Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

COLUMN: Minority retort
By Jay Nargundkar
The Diamondback (U. Maryland)
01/24/2007

(U-WIRE) COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Are you a member of a student organization whose membership is based on sharing a common culture or religion? Based on the popularity of such campus groups as the Black Student Union and the Muslim Students Association, a large portion of the student body is either involved in or familar with a group that celebrates their unique heritage.

Shortly before winter break, I was talking to Kevin, a friend who is the president of one such group. He asked me whether I would be attending an upcoming bhangra dance competition, which he referred to by the event's name. It was unfamiliar to me. When Kevin (who is not of Indian ancestry) realized that I (someone of Indian ancestry) didn't know what he was talking about, he proceeded to gently rib me along the lines of, "Shouldn't you know about it, based on your ethnicity?" The whole incident would have been entirely forgettable had he not interjected, "You're just not very Indian!"

That remark set me thinking in a number of directions. In a literal sense, I guess you could say he was right — I was born in the U.S. and have been brought up here in a relatively American tradition. But Kevin was speaking more to my cultural background. Am I in fact an "inadequate" Indian because I don't like Hindi movies or attend bhangra shows? Certainly it seems far-fetched to draw conclusions about my ties to my ancestry based on two narrow segments of that tradition's pop culture. After all, I would counter that my knowledge of Indian history and religious tradition, as well as close ties to family who live or still have deep roots in India, have to count for something.

But given how the Indian culture is represented at this university by its affiliated student groups, it's no wonder that Kevin and others like him have come to indelibly associate quirky musicals and Panjabi MC with anyone who has brown skin and a difficult-to-pronounce last name. That's no knock on the various student groups at this school that undoubtedly put in a lot of effort to promote their culture. We know many students come to college and find a unique solidarity with others who share their race, ethnicity or religion. My point is that when those people come to believe - and convince others - that they possess a monopoly on their tradition's defining characteristics, or that their tradition is uniquely superior, it is cause for concern.

Consider the example of another friend of mine, Yusuf, who was in the same conversation I had with Kevin. When he declined to join a certain religiously affiliated student group, he says a few individuals actually questioned the sincerity of his religious belief!

Why should we all try to cling to our individual minority labels anyway? The idea of America is supposed to be about a melting pot where those labels are secondary to a unified identity. The ability to assimilate differences is a great strength of our country. That doesn't mean forgetting about the attributes that make us who we are - it means we should remember the things that make us similar are more important than the things that make us different.

To the various student organizations that may have taken offense at anything I have said in this column, know that I am not attacking the idea of your existence. I think it's great that you are helping each other learn more about your common heritage and promoting awareness of your culture to the public. Please be mindful, though, of the image you convey when representing that culture, and keep in mind the light in which you see your own culture.

Jay Nargundkar is a junior finance major. He can be reached at terpnews@gmail.com.

[ Back to Student Voices ]