Indian American Communities in the Hoosier State 1999-2000

A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University Bloomington

Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002

Creator: Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory
Title: Indian American Communities in the Hoosier State
Collection No.: ohrc066
Dates: 1999-2000
Quantity:

Quantity: 12 Interviews

(Audio files, transcripts, and collateral materials )
Abstract: This project consists of Indian American views of all aspects of life in the United States and India. Most interviewed in this project were born in India and came to America in search of better education, or because their spouse came for more educational and business oppurtunities. They discuss their reasons for immigrating to the United States, and their reasons for remaining to raise their children. They talk about the ways they practice Indian traditions and values in an American context and the importance of the larger Indian American community in their lives. They also discuss advantages and disadvantages of living in America, and what they miss or don't miss about their homeland of India. Other topics discussed are educational background, work history, religion and religious practice, and raising children. This project was co-directed by Professor M. Gail Hickey of the School of Education at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne.
Location: Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030A. Contact ohrc@indiana.edu for more information. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University Archives. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language: Materials are in English
Repository: Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, Indiana 47405
Business Number: 812-855-2856
ohrc@indiana.edu
URL: https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu/

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains twelve interviews conducted over two years. The interviews range from 35 to 120 minutes. All interviews consist of audio tapes and typed transcripts.

Restrictions

Usage Restrictions:

The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier (pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript (deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview. Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University, Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].

Acquisition Information

Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.

Collection Inventory

Anonymous , November 11, 1999

No(s): 99-011

Physical Description: 34 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 75 minutes; index

Scope and Content Note: During the interview anonymous spend some time discussing American and Indian view of religion and the different ways the cultures practice religion. She also discusses the racial discrimination she has encountered in the Midwest that she never felt while living in Florida.

Biographical / Historical: Anonymous, currently a student at Indiana University studying public health, was born in Keralu, India and was raised in south Florida. Upon earning her degree she plans on obtaining a position in a cancer research facility in Florida in order to be near her family and to work with other Indian Americans. Anonymous maintains strong ties to her Indian heritage, and hopes to pass many of the values, traditions and customs she has learned from her parents onto her children. Anonymous' family are Jacobite Christians and anonymous currently attends St. Paul's Catholic Church in Bloomington, Indiana.

Indexed Terms:

  • Occupations:
    • behavioral scientist
    • graduate student
  • Places:
    • Fort Lauderdale, Florida
    • Gainesville, Florida
    • Hollywood, Florida
    • Kerala, India
  • Subjects:
    • cancer research
    • Hinduism
    • Indian Christians
    • Jacobite Christianity
    • multilingualism
    • naturalization
    • preventative healthcare
    • public health
    • racial discrimination
    • vegetarianism
  • Corporate Bodies:
    • Indiana University
    • University of Florida

Access Status: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information

Anonymous , February 24, 2000

No(s): 99-021

Physical Description: 26 pages; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 70 minutes; index

Scope and Content Note: The interviewee, born in 1959, was raised in an affluent family and community in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. From childhood, she had an interest in Eastern philosophy and religion and eventually did an MA and PhD in Zen Buddhism. After receiving her MA, the interviewee married her husband, and they spent several years in Bihar, India where he was employed by the state and she worked as a professor of Buddhism and logic. During that time they had two children. In 1990, the interviewee and her family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia where she again taught Zen Buddhism and her husband worked on his PhD. Presently, they live and work in Bloomington, Indiana. The interviewee is an independent scholar and devotes much of her time to researching Hindu and Buddhist female deities. Her husband, also a PhD, is a professor at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. As they've only spent a decade outside India, they still maintain many India-specific traditions, speak Hindi in the home, maintain an Indian diet, and follow the Hindu religion.

