A large number of Indian Americans are connecting with their roots by watering them with dollars.
I recently attended a unique event organized by UST, a US based company-owned by Indian American Sajan Pillai. It was a celebration of the successful completion of IT course by minority women. “This is the way to contribute effectively to the less privileged women’s empowerment and also to help reduce inequalities among the community,” Pillai said on the occasion. It struck as a very creative way of giving back as the training was offered free and everybody trained was employable at the end of the course.
For several decades our people have been coming to the US in search of jobs, fortune and better opportunities. Over a period of time Indians have emerged as the most prosperous and highly educated community that values family. They have received a lot here .The question is, are they giving back either to the host country or to India in any way?
Just like the UST event new stories of giving back by Indians are making news more frequently. A few weeks back Madhav Chavan was honoured by the Asia Society as the game changer. His educational non-profit organisation Pratham in India has done pioneering work in teaching reading, writing and arithmetic to unprivileged children. His is a fascinating journey of being a teacher in Houston to a social activist interested in making education accessible to every child in India is inspiring. His effort is supported hugely by American Indians by raising millions every year.
Quietly, giving back is becoming popular among Indian Americans. Every year reunion of alumni of Aligarh University Alumni is held and the former students who are now well established here decide the projects they will support at their alma mater. Similar reunions are held by the alumni of all IITs and IIMs. These gatherings now go beyond meeting and greeting. Typically, the Presidents, Directors or leading faculty from the parent institute are present and areas of collaborations are identified.
America is America because giving away matters here. All the major institutes, think tanks, universities, museums, halls and even parks named after people who have given away a part of their fortune. Bill Gates is a prominent example of ‘Billonthrophy’ in the US. The giving away statistics in the U.S. is shocking. 95.4 per cent of all household give to charity about US $ 3000 annually. Americans gave $ 335.17 billion in 2013.And notably it is the individuals who contribute the most.
Initially, Indians lagged behind as the first generation was busy consolidating their lives and working on economic security. As the community grows, becomes more prosperous and develops confidence it is becoming active in charity. They are slowly adapting to the culture of charity. The more progressive ones are actually laying a strong foundation.
The Indian philanthropy finds many expressions. Indian doctors, who form over 15 per cent of all the doctors in the U.S., through their organisation AAPI partner with various state governments in India. It offers expertise, sends equipment and arranges training, besides regularly organises camps for awareness on disabilities like diabetes, obesity and blood pressure.
Indian temples, mosques and churches are also moving ahead. They, besides preserving Indian culture and heritage, also provide social support and training. After September 11 and the hurricane Katrina, the Swaminarayan Sanstha, was one of the first organisations to come for assistance of the authorities. The Ganesh temple in Flushing teaches Indian languages, dance and music and offer counselling on many issues.
The second generation Indians are finding their own way of connecting with India. They are volunteering through activities such as teaching English, social work like cleaning and planting trees. Universities too are encouraging this actively through their internship programmes. A young student from New Jersey, Vikas Shah has developed a scheme to take a large number of youth to India as volunteers in rural and urban schools.
“The stories of poverty make me restless therefore I started this programme. For the pampered youth from the US, it is an eye opener and they return from India with new vision.”
Many initiatives have already taken root. Pratham, Children’s Hope India,Vibha, Raksha, Asha for Education, Association for India’s Development, Ekal Vidyalaya, India America Foundation have acquired large profiles. They cover causes such as health, education women’s empowerment, rural development, slum project and Children’s healthcare. Some organisations like Asia Initiatives that are relatively small are doing innovative work even in other parts of Asia and even in Africa.
The number of Indian-American giving donations is growing exponentially. Rajendra Velakutty donated 40 million dollars to a hospital in Detroit. Monte Ahuja 30 million dollars to University Hospital in Cleveland, Gururaj Deshpande and his wife donated 20 million dollars to MIT. There are many others like them now.
The trend is heartening. More imaginative programmes are likely to emerge as the Indian Americans with their new confidence start taking active interest in India.
India’s growing profile on the world stage and their desire to trace the roots shall play a part too.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review / by Satyasheel Nalanda / Novmeber 13th, 2014