from an Indian’ and AR Rahman’s evocative ‘Tu chaahe kahin jaaye, tu lautke aayega’ from Swades. On another note, it is now making me wonder if it is unfair to your adopted country when you vow to defend and protect her through lip service only? Most Indians I know take on American (or the friendlier neighbour ‘Canadian’) citizenship for purely practical reasons. With the dual citizenship option in place at least within Commonwealth nations, it is now easier for most non-resident Indians to taken on a second identity.

I believe that one doesn’t have to have an Indian passport in order to be patriotic and uphold Indian values. Indians (read politicians!) living in India, holding Indian passports are causing far more damage to the nation than the diaspora of NRIs often accused of perpetuating the brain-drain. That being said, my Indian passport is still very dear to me. No doubt, it is merely a few pieces of paper that confirm my nationality to the rest of the world. But to me it is more than that; it gives me a sense of security, permanence and belonging. And hope too. I may take on a second nationality for practical reasons and respect that nationality for the purpose it serves, but I am very clear about where my loyalties are. Tell me if there is one Indian with all his/her adoption of foreign culture and identity who has not been moved to tears upon listening to the Jana Gana Mana, and I shall take back my words. Reminds me of the famous…‘You can take an Indian away from India, but never India away from an Indian’ and AR Rahman’s evocative ‘Tu chaahe kahin jaaye, tu lautke aayega’ from Swades.

On another note, it is now making me wonder if it is unfair to your adopted country when you vow to defend and protect her through lip service only?

]]> By: abhai http://waternoice.com/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-46 abhai Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:12:52 +0000 http://waternoice.us/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/#comment-46 Good Article. We should have a blog or something on this. Get different people take on this. If I may pick the phrase from FOX News - SoundOFF. Abhai Good Article. We should have a blog or something on this. Get different people take on this. If I may pick the phrase from FOX News – SoundOFF. Abhai

]]> By: Rajesh Kumar http://waternoice.com/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Rajesh Kumar Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:12:08 +0000 http://waternoice.us/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/#comment-45 Pdot....talking of yet another war??!!! Pdot….talking of yet another war??!!!

]]> By: Mohan http://waternoice.com/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Mohan Wed, 04 Jul 2007 18:03:04 +0000 http://waternoice.us/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/#comment-16 Good for you. And good for India. Good for you. And good for India.

]]> By: vpdot http://waternoice.com/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-3 vpdot Wed, 04 Jul 2007 16:57:49 +0000 http://waternoice.us/2007/07/04/an-american-in-india/#comment-3 I became a citizen last year too and discovered that not every new citizen among my friends shared my enthusiasm for taking on the responsibilities of citizenship. One even suggested that I mutter 'Saare Jahaan se Achcha ' under my breath while the 'Star Spangled Banner' was going on. Many of us are deeply ambivalent about renouncing our Indian citizenship, doing it as a matter of practicality( bringing the parents over, not having to get business visas for many countries) but feeling as if they have betrayed their motherland. The question that brings their new status home starkly is 'Do you promise to defend this country against all others?' Well, should there be a war between India and the US ( god forbid) exactly where will we all stand? The answer that springs first to mind should tell us what citizenship means to each one of us. I became a citizen last year too and discovered that not every new citizen among my friends shared my enthusiasm for taking on the responsibilities of citizenship. One even suggested that I mutter ‘Saare Jahaan se Achcha ‘ under my breath while the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ was going on.
Many of us are deeply ambivalent about renouncing our Indian citizenship, doing it as a matter of practicality( bringing the parents over, not having to get business visas for many countries) but feeling as if they have betrayed their motherland. The question that brings their new status home starkly is ‘Do you promise to defend this country against all others?’
Well, should there be a war between India and the US ( god forbid) exactly where will we all stand? The answer that springs first to mind should tell us what citizenship means to each one of us.

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