Indexed Terms:

  • Occupations:
    • religious studies professor
  • Places:
    • Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
    • Bihar, India
    • Bloomington, Indiana
    • Terre Haute, Indiana
    • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • Subjects:
    • Eastern philosophy
    • Hindu goddess worship
    • Hinduism
    • Indian Independence Movement
    • Indian politics
    • Indian weddings
    • marriage customs
    • parenting philosophy
    • racial discrimination
    • Santoshi Mata (goddess)
    • symbolic logic
    • vegetarianism
    • Western philosophy
    • Zen Buddhism
  • Corporate Bodies:
    • Allahabad University
    • Indiana University
    • Indic Society
    • University of British Columbia

Access Status: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information

Anonymous , March 15, 2000

No(s): 99-022

Physical Description: 18 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 50 minutes; index

Scope and Content Note: Anonymous discusses her experiences in India as a professional woman. She talks about the difficulties of adjusting to live in American. She speaks of the ways she has adapted to American culture and how she tries to incorporate Indian activities into her American lifestyle.

Biographical / Historical: Anonymous was born and raised in Hyderabad, India. After earning a medical degree, she entered the profession in India, but she did not enjoy it. On the encouragement of her family and friends she moved to Texas to further he medical education and has remained in the United States ever since.

Indexed Terms:

  • Places:
    • Chicago, Illinois
    • Hyderabad, India
    • Indianapolis, Indiana
    • Portland, Oregon
    • Texas
  • Subjects:
    • Hinduism
    • Indian medical profession
    • Indian music

Access Status: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information

Bhatt, Jay , January 11, 2000

No(s): 99-013

Physical Description: 32 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 80 minutes; index

Scope and Content Note: In the interview Mr. Bhatt talks about maintaining Indian traditions and values in the United States, the compromises he has had to make, and the differences between the ways Indians born in India and Indians who are born in America identify with Indian culture.

Biographical / Historical: Jay Bhatt, born 1975 in Elkhart, Indiana, is a first generation Indian American. He descends from a Gujarati family. Although he has visited India five or six times, he does not really follow Indian "pop" culture, such as Hindi film and music, He does profess a deep interest in Hinduism, and identifies himself as a devout follower.

Indexed Terms:

  • Places:
    • Ahmedabad, India
    • Chicago, Illinois
    • Elkhart, Indiana
    • Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Subjects:
    • Dandia Ras
    • dating customs
    • Diwali
    • Gujarati culture
    • Hinduism
    • immigration
    • Indian student associations
  • Corporate Bodies:
    • Indiana University Asian Culture Center
    • Indiana University Indian Student Association

Access Status: Open

Bhola, Harbans , January 28, 2000

No(s): 99-017

Physical Description: 42 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 105 minutes; index; interviewer's notes

Scope and Content Note: Prof. Bhola talks about his children, and the different ways they identify with Indian culture. Prof. Bhola discusses his plan to write his memoirs after he retires, and to start writing fiction and poetry as he did when he was younger.

Biographical / Historical: Professor Harbans Bhola, an education professor at Indiana University - Bloomington, was born and raised in Amritsar, India. He lists his father, Gurdial Singh Bhola who was an attorney and religious studies scholar, as the major influence on his life. Prof. Bhola has had a diverse career in the field of education, travelling the world for organizations like UNESCO to set up literacy programs.

Indexed Terms:

  • Occupations:
    • education professor
  • Places:
    • Amritsar, India
    • Bloomington, Indiana
    • Delhi, India
  • Subjects:
    • Indian legal profession
    • joint families
    • naturalization
    • Punjabi culture
    • Sikhism
  • Corporate Bodies:
    • Indiana University
    • Unesco
  • People:
    • Bhola, Gurdial Singh

Access Status: Open

Joshi, Ramesh , December 6, 1999

No(s): 99-012

Physical Description: 33 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 105 minutes; index; interviewee's business card

Scope and Content Note: Ramesh Joshi was born and raised in the Punjab state in northwest India. One of several brothers, Mr. Joshi was a member of a politically active family during the Indian Independence Movement. His father, Diwan Chand Joshi, was a spokesperson in Punjab for Independence. Ramesh Joshi earned an advanced degree in sociology in Punjab and then taught for a short time at a disadvantaged school near his home town. In 1971, Mr. Joshi married and moved to the United States to earn a master's degree in rehabilitation. While working at a variety of public administration jobs, Mr. Joshi had the opportunity to raise money in the United States to help rebuild his high school in his home town in India, which he is very proud of. Currently, Mr. Joshi is a hotel business owner and is heavily involved in the Indian American community in Indiana, community service activities in America and India, his family, and his career.

