"What if identity is exclusively ethnic and not national at all?" (R. Radhakrishnan, 121). A contested concept brought to light in R. Radhakrishnan’s exploration of ethnicity in an age of diaspora. The query itself implies a rigid dichotomy between ethnicity and nationality; it probes the reader to wonder whether these concepts belong in conjunction with one another or merit opposing entities of their own. In R. Radhakrishnan’s dissertation, Ethnicity in an Age of Diaspora, he asserts that migrants of different generations undergo different experiences, thus enabling them to possess varied understandings of their ethnic identity; an identity that is dynamic and probable to change. Consequently, this is significant in allowing all generations
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Radhakrishnan begins his exploration of identity through recalling an incident where his son questioned him about his own identity. His son probed, "Am I Indian or American?" (R. Radhakrishnan 119). This brings forth the concept of what it means to be Indian while in diaspora. In this case, the diaspora present is the relocation from home. His son, as seen in the text, being young and impressionable, seeks his father's judgement as he is still building his own understanding of identity at his age. R. Radhakrishnan tells his son that he is both Indian and American, however, his experience as compared to his father’s, is already illustrated to be a dissimilar one. Whereas, R. Radhakrishnan refers to himself as an Indian citizen living in America as a "resident alien" (R. Radhakrishnan 120), his son is already associating himself with an American identity by the simple question he posed. Furthermore, R. Radhakrishnan’s depiction of himself as a "resident alien" signifies a distinction between his identity as Indian and resident status as American, seemingly identifying more with the former. Nonetheless, he not only suggests, but he understands that his son will have quite a different experience pertaining to identity than he has had. His son will grow up in an American neighbourhood and identify himself based on what he experiences, which will consequently cause him to have a differing understanding of his ethnic identity; corroborating that different generations of …show more content…
Radhakrishnan questions whether or not an identity that is exclusively ethnic will even survive in current day and age where "ethnic cleansing" holds predominance (R. Radhakrishnan 121). The diaspora manifested via the relocation from “home" presents the question; will nationality prevail and ethnicity become a thing of the past? R. Radhakrishnan further scrutinizes this dichotomy through his narrative of ethnicity in the United States. He holds that initially immigrants suppress their identity in order to assimilate into the American culture and make themselves more attractive in the face of opportunity and success in a new “home” (R. Radhakrishnan 121). This explicitly underlines the concept of assimilation and simultaneously the volatile identity of a new Indian immigrant, deeming it as one that is dynamic. R. Radhakrishnan suggests that new Indian immigrants are reborn as American citizens that are ethnic minorities, and this itself will give one a different experience as compared to an “Indian” born in America. Thus, R. Radhakrishnan’s exploration of what happens to ethnicity when moving from home and relocating is the key premise upon which it is demonstrated that the ethnic identities in diaspora become open to change. This is significant and holds meaning for both the younger and older generations as what it means to be Indian becomes open to redefinition within the diasporic community of
Radhakrishnan begins his exploration of identity through recalling an incident where his son questioned him about his own identity. His son probed, "Am I Indian or American?" (R. Radhakrishnan 119). This brings forth the concept of what it means to be Indian while in diaspora. In this case, the diaspora present is the relocation from home. His son, as seen in the text, being young and impressionable, seeks his father's judgement as he is still building his own understanding of identity at his age. R. Radhakrishnan tells his son that he is both Indian and American, however, his experience as compared to his father’s, is already illustrated to be a dissimilar one. Whereas, R. Radhakrishnan refers to himself as an Indian citizen living in America as a "resident alien" (R. Radhakrishnan 120), his son is already associating himself with an American identity by the simple question he posed. Furthermore, R. Radhakrishnan’s depiction of himself as a "resident alien" signifies a distinction between his identity as Indian and resident status as American, seemingly identifying more with the former. Nonetheless, he not only suggests, but he understands that his son will have quite a different experience pertaining to identity than he has had. His son will grow up in an American neighbourhood and identify himself based on what he experiences, which will consequently cause him to have a differing understanding of his ethnic identity; corroborating that different generations of …show more content…
Radhakrishnan questions whether or not an identity that is exclusively ethnic will even survive in current day and age where "ethnic cleansing" holds predominance (R. Radhakrishnan 121). The diaspora manifested via the relocation from “home" presents the question; will nationality prevail and ethnicity become a thing of the past? R. Radhakrishnan further scrutinizes this dichotomy through his narrative of ethnicity in the United States. He holds that initially immigrants suppress their identity in order to assimilate into the American culture and make themselves more attractive in the face of opportunity and success in a new “home” (R. Radhakrishnan 121). This explicitly underlines the concept of assimilation and simultaneously the volatile identity of a new Indian immigrant, deeming it as one that is dynamic. R. Radhakrishnan suggests that new Indian immigrants are reborn as American citizens that are ethnic minorities, and this itself will give one a different experience as compared to an “Indian” born in America. Thus, R. Radhakrishnan’s exploration of what happens to ethnicity when moving from home and relocating is the key premise upon which it is demonstrated that the ethnic identities in diaspora become open to change. This is significant and holds meaning for both the younger and older generations as what it means to be Indian becomes open to redefinition within the diasporic community of