South+Asian-India+Group

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__//**Culture**//__ Pavri, T. (2010). Asian Indian Americans. //Countries and their Cultures.// Retrieved on March 12, 2010 from: [] Asian Indians have permeated segments of the American economy and society all the while keeping their Indian Culture. Most Indian families try to preserve and keep their traditional values ans pass these ideas and beliefs to their children. Children are often encouraged to marry within the community in order to preserve their Indian Heritage. The occupational profile presented by the Asian Indian Community today, is a diverse one. a large number of Asian Indians are professional, other, own business or are employed as semi-or non skilled workers.Asian Indians in the United States is a diverse ethnicity group. According to this article, "one can distinguish among subgroups who trace their roots to different regions or states within India who speak different languages, eat different foods and follow distinct customs".Asian Indians have retained, in the United States their diet rooted Indian cuisine. In fact, Indian cuisine is prepared with a variety of spices including cumin, turmeric, chili, powder, ginger, and garlic. Indian Asians also eat a variety of lentils, beans and rice dishes. Traditional Indian cooking tends to be a time consuming process and Asian Indians in the United States, especially 2nd generation Asian Indians have developed shortcuts. Mechanical gadgets as well as canned substitutes. The evening meal still serves as the time when the family will get together to discuss their daily life activities. (Jenn)

Shapiro, M (2001). Asian Culture Brief: India. //NTAC-AAPI Culture Brief Series//,Vol. 2- Issue 4, retrieved on March 20, 2010 om: [] There are 1.7 million people in the United States who indeed identify themselves as Asian Indians or Indian Americans in the 2000 Census. Indian immigrants however, are not highly visible as a group in the United States because they tend to speak English. Indians are also highly educated people. They are perceived to assimilate to American culture, automatically through their educated. even among those Indians who do fit such profile, many also, maintain customs traditions and values acquired in India prior to immigrating to the United States. It is also, uncommon for Indians who have settled in the United States to bring aging parents to live with them who may not have previously lived aboard and not always speak fluent English. The role of the family in the Indian culture is that of a nuclear family, which is the basic unit of family organization in the immigrant population. It includes the male head of the hose, his wife and unmarried children. Some households may also include older parents or an unmarried brother or sister of the husbands or wife. These joint families are viewed as temporary, and as a result of family obligations and hospitality afforded to newly arrived immigrants. This article was very important in focusing on how Indian traditions have changed for Indians who are now living in the United States. This article, also reflected how important and tight knit, the Asian Indian family is. (Jenn)

Wedding Planning resources. (2009). // South Asians Wedding //. Retrieved from: [] Indian American, an Asian Indian refers to people of the ‘Indian Sub-continent’ descent: mainly India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The US Census bureau has officially created the term ‘Asian Indian’ since 2000, to represent the Indian Sub-continent people. According to the American Community Survey of the US Census Bureau, the Asian Indian population in the United States grew from almost 1,678,000 in 2000 to 2,319,000 in 2005: a growth rate of 38%, the highest for any Asian-American community. In 2005, the Indian American community became the second largest Asian community in the United States after the Chinese-American community, edging out the Filipino-Americans to third place. Asian Indians are most heavily concentrated in the following order: California, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Knowing that that percentage of Asian Indians is growing in the United States is important to understanding the potential dynamic in the classrom. (Kim) __**SES**__

NRIOL.com (2002) Challenges for Asian Americans in the 21st. Century. Retrieved on March 26, 2010 from [] According to the data collected by the United States census in 2000, of the 281 million people living in the united states, Asians made up about 4.3%. Within the Asian population, Indians are the largest group, after the Chinese and Filipinos. The Asian Indian population in the United States is, in fact, the youngest on average by about three years from the national population. Furthermore, Asian Indians in the United States, are the fastest growing ethnic group. They are also considered one of the wealthiest groups in America. Asian Indians tend to have a median income that is 70 to 80% higher than the native population. Asian Indians also have a high self employment rate. This article really focused on how large and influential the Asian Indian culture truly is. In reviewing numerous documents, it seems as Asian Indians, in many ways, stay out of the "lime light". They are very hard workers, and as reflected in the article, their wealth, truly, says it all. (Jenn)