Indexed Terms:

  • Occupations:
    • hotel owner
    • public administrator
    • small business owner
  • Places:
    • Franklin, Indiana
    • Mukerian, Punjab, India
    • Ohio
    • Punjab, India
  • Subjects:
    • charity work
    • dating customs
    • Diwali
    • hotel administration
    • Indian community associations
    • Indian dance
    • Indian foodways
    • Indian Independence Movement
    • Indian music
    • Indian politics
    • Indian traditional dress
    • local politics
    • marriage customs
    • multilingualism
    • naturalization
    • parenting philosophy
    • sociology
    • vegetarianism
    • volunteerism
  • Corporate Bodies:
    • Gita Mandala
    • Goodwill Industries
    • Rotary Club
  • People:
    • Joshi, Darveen
    • Joshi, Diwan Chand
    • Joshi, Manu
    • Joshi, Veenu

Access Status: Open

Kapoor, J. M. , January 18, 2000

No(s): 99-015

Physical Description: 31 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 120 minutes; index

Scope and Content Note: Prof. Kapoor discusses the history of Indian immigrants in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the different Indian community associations that have been in place over the years.

Biographical / Historical: J. M. Kapoor was born in Uttar Pradesh, India. After earning an undergraduate and graduate degree in sociology in Lucknow, India, Prof. Kapoor was given the opportunity to come to Michigan State University to conduct research. He eventually was offered a job in Indianapolis and has remained there ever since. Prof. Kapoor enjoys living in the United States, especially the economic benefits, but does regret giving up his Indian citizenship and plans to spend more time in India when he retires. Prof. Kapoor give some of his American income back to social projects in India, mostly to fund health care for poor people. Although Prof. Kapoor still maintains many Indian traditions in America, he feels he did not work hard enough to pass those traditions onto his children.

Indexed Terms:

  • Places:
    • East Lansing, Michigan
    • Hyderabad, India
    • Indianapolis, Indiana
    • Lucknow, India
    • Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Subjects:
    • charity work
    • domestic help
    • Gurudwara
    • Hindu-Muslim conflict
    • Hinduism
    • Indian community associations
    • Indian Independence Movement
    • joint families
    • naturalization
    • parenting philosophy
    • philanthropy
    • racial discrimination
    • social work
    • vegetarianism
  • Corporate Bodies:
    • Michigan State University

Access Status: Open

Khandelwal, Manjula; Khandewal, Pramod , January 19, 2000

No(s): 99-016

Physical Description: 50 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 112 minutes; index

Scope and Content Note: Manjula and Pramod Khandelwal talk about the ways they maintain Indian traditions in America. The family is active in the Indianapolis Indian community association, and Mrs. Khandewal is a practicing Hindu. They also discuss the changes they see occurring in the Indian population within Indianapolis as it grows larger.

Biographical / Historical: Manjula and Pramod Khandelwal, both born in Agra, India, came to the United States in the late 1960s and have settled in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Khandelwals discuss their reasons for remaining in America, mostly because they feel India has become unsafe and unclean since they immigrated.

Indexed Terms:

  • Places:
    • Agra, India
    • Indianapolis, Indiana
    • Newark, New Jersey
    • Seattle, Washington
  • Subjects:
    • acculturation
    • Hinduism
    • Indian community associations
    • Indian Independence Movement
    • Indian politics
    • joint families
    • marriage customs
    • parenting philosophy
    • racial discrimination
    • vegetarianism
  • Corporate Bodies:
    • Brebeuf Preparatory School
    • University of Washington

Access Status: Open

Krishnan, Viswanath , February 21, 2000

No(s): 99-020

Physical Description: 14 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 35 minutes; index

Scope and Content Note: Viswanath Krishnan, a computer science major at Indiana University, Bloomington, was born and raised in India. He speaks of his decision to come to the United States to study, and his plans to work after graduation to save enough money to earn a master's degree and return to India. He discusses the relationship between Indian-born Indians and American-born Indians, and the difficulties of having an Indian student association that serves both groups. He also speaks of Indiana University's India Student Associations's relationship to other international campus groups.

