The most celebrated demographic dividend for India is its young population with an average age of 28 – close also to this author’s age. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Overseas Indian Day) presents an opportunity to celebrate another demographic dividend – the diaspora (Indian citizens settled abroad and also persons of Indian origin).
At 35 million, the Indian diaspora are a population the size of Malaysia, but as diverse as India. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrates this diaspora and its contributions. As I had highlighted in my speech at the Embassy of India here in Washington DC, on the last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Pravasi Bharatiyas (Overseas Indians) are not just cultural ambassadors of India but bridges between the culture they live in and Indian heritage. And much like anything Indian, there are 35 million ways to be the bridge.
Here in the United States, we often see Indians being the bridge eagerly. Last year’s Ganpati festival was one such occasion where this author saw not just local Indian leaders but local law enforcement, mayors, and representatives being invited to perform the puja at the communities’ Ganpati. One of the representations of who performs the puja is the respect accorded to the performer(s) by the community. Whether it is during Ganpati, Diwali or any other festival, local leadership being invited to participate is a valuable bridge to showcasing the diversity and richness of Indian culture.
Showcasing culture involves not just being the bridge, however. It requires patience and openness as well. Imagine the first Overseas Indian who would have gone to the mayor’s office in their region and invited the mayor for a festival. How would you explain Dussehra to someone who has never heard of it, let alone experienced it? How would you explain its significance? When one sees their non-Indian friends wanting to be respectful and involved but a little nervous about experiencing something Indian for the first time – how would you share traditions to address it? In all cultures, traditions and behaviors are usually so ingrained that we often do some subconsciously – as a matter of fact, rather than as a matter of learning.
This author is taking interest in asking these questions and is curiously exploring their answers, because every day and every festival brings new experiences. In that, it has been a blessing to be surrounded by friends, classmates, professors, colleagues and acquaintances, who have taken a genuine interest in learning about India. Being the bridge, with openness and patience to a culture, can offer countless opportunities to exchange stories, experiences, and even meals that celebrate authenticity and connection. This exchange often underscores how India’s vastness and diversity shape a unique lens through which we engage with the world.
Another way in which this demographic dividend shows is the ability to have authentic experiences practically anywhere. A friend of mine from Lithuania taught me the value of these authentic experiences. As I shared home-cooked bhindi (okra) made by my aunt with her during a meal, she shared how excited she was to be going to the Lithuanian embassy to have some authentic home-food.
Without realizing the scale-difference of India and Lithuania, I commented “oh are there no Lithuanian restaurants here”? Turns out, Lithuania is comparable in scale to my city of Pune… The conversation, many years ago, was my first insight into how used-to we, as Indians, can be to getting the authentic experience practically anywhere. Every Indian has an uncle and aunt who could go to any country in the world but will need to find at least one vegetarian Indian restaurant for one of their daily meals.
We take it as a given, yet we should take it as a blessing to find authentic Indian experiences everywhere, thanks to the diaspora and the communities they became a part of. For in so many cases, the communities too have welcomed expressions of Indianness. Cuisine is the easiest example, surely. But the authenticity with which one can celebrate Ganpati in the United States, Canada, Gemany, UK, Japan, Australia, and so on with members of the diaspora and likely some locals as well is the other demographic dividend worthy of celebration.
Showing Ganpati celebrations from around the world to my American friends was a similarly fascinating experience. All I had to do was show them my Instagram. As we saw all the stories of friends and family around the world posting photos of their Ganpati decorations, pujas and celebratory outfits, we saw the diversity not just of Indianness but also the local cultures that were also eagerly joining the festivities. I then shared notes with these friends and family on how they explained traditions, rituals and celebrations to the cultures of the country they are based in.
In celebrating the Indian diaspora as a demographic dividend, we recognize not just their contributions but their unique role as cultural bridges. Openness and patience in sharing traditions with the world creates spaces for mutual understanding, respect, and authentic exchange.
As India continues to make its mark globally, the diaspora is the representative to the Indian culture and its adaptability across borders. Whether through food, festivals, or friendships, patience and openness can go a long way in being the bridges to Indianness and recognizing this other demographic dividend for India!
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