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ASIAN IDENTITY

"There is an urgent need to understand Asian Psyche at its deep psychological roots for a balanced analysis of migrant experience."

~RACHNA CHOPRA

The Asian "Floor Culture"

The Asian connection to the floor is well known. Despite the linguistic, cultural and geographic diversity of Asian continent, the “floor culture” is common ground. Before you enter any traditional Asian home, you are politely asked to take your shoes off. It is of course about maintaining hygiene, since most Asian families eat, sleep, entertain guests, and even depart their loved ones with death rituals performed on the floor. It is also a mark of respect, South Korean families use the floor for sitting, eating, hanging out, watching TV, playing and sleeping, and have also adopted heated floors called ondol.

The South Asian Identity

Some of the earliest known South Asian settlers in North America were from the regions of Punjab and Bengal. Among the early immigrants were “‘six or seven Indian sailors’ brought to New England seminaries in the 1820s. While South Asians are noted to have been in the United States since the 1700s, their larger presence starts in the late 1800s. Indian farm laborers, San Joaquin Valley Island, 1909.Some of the earliest known South Asian settlers in North America were from the regions of Punjab and Bengal. A number of Muslim Bengali peddlers first arrived in New Orleans, where they later integrated with communities of color in cities like Detroit, New York