IAGB Community Conversation
Biren Agarwala
1. Can you share a memorable moment when you felt a strong sense of belonging in this country?
The United States of America is a unique country, which has embraced talents from all over the world and created an environment for creativity and success. I felt proud as an immigrant American when I was accepted as a naturalized citizen with dignity and respect.
2. What is your favorite custom/tradition that you hold on to even after living in this new country for long?
Although an immigrant from a different part of the world, I can freely practice my culture and religion my own way. Every year I would gather with my friends dressed in my traditional outfit and worship Devi Durga in my own way and also participate in many traditional culture and religious ceremonies.Although I am an immigrant, I can maintain my cultural and religious identity here without any interruption.
3. What do you miss most about your home country?
Yet, I do miss my original homeland, specially, my relatives and childhood friends who had been part of my memories and upbringing. This has been a unique experience in my life.
Debabrata Biswas
1. Can you share a memorable moment when you felt a strong sense of belonging in this country?
When I moved from India to the US to live with my daughter in 2012, we were in a very distressed financial condition. My granddaughter, barely five went to school without wearing snow boots and snow jacket as we could not afford those for her. On Christmas Eve a gracious lady from Burlington senior center came to our doorstep with a huge bagful of Christmas gifts which included two pairs of snow boots and two warm winter jackets for our granddaughter. I still don’t know how she knew about our plight. From that day on I started to respect and love this country I reluctantly migrated to and felt a strong connection to it.
2. What is your favorite custom/tradition that you hold on to even after living in this new country for long?
To celebrate Bijoya Dashami, the last day of Durga pooja by exchanging greeting with family, friends and relatives and distribute homemade sweets to them.
3. What do you miss most about your home country?
I missed the street foods ok Kolkata, local vegetables and fish markets where I can buy fresh vegetables and a variety of small, live sweet water fish; my extended family and circle of friends and most of all the great “adda” involving intellectual discourse at the Calcutta Coffee House.
Jayasri Biswas
1. Can you share a memorable moment when you felt a strong sense of belonging in this country?
Ans: I remember the day when my daughter called 911 for her dad/ my husband for a pressing medical emergency. I was surprised to see an ambulance, 2 fire trucks and 2 police cars flashing red, blue & white lights, with a team of people ringing my doorbell within five minutes of the call, while the first responder was still on the phone with me giving instructions to my daughter about what to do. I had never felt that kind of reassurance and faith in my life. It invoked a great sense of belonging to the country.
2. What is your favorite custom/tradition that you hold on to even after living in this new country for long?
Ans: My favorite custom which I hold on to my heart very dearly is Durga Puja which is celebrated in a very different way here than it is in Kolkata.
While in Kolkata the festivities last almost a month, starting from Mahalaya to Bijaya Dashami and Lakshmi Puja, here in the US, it is celebrated over a chosen weekend, Friday to Sunday. I look forward to that time of the year here!
3. What do you miss most about your home country?
Ans: I miss the signature sweets of Kolkata – both at the well famed sweet shops as well as freshly made sweets at my neighborhood “Mishtir dokan”. I also miss the company of my childhood school friends and relatives. I treasure how they invite me over for delicious meals and greet me with great excitement every time I visit Kolkata.
Julie Chatterjee
1. Can you share a memorable moment when you felt a strong sense of belonging in this country?
Ans.: Yes when I was allowed to study Information Systems despite having a degree in English and having a liberal arts background. It opened up doors of opportunities for me and boosted my confidence. I got my first job in Cisco Systems as a Dev. Test Engineer and now work as a Delivery Head for multiple accounts in TCS. America gave me wings to fly.
2. What is your favorite custom/tradition that you hold on to even after living in this new country for long?
Ans.: My favorite custom and tradition that I hold on to dearly is Durga Puja. Although I’m agnostic, for me Durga Puja is a celebration of empowered woman. I love and respect empowered women. I dress up to the hilt and enjoy the days of celebration with passion!
3. What do you miss most about your home country?
Ans.: The street food from Kolkata and the street junk jewelry shopping. The prices on line are so high! So every time I visit India I go on a street food eating and shopping spree. I miss the streets of my homeland!
Madhuparna Sen
1. Can you share a memorable moment when you felt a strong sense of belonging in this country?
Ans.: When I attended People of Color and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion conferences here and understood the common issues that affect and bind so many in this country and the awareness that needs to be raised and worked on throughout the diaspora here to make this country more tolerant and inclusive for ourselves and our future generations.
2. What is your favorite custom/tradition that you hold on to even after living in this new country for long?
Ans.: Durga Puja celebrations with our Bengali community here which we very much look forward to celebrating with our friends here annually. It is our biggest festival of the year, and nothing comes closer to the grandness and nostalgia of the Durga Puja festivities here!
3. What do you miss most about your home country?
Ans.: I miss my parents, old friends and relatives left back home – they are all so far away! I often wish I could have more in-person time with them. I also miss the fresh food, fresh daily cooking and of course the special hospitality that is so typical to India.
Maitreyee Chakroborty
1. Can you share a memorable moment when you felt a strong sense of belonging in this country?
When I first moved to the US, I felt like a foreigner, an alien in a new planet. Until three months later when my very old Ford Pinto car gave up on me in the middle of a busy intersection. I was nervous and frantically tried to figure out what happened. A young man walked to me with a purposeful smile on his face and offered to help. He greeted me with folded hands saying ‘Namashkar.’ He made the engine start. I cannot forget the welcoming kindness in his eyes and I felt this rush of joy, the very first feeling of belonging to this beautiful nation.
2. What is your favorite custom/tradition that you hold on to even after living in this new country for long?
My favorite tradition is donning a sari and wearing a bindi. In the folds of the 6 yards I find my birthplace. Bindi ties me to my mom and aunts who taught me how to be confident in being me.
Smita Unnikrishnan
1. Can you share a memorable moment when you felt a strong sense of belonging in this country?
Ans.: A memorable moment of a sense of belonging was after I delivered my first son. The doctors and nurses were so caring and super friendly and that combined with seeing my son and my husband near me was a blessing. Knowing that this is the country my son was going to grow up in made me feel a sense of belonging.
2. What is your favorite custom/tradition that you hold on to even after living in this new country for long?
Ans: The custom that I follow to date is lighting a lamp in front of God every evening and praying. It’s very soothing and cleansing and just helps you wind up the day with appreciation.
3. What do you miss most about your home country?
Ans.: When I think of India, the first thing that comes to mind are my parents, immediate family and childhood friends. Basically, miss everything about India..our culture, diversity, food and the ever smiling people no matter what hardship they are going through.