Indexed Terms:

  • Occupations:
    • student
  • Places:
    • Bloomington, Indiana
    • Delhi, India
    • Kerala, India
    • Madras, India
  • Subjects:
    • computer science
    • extracurricular activities
    • international students
  • Corporate Bodies:
    • Indiana University
    • Indiana University Asian Student Union
    • Indiana University Indian Student Association

Conditions Governing Access: Open

Panchal, Nina; Panchel, Vipul , January 12, 2000

No(s): 99-014

Physical Description: 33 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 70 minutes; index

Scope and Content Note: Mr. Panchal discusses being a minority and the racial discrimination he experiences from his peers in school. The couple discuss the ways they try to bland their Indian heritage with their American lifestyle, and their relationship with their parents, who they feel are more traditional than they are.

Biographical / Historical: Nina and Vipul Panchal, born in 1972 and 1971, are Indian Americans who met in medical school and have settled in Indianapolis, Indiana. Nina, born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana, discusses being an Indian child in an American context. Her parents forbade dating and sports activities and encouraged her to focus heavily on academics, especially science and medicine. Vipul, although born in India, was raised mostly in Detroit, Michigan.

Indexed Terms:

  • Occupations:
    • physician
  • Places:
    • Chicago, Illinois
    • Detroit, Michigan
    • Elkhart, Indiana
    • Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Subjects:
    • dating customs
    • Hinduism
    • immigration
    • Indian community associations
    • marriage customs
    • patriarchal societies
    • racial discrimination

Access Status: Open

Pratap, Siddharth , February 11, 2000

No(s): 99-018

Physical Description: 21 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 50 minutes; index

Scope and Content Note: Siddharth Pratap was born in Babares, India in 1972 and moved to the United States when he was four. Mr. Pratap discusses his educational background in different cities in America, since the family moved around a lot when he was growing up. He started his undergraduate education in Georgia where he met his future wife. He then transferred to Indiana University - Bloomington, partially to be near his parents, who had moved to Indiana. Currently he and his wife are living in Nashville, Tennessee where he is pursuing a PhD. in biology. Mr. Pratap discusses his feelings of embarrassment as a child of Indian traditions, that he says has changed to interest as a young adult. He speaks of his marriage in India, which was a double ceremony, since his family is Hindu and his wife's is Indian Christian. Mr. Pratap also discusses the importance of passing on an appreciation of Indian culture to his children in the future.

Indexed Terms:

  • Places:
    • Benares, India
    • Bloomington, Indiana
    • Nashville, Tennessee
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Subjects:
    • Hinduism
    • Indian Christians
    • Indian community associations
    • Indian weddings
    • racial discrimination
  • Corporate Bodies:
    • Indiana University

Access Status: Open

Tumuluri, Vidyasagar , February 11, 2000

No(s): 99-019

Physical Description: 31 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 55 minutes; index

Scope and Content Note: Dr. Tumuluri discusses his involvement in the Indian Association of Indianapolis, and his work establishing a Telugu association his native language. He discusses his children and the ways he has tried to pass on values and traditions that are important to him. He also speaks of his reasons for remaining in the United States to raise his family.

Biographical / Historical: Dr. Vidyasagar Tumuluri was born and raised in Andhra Pradesh, India. He attended medical school in India, and in the late 1960s came to the United States for further study. His first residency was in Rhode Island, where he first stayed with a host family to help acclimate him to America. He eventually moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and is currently living in Carmel as a practicing hand surgeon.

Indexed Terms:

  • Occupations:
    • hand surgeon
  • Places:
    • Andhra Pradesh, India
    • Indianapolis, Indiana
    • Newport, Rhode Island
  • Subjects:
    • exchange families
    • Indian community associations
    • Indian dance
    • Indian music
    • medical school
    • parenting philosophy
    • vegetarianism
  • Corporate Bodies:
    • Carmel High School
    • Educational Commission of Foreign Medical Graduates
    • India Association of Indianapolis
    • Telugu Association, Indianapolis

Access Status: Open