Yes, but this is exactly the problem. I don’t identify with bhangra or hiphop. Why should I? I’m down with Bharatanatyam and Mozart. So, I’m ok, you’re ok, but–I’ve had far too many desis in the US try to download their bhangra and hip-hop stuff on me like I’m supposed to like it b/c I’m desi. I wouldn’t tell them they’re not desi b/c they don’t like Bharatanatyam and Mozart. So back off.

the reason bhangra has been big is cuz its open to experimenting

noones having a problem with singing in finnish

you have had bhangra being mixed with reggae

you even have heavy metal bhangra with bands like ludhiana

some smart tamil kid is probably gonna mix bhangra with bharatnatyam someday

Here’s an example that may serve as an analogy. When hiphop was birthed and started getting popular, it was very much a NYC/East Coast thing. Feeling that their “distinct” culture and voices were not heard, the compton folks weren’t whiny ass shits. they started putting their music out there, repping them. Then u had the hotlanters, and other folks from the south. what none of them did was wait around and whine like a pussy.

Why is it the punjabis problem that they love their bhangra so much to want to throw their hands in the air like they jus don’t care? what’s stopping u and other tamils from joining ur own dappangoothu band and performing? btw, dappangoothu is the correct comparison for a folk dance from the south and not bharatanatyam as the latter is classical, and doesn’t lend itself to party-sharty and as indication of baby-making ability as much as the koothu.

And, if you go to any idli-dosa place in tamil nadu, they serve puris and “parottas”. And all of it is considered south indian food. things have a way of being co-opted to a point where everything belongs to everyone.

Anyway. I was once like you–annoyed that my fellow South Indians were gravitating towards bhangra and watching hindi movies over ridiculously cheesy tamil movies. And then I realised all of them knew how to speak their languages, and secretly did watch tamil movies with their parents and had this whole South Indian world I wasn’t aware of. I think what Tamilian’s problem is that she’s afraid her culture isnt considered “cool”. Well, if you keep on saying that, it will be! Make it cool, woman!

I’m a proud, dorky, South Indian gal who loves Bhangra, Bollywood, Kollywood, and Tollywood. And the thing is, most of the South Indian kids I know are the same. We’ve all danced bharatanatyam at some point in our lives, and we’ve all been to our fair share of garbas/dandias.

Actually, now that I think of it, I don’t have the same problem Tamilian had growing up. It probably helps that I live in a Indian hotspot with a sizable number of North and South Indians–and the fact that I’m still in high school. I’m sorry that Tamilian has to feel that way, but know the tides are turning! Us southies are getting our time in the sun

Being Tamil has to do with ethnicity, culture AND linguistic identity. Growing up in America, you might take different parts of the last two (or not have any of those) but you would still, technically be Tamil regardless.

My point is more about what you consume– if you get hung up on what you should consume “as a Tamil” it becomes a little silly, doesn’t it?

And if people would like to think that all Tamilians in India/Sri Lanka express themselves in one singular way, than of course we would be doing a great disservice to people.

My point was that it is not something clear cut, such as “Tamils should eat this, Croatians should listen to that music, Germans should wear these clothes.” I think the ethnic-cultural-linguistic connections come more from your ties to people– family, friends, community, and your knowledge and interest to be informed and appreciate various things about the culture.

I am probably not speaking very clearly, as I am sort of just running with my thoughts (it is late, isn’t it?) but I just think Americans have this tragic ability to equate everything with ‘what kind of consumer are you?”. being part of ANY group becoming purchasing ‘the right’ items for the identity at hand. Get your special moisture wicking sun-proof mosquito repellent shirt and BAM you are an expert hiker. Buy some black clothes and spiky jewelery and you can now officially express your angst with the ‘preppie’ norm. Coming out? Cut your hair and buy some men’s clothes to properly express your lesbian-hood.

My argument is that what you consume does not make or change who you are (unless it is some crazy freakish thing– like “I buy corpses”, then of course that has some sort of moral implication attached to it.) But something like enjoying Bhangra or Bollywood? What does it really mean? Not too much. It’s pretty simple and straight forward. Maybe I sound all “Mr, Rogers” or whatnot, but isn’t is really more important to feel secure and happy with ourselves as a human being, or Tamil, or Croat or whatnot, rather than trying to ‘find’ some sort of identity outside of ourselves (i.e. in consumer goods/actions)?

Don’t get me wrong, I definitely went through that stage as well– I was miss “punk rock” in high school and had all the outfits etc to properly display my leftie political anger and rebellion against the mainstream.. I think most Americans go through that process with the current consumer climate. But I think it is good to learn and grow and at some point I realized that conforming to rebellion is kind of the same as conforming to the norm.

In the end, my identity probably hasn’t changed much in my life– still have the same morals and behavior, same way of interacting with the world (and of course, no one can change their upbringing and family)– but my outward appearance has– I don’t really feel the need to display who I am or what I believe through buying certain things. And I don’t try to evaluate whether or not I should or should not like something based on the Identity I wish/hope to have. I just, as I said before, try to be comfortable and secure in liking the things I like. Not everyone likes this, and many people will make assumptions about me and why I live the way I live, but hey, I can’t please everyone, right?

but that wasnt the point, was it? you said “No matter what you do, you are still Tamil. “. whcih reads to me as a statement about my identity, not my ancestry. and identities are as much created and molded, probably more so, than inherited.

I eat palachinke and povitica and enjoy Spingerle at Christmas because it was passed down in my family from my Croatian/German sides respectively.

But if I stop eating them and only eat “Bouche de Noel” it won’t make my ancestry suddenly disappear.

And no, unfortunately, I don’t think the alienation/emo angst will ever be done with. Someone always has something to feel alienated or angsty about. And before emo there were plenty of other especially angsty people. Maybe America should be known for it’s angst and inner turmoil.