Letters

I do not think considering Sunita Williams as one of us has anything to do with our self- esteem. Rather it has to do with our openness to accept those with whatever level of Indian genetic material as one of our own (“Is Sunita Williams Really An Indian Idol?” by Shekhar Hattangadi, July 2007). Some day the limitation of having similar genetic material might not even be an issue.
It is no surprise that the definition of an Indian is changing. It is also no surprise that some of us tend to seek blessings from all around us. To some extent, it is kind of nice that we are the way we are. It is natural to think of Ms. Williams as an Indian as it is not too long ago that the world lost Kalpana Chawla.
I am sure people from other countries would do the same, without even thinking that they did not have any of their “own heroes.”
Laju K., Via email

S

hekhar Hattangadi’s column was really disappointing. Why shouldn’t Indians be proud of Sunita Williams? By DNA test, she is a half-Indian anyway.

When John F Kennedy visited Ireland, he was welcomed by the Irish as their native son, even though both his grand-parents were U.S. born! Most Americans identify themselves as Polish American, German American, Italian American, etc.

When Indian cricketer Roger Binny (first Anglo Indian to play cricket for the Indian team), who played a major role in India’s only World Cup win in 1983, went to England, British newspapers welcomed him as “Our Own Roger!” By what percentage is Roger English? He was born in 1955 in India, after the sun set on the British Raj. He had no “English Samskar” on him. He and his family still live in India. He was the highest wicket-taker (18 wickets) in 1983 World Cup. Still the British thought of him as “theirs.”
Let us not disown Sunita. She is ours!
Surendra Sukhtankar, Via email

I found the article on Sunita Williams extremely offensive. As the daughter of an Indian man and American woman I already face scrutiny in the Indian community despite my efforts to immerse myself in my culture. I am learning Punjabi, attend Gurudwara and make good roti, yet I am not a “thorough-bred Indian.” I hope that the rest of the Indian community can see Shekhar Hattangadi’s racism for what it is and embrace the diversity we will see in the generations to come.
Sarah Kainth, Madison, Tenn

The name of the space shuttle on which Sunita Williams traveled is Atlantis, not Discovery, as was erroneously reported in the article.
D.K. Agarwal, Pennington, NJ
Editor’s Note: We stand corrected. Sunita Williams was launched into space on Dec 9 on the space shuttle Discovery. But she returned to Earth on Atlantis.

Regarding the foolishness of the Indian Government in relation to dual citizenship (“Citizenship Striptease” July 2007), I just wanted to bring to your notice that Indian citizens living in the United Kingdom have the same views on surrendering Indian nationality when acquiring British citizenship.
Utsav Sood, Via email

Green card holders are citizens of residents of the USA, unlike holders of Overseas Citizen of India cards who don’t reside in India. So you can’t compare the two.
Matt Raman, Online

Indians living in America always brag about being the smartest and wealthiest community. We are also proud to say that most of us are either doctors or engineers.

Many Indians nowadays work as software engineers in companies like IBM, Microsoft, Intel, HP, Citibank, etc., but hardly in senior positions that get public exposure.

My question to all those software experts is this: Why don’t Indians who helped invent Pentium processors start their own company and market a computer chip better than Intel’s? Why don’t the Indians who help Microsoft develop Windows software start their own company and develop software that is better than Windows, (just as some one invented Unix and Linux operating system) and compete squarely with Microsoft?

I don’t believe Indians have the guts to take on big companies. Is it because we lived under the British rule for over 200 years and are accustomed to working for some foreigners?
Girish J. Modi, Montgomery, Al

 “Damn Cricket” by Rikki Massand (July 2007) is one of the least intelligent articles I have ever read. Does this writer feel that because Indians like cricket they cannot play other sports? How dumb is that? How many Chinese, Japanese, Italians, Poles, etc. are in major league sports in the US? The national teams are dominated by Hispanics and African Americans. Why? Because as under privileged Americans they see it as a way up. I think this writer is one hell of a confused American Desi.
Latha Sarathy, Online

The article “Damn Cricket” is so intellectually shallow that I don’t know where to begin. If Indians from India want to play cricket I don’t see why it is any of Rikki Massand’s problem. I think it is time he looks inward and tries to groom second generation Indians like himself to be stalwarts.
Brown, Online

Rikki Massand hits the nail on the head in “Damn Cricket.” It is downright embarrassing, although I did discover an Indian in the NFL – Brandon Chillar of St. Louis Rams.
Ashwin, Online