Lai, Arguelles, (2003) Asian American History, Demographics and Issues, retrieved on April 15, 2010, retrieved from [] The education attained by Asian Indians far exceeds those of local populations for any given martial status or group. An important factor reveals that most Asian Indians allowed to emigrate to the United States have completed their bachelor's or master's degree. This selectively is an important factor to keep in mind since it contributes to high levels of education among Asian Indians Americans. Another important and relative factor is the difference in salary between Asian Indians males and females. In the 2000 census the average male salary was $40,551 compared to women who earned about $16,078. This truly reveals that among in the Asian American culture success and mobility is apparent but it does have its exceptions, and women seem to be that exception. (Jenn) //__** Language **__//

Melwani, L. (2004). // Tower of Babel. // Little India - Largest Indian Publication in USA. retrieved on 3-23-2010 from [|http://www.littleindia.com/news/123/ARTICLE/1569/2004-02-05.html__] America is known as the melting pot and thrown into the mix is a variety of languages other than English. The Indian languages of Hindi, Urdu, and Gujarati were ranked amongst the top 20 languages spoken at home in America. According to reports, the individuals who spoke a language other than English at home claimed that they spoke English very well. First generation immigrants are completely bilingual but there is a fear amongst the Asian-Indian community that second and third generations will not learn their native language, and it will be lost. Intercultural marriages are becoming more common and the native language is being lost along the way. I found this article interesting because it went beyond discussing the Asian-Indian languages but how the natives are attempting to preserve them in America. I learned that in their younger years Asian-Indians disregard their culture because they want to be everything American. But as they get older questions about their identity and who they are make them want to learn more about their culture, including their language. This article can help me stress the importance to my students of retaining ones culture and identity while acculturating into others. I could teach my students the importance of becoming bicultural in what is perceived as a monocultural country. (Sara)

Pavri, T. (2000). // Asian Indian Americans //. Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. retrieved on 3-20-2010 from [|http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3405800021.html__] Hindi is the official language of India and is spoken by about 30 percent of the population. The second most popular language is that of English. In addition, India has over 300 dialects. In America Asian-Indians can be located in a number of different states and each region speaks its own language. Hindi is spoken by the majority of Indian immigrants who arrive from northern-India. Tamil, Telegu, and Malayalam, are other languages that can be heard in America, spoken by immigrants from southern India. First generation Asian-Indians tend to speak their native language amongst their family, friends, and community. However, the majority are also able to speak English fluently. Second and third generations are able to comprehend the languages spoken by the first generations, but rarely do they speak it themselves. This link interested me because not only did it touch upon the language of Asian-Indians but also my other two areas of research; gender roles and religion. I found this article interesting because it described the language tendencies of Asian-Indians both in their country of origin and in America. I also liked how it described how Indian immigrants acculturate and assimilate into America in accordance with their language that they speak. This article would help me as a teacher because it gave me information on the language tendencies of second and third generation immigrants, whom would most likely be the students in my classroom. Knowing that this individuals may not speak their native language but can understand it would allow for cultural enlightenment amongst their peers. (Sara) __**// History //**__

Okihiro, Gary Y. (2010) // Asian Indian Americans //. US Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: [] The article goes through the long history that Asian Indian Americans have in the United States, like in most instances you have to know your past and history to know your future. They began immigrating in the eighteen century and were indentured laborers, while other came as slaves and then became indentured servants in 1780 emancipation bill passed. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries most came as migrant workers and were a part of the worldwide movement of labor and capital in the global marketplace. Political and economic conditions in India and in the Asian Indian global diaspora also influenced the migration of Asian Indians. Rising expectations following India's independence, especially among Indians seeking employment in government and the economy, led to a high demand for education. When India's economy was unable to absorb the educated, many chose emigration. After the 1980s, however, family reunification became their principal purpose for emigrating. This piece is especially important in knowing why this group emigrated to the United States and how the purpose changed from employment to family unification, because this shows us what is most valued to the Asian Indians Americans. It is crucial as educators we keep an open mind and try to family dynamic and its importance to the students and families. (Kim)

