taj mahal or mall?

Raised in the great Americas as an Indian, I occasionally had trouble assimilating. For me, in elementary school, there was always this one question that simplified approximately to "Taj Mahal or mall?"

Meaning: do I choose to embrace my Indian heritage, or conform to the norms of the dominant culture.

The answer wasn't so apparent at first and I continued to live this "double life". I thought assimilation meant sacrificing certain aspects of my culture and identity in exchange for societal acceptance. It made me think about how having two identities, two cultures, and two communities was bad. The cost of assimilation became more apparent to me in middle school, faced with stereotypes, I found myself grappling with the desire to fit in while holding onto the traditions that were an integral part of my identity. I began to think certain parts of me as a burden (which I very much don't anymore).

Yet, despite the challenges, Ive come to realize that assimilation isn't about erasing my Indian identity--it's about finding a balance between honoring my heritage and embracing the diversity of the world around me. As cringey as it may seem, my doubts have blossomed into confidence of my self-identity, and while occasionally unsure, I've also come to realize it's okay. 

Having two cultures is more difficult than people realize. I myself didn't realize this until I read Dumas's perspectives, and now, I see assimilation not as a one-way street, but as a two way dialogue between cultures. Now, if you ask me, "Taj Mahal or mall?", my answer would be "both".


Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 10, 2024 at 9:23 PM

    I like how how you talked about the difficulties of assimilation. Having two different identities or sides of you can be difficult. I think your allusion to the Taj Mahal and the mall was very humorous and it captured my attention right away.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 19, 2024 at 1:33 PM

    I like how you dissected the meaning of the question posed, "Taj Mahal or mall?", by writing what it actually means.

    ReplyDelete

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