Editorial
Front Page - Friday, June 18, 2010
India Association preserves, celebrates multi-culture with community
Erica Tuggle
Bhagwan Kripalani, Lokita Chandra and her daughter, Neelanjan Patri and Gurdeep Madan (left to right) are all committee members of the India Association of Chattanooga. This over 25-year-old non-profit, non-political organization works to preserve, promote and celebrate the multi-cultural aspect of India. All community members regardless of nationality or religion are welcome to join.
- Erica Tuggle
In the ‘70s, a group of young Indian men established an organization to keep in touch with each other. Over 25years later, the India Association of Chattanooga (IAC) is more than 300 families strong and is providing a forum for those of Indian origin, their children and every Chattanoogan to learn, preserve and share their culture.
The IAC organizes 10 events each year including major festivals of India such as Republic day/Sankranti, a harvest festival; Holi, a festival of colors; Independence Day and Janamashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, and Diwali, the festival of lights.
Rajul Soni, the head of the IAC committee, says these events help members remain in touch with their roots and allow the children of the families to be introduced to Indian culture and events since most of them have been born and raised in America. Locals are also invited to the events, which have included Indian music demonstrations at Culturefest, the Chattanooga Market and Riverbend.
Soni says the American friends of the IAC have especially enjoyed programs like Holi, and the food brought to these events. Their annual free showcase program, Diwali, in November at the Chattanooga State auditorium, is a good first exposure to the IAC, he says, as it is a three-hour long entertainment program full of music, dance and song performances.
He says, “The India Association plays as an anchor to bridge Indian and American cultures. Expatriates, like me, find this enjoyable to keep
celebrating Indian events. Our kids are able to connect the dots and understand where we are coming from. And the participation from our local American friends gives them a chance to get a glimpse into Indian culture and community.”
The group also stays active in the community with programs like health related lectures on diabetes and heart health provided by physicians of Indian origin. They have raised $10,000 for charities in India with their annual Cricket tournament they play with other cultural organizations. Members say they do this event because they love the sport, and it is something that binds them all. This year’s Cricket charity event will kick off on June 19 and run through July 31. More information on the event can be found by accessing http://cplcricket.com.
Member Neelanjan Patri says, “We just rally around them to help. It’s a simple thing that sets us apart, because we just do what we can to help society.”
One of the founding members of IAC, Bhagwan Kripalani, says the IAC constitution states that they are a non-profit, non-political organization with the primary purpose to serve the culture and education needs of the local Indian community. IAC seeks to preserve, promote and celebrate the multi-cultural aspect of India, provide a forum to exhibit our cultural talents and diversity and increase the understanding of India, Indian people and Indian culture in the community, he says.
The members say they want to include all nationalities and religions in their group because they hope to show the community that they wish to be an inclusive rather than exclusive organization.
Member Gurdeep Madan says the group gave him an opportunity to share his culture with his son: a culture that may otherwise have been lost in the hustle and bustle of assimilating with the American way of life.
Lotika Chandra, treasurer for the group, says, “It’s especially important our children are educated about the culture as well as the community. It also gives our children an opportunity to showcase what they have learned and perform it as a kind of recital.”
The group’s other function is to act as a buffer to the unpleasant stereotypes that many in the Indian community are exposed to, Patri says.
“When you are working in a specific area, people think we are out to get their jobs. But we are like anyone else,” he says. “We have embraced the culture and living here and identify as American citizens. But we are intent on being an American citizen and still not losing our cultural identity.”
He says they are working so their children will not have to fight the same stereotypes that their parents did.
“The easiest thing to do is to avoid the Indian nature so they won’t have to answer questions, and can live like everybody else to have a more peaceful life,” he says. “We are trying to educate them that we need to answer these questions, because this is where we are from.”
The group says that eventually they hope there will be a forum in Chattanooga for all international cultures to mix together and discuss their heritage so that more understanding of cultures can be exchanged between everyone. This would produce the results the IAC has been working for in developing a community within a community that is acknowledged and welcome. For more information on the IAC visit www.indiachattanooga.com/2010/.
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