We came to know Chetan Bhawgat for his books. I suddenly thought this : From 1980s to till date, some millions of young men and women from India went to US with different aims and objectives. Let us consider we are talking about 10,00000 young men and women [ educated, moderate to hi-skill, sexually active age-group, having passed some 18-25 years in India ] sample population. For the whole group, this was perhaps most striking cross cultural exposure.
Now, I ask myself :
Why dont we have any enduring cultural commentary in the form of a novel, a collection of essays, a film or anything that documents his experience ?
Where is the missing commentary ?
In contrast, a significant document of historical studies come from Traveller’s Tales. Consider Hi-eun-sang, Marco Polo, Al-Beruni, Iban-Batuta. Or the grand Encyclopeadia Indica compiled by British Administrators in India.
Here are some explanations given by my friend Saayan
1. The people had no time to consider this.
2. ALL the people went there with some objective and documenting cultural differences were not one among them.
3. Many went and found the niche which minimizes cultural contrast [ e.g a Punjabi living in Southhall, London or a Sylheti in Tower Hamlet ]
But is it possible to believe that a million strong group with all the possibilities of having been impacted by one of the greatest cultural impact of their lives could remain mute, dumb and nothing significant to tell ?
I doubt. I strongly doubt this.
Hence my uneasiness
Because, the only alternative left then is to conclude this : From circa 1980 to till date, India exported only those [ including people from IIT /IIM and other centres of learning ] who are, to the last man and woman, culturally passive and de-sensitized individuals ?
And a corollary : Indian young men and women who could manage to enter those institutions are the most in-authentic and counter-feit material, culturally speaking.
I am devastated.