Honoring My Hindu Heritage
First Place Winner, Reiyukai America “Letters To My Parents” Contest.
“Dear Amma and Appa
(Mom and Dad),
Do you remember the time when I came home from school one day, crying? I asked if the red dot on my forehead was a “zit.” The taunts of my fifth-grade classmates kept ringing in my head. All of a sudden, I began to doubt my appearance, background, culture, everything that made me unique.
As you dried my tears and explained to me that in our Hindu culture, the red dot symbolizes the third eye of the god Shiva, a thought slowly dawned on me. Born and raised in America, I had become woefully out of touch with my Indian heritage. I realized that in my eagerness to be accepted by friends at school, I had tried to deny that I was different. I used to dread Parent Night because you came dressed in a sari and wore that embarrassing dot. Why couldn’t I have normal parents that wore T-shirts and jeans? I hated the way they made fun of my name, calling me “Meera Diarrhea.” Why couldn’t my name be Sally or Jane?
I was so anxious to fit in that I was tempted to go against our vegetarian principles and almost tried a piece of pepperoni. The kids had laughed when I said I didn’t eat meat, and dared me to do so. I had no smart retort or logical explanation to defend my beliefs, because I was so ignorant that even I didn’t understand the reasons.
However, this was no fault of yours. Ever since I was two, you had regularly taken me to an Indian Youth Group. I was taught the language, religious songs, the Hindu faith, and Indian history. You encouraged me to learn and tried to teach me more. But I closed my ears and blocked everything out; I wanted to be American. I didn’t resist the enormous wave of American culture, sweeping me, urging me into the “melting pot” where I would give up my individuality.
The challenge became obvious. I had to fight to preserve my Indian heritage. I began to search for more about my heritage and religion. I read every Hindu epic, story, and legend I could get my hands on. I began to speak our native language, Tamil, more often. I had been learning South Indian classical dance for years, but now I was curious about the songs and stories behind the movements. I also started to use my most precious source of information, you. I never knew there was so much culture, thousands of years old, to be experienced. Your stories about the gods, brave Rama and mischievous Krishna, opened my eyes. You taught me the significance of the festivals we celebrate, that there is more to them than dressing up and eating fancy food. All of these wonderful discoveries washed over me, and made me understand the uniqueness of my background.
My classmates stopped mocking me
As I kept learning, I became more confident and sure of myself. With a wealth of knowledge by my side, I felt strong. I stood up to my classmates and introduced them to my beliefs. To my surprise, they stopped mocking me, and instead, wanted to know more. My culture was different from anything they had ever experienced. I felt a sense of belonging, but not sameness, as though I were an individual piece adding color to the complete picture. I could fit in but still be different.
My experiences in elementary school have helped to shape the person I am now. I am no longer ashamed of my dark skin. Most of all, I relate to people better. I can understand their feelings and their different points of view. I was lucky to have such knowledgeable parents, so my search for myself wasn’t difficult. But for anyone who is struggling to hide their heritage, learning about oneself is the greatest gift to give. To them, I say look everywhere you can and teach yourself as much as you can. You’ll become a more confident, sensitive person and be secure about who you are. Because of my search, I can sit here now and tell you the meaning of the red dot, the beauty of a sari, that the Festival of Nine Nights is a tribute to a trio of goddesses, that Rama fought the demon Ravana… Where do I end? I have so much to tell you, and I am so eager for you to understand. I feel rich in knowledge, and I want to share my wealth with you.
Love…Meera”