//__** History and Education **__//

Lal, V. (1999). // Establishing Roots, Engendering Awareness: A Political History of Asian Indians in the United States. Live Like the Banyan Tree: Images of the Indian American Experience, ed. Leela Prasad (Philadelphia: Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies. R // etrieved from: // h //[|//ttp://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Diaspora/roots.html//] Understanding the struggle of the Asian Indians in a more contemporary time period is of vital importance, they want to feel culturally relevant and see their face and values reflected in our society. In most recent history is has come lobbying takes the form of attempts to have ‘great’ Indians memorialized. A school has been named after Mahatma Gandhi in Jersey City, and the same town recently renamed a portion of one of its streets after Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the principal leader of the oppressed Dalit community and chief framer of the Indian Constitution. Statues of Gandhi are to be found in numerous American cities, including New York City and Atlanta, and the US Congress has recently approved the construction, for which the expenses will be borne entirely by the Indian government and the Asian Indian community, of a memorial to Gandhi in the diplomatic enclave of the capital city, not far from the hallowed grounds where are to be found the memorials to Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Washington. Having students see they culture and important and success reflect in their own living environment in important for their self-worth and confidence. (Kim)

__//** Education **//__ Asian American Federation of New York. (2004). // Census Profile: New York City’s Indian American Population //. Retrieved from: [| http://www.aafny.org/cic/briefs/indianamer.pdf] Education levels for Indians in 2000 were similar to or, particularly at the upper end of the academic ladder, higher than those for the general New York City population. Out of the city’s total Indian adult population (128,995), 27 percent (35,343) had not graduated from high school, compared with 28 percent of adults city-wide. Also, 13 percent (16,688) of all adult Indian New Yorkers had less than a ninth-grade education, compared with 15 percent of all city adults. At the high end of the educational spectrum, 51 percent (66,255) of Indian adults in New York City had some form of post-secondary education, compared with 48 percent of all city adults. The vast majority of Indian children in the city (86 percent, or 35,688) were enrolled in the New York City public school system, exceeding 79 percent of all New York City children. Theses statistics show and support that the Asian Indian American populations are enrolled in school and continuing with their education. They have a higher percantage of children enrolled in Public school showing that they want their children to have an education. (Kim)

__**// Religion & Beliefs //**__


// This is a the Hindi symbol Om //// (or Aum), that signifies God //// Creation, and the One-ness of all creation. //// Hindi //// is official language and Hinduism the official religion of India. //

Net Industries. (2010). // Asian-American Families - Religion and Cultural Values //. Retrieved on 3-20-2010 from [] The Asian-Indian community has many different religions which are practiced both in their homeland of India and here in the United States. The most common of these religions include Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, and Islam. Although each of these religions carry with them their own set of beliefs and values, they also share a set of similar beliefs, such as their holistic worldview. For example. the Asian-Indian culture does not believe in individualism. Rather, an individuals status is based upon that of his or her parents. Therefore, all individuals are not seen as being created equal which creates a system of social inequality. This article interested me because it played upon the Asian-Indian’s belief that “social relationships are the building blocks of society” which can be both agreed and disagreed upon from an American perspective. As an American, and as an individual, I have been taught that it is good to be your own person and not to be a follower but at the same time I have learned that it’s not what you know but who you know. This article can help me in my future endeavors as a classroom teacher when working with Asian-Indian children because it can help me understand their viewpoint on classroom equality. Although we teach students that everyone should be treated equal, an Asian-Indian student may be learning at home, through their parents, that everyone is not equal and that certain individuals are higher up than others due to social relationships. Therefore they should be treated differently. This is something that I would need to consider when addressing classroom equality amongst all, such as how to put it into perspective for these individuals without offending them because of their religious beliefs. (Sara)

Sharma, A. (2007). // The Big Indian Wedding - What to Expect //. NJ Wedding.com New Jersey’s Wedding Planning Resource //. // retrieved on 3-23-2010 from [|__http://www.njwedding.com/southasianweddings/big_indian_wedding.cfm__] With so many different Asian Indians now living in America, there is a very diverse system of religious beliefs. Each state, religion, and culture has its on perspective on an Indian wedding. One thing that they all have in common is that they are very over the top, elaborate, and fun celebrations. Most of these Asian Indian weddings that occur in America are based on or around the Hindu marriage. Other marriage ceremonies are based include the Indian Muslim wedding, the Sikh wedding, the Parsi wedding, and even the Christian wedding. Whatever Indian religion the ceremony follows they each last for several days. This article interested me because it explores the different type of wedding ceremonies that Asian-Indian partake in while living in America. The author made note that many ceremonies are composed of inter-faith and inter-culture which add an even more diverse touch. I think that this article can help me by informing me on not only the different practices of religion but how the individuals involved prepare for their special day. Being an elementary school teacher, I can broaden my students perspectives by bringing this information into the classroom rather than focusing on the traditional weddings that take place in America. This will be especially helpful if and when I have an Asian-Indian student in my class so that I can connect with them on their religious faith as well. (Sara)

media type="youtube" key="CiDnaN6Yn74" height="385" width="480" This link is to a youtube video that portrays both the ceremony and the reception of beautiful and traditional Indian wedding.

__**// Gender Differences //**__

Hanlon, R.L. (2010). // India’s Views on Gender Roles //. Helium. retrieved on 3-20-2010 from [|http://www.helium.com/items/1014741-indias-views-on-gender-roles__] The reality of the situation is that women face everyday oppression in India, and although feminists have been coming forward for greater equality, the majority of Indian women live in the shadow of men. An Indian woman’s main purpose in life is to take care of her husband and provide him with offspring. Her attitude must remain submissive, never questioning, yet always alert and attentive to her husbands needs. Living in a male dominated society, Indian women work alongside their men but receive no credit or gratitude. And although India does not have the best healthcare practices, the women have even worse healthcare then the men. Perhaps what disturbs me the most is that women are far less likely to get an education than the men. In fact, women who have an education are frowned upon and often face negative social consequences, because “the role of the female is to reproduce and education is not needed to perform this duty.” This article interested me because it shocked me to read how women are still facing such severe degrees of oppression in their homeleand. At the same time it enlightened me about the female role in education. To me an education is important wether you are a girl, boy, gay, straight, white, black, and so on. Perhaps the reason that the cycle of female oppression continues is because not enough women and standing up for their rights to an education. This article can help me when I am teaching so that I can understand why an Asian-Indian girl in my class does not value education, or acts as if school is not important. At the same time I can attempt to open her eyes to the value of a good education and also all the significant female role models from the past as well as the present. (Sara)  //__**Arts & Literature**__//

Khorana, M.G. (1993) Break Your Silence: A Call to Asian Indian Children;s Writers, Library Trends, Vol. 41, No. 3 retrieved on, March 27, 2010, from [|http://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/785/librarytrendsv41i3f_opt.pdf?sequence=1] Asian Indians have been ignored in accounts of American history. They have also been ignored or forgotten in literature, especially in children's literature. Indian literary output in America is not as high because of the number of Indians writing in English is so small. This however seems to be changing. Asian Indians have begun to put in writing their cultural beliefs and struggles. It is important to enhance knowledge of India as well as provide an understanding of the early phases of a literature developed by a specific immigrant group. Asian Indians have remained silent on the experiences of settling in the west coast. It is the children of these settlers who are now third and fourth generation Americans who write about the pain, loneliness, triumphs and humiliation and the courage and contributions of their Indian ancestors. This truly states why Asian Indians have been so quiet and slow to come out with their story. In reviewing this website, it is these third and fourth generation Indian's who will shed light to this culture that seems to not want to come into the light. (Jenn)

Macro Graphics Pvt .(2005). // Painting: Evolution of art in India //. // Creative Arts //. Retrieved from: [] India has rich arts and culture and span centuries this websites travels the span of time and shows how exceptional the Art culture is. For example, inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent have known the art of painting since prehistoric times. The earliest Indian paintings are believed to be those of the Bhimbetka caves in Madhya Pradesh. The caves depict paintings belonging to the Paleolithic (10,000 BC), Mesolithic (5000 BC) and the Chalcolithic (2000 BC) periods. These paintings depict the everyday lives of the people who lived during those times. Painted geometric designs and symbols had also been found on pottery items belonging to the Indus valley civilization. Also, Indian literature is generally considered as one of the oldest in the world. India has 22 officially recognized languages, and a huge variety of literature has been produced in these languages, down the centuries. Indian literature comprises both oral and written forms. Understanding the importance of the arts in this culture is crucial to understanding how students will relate to subjects in class. (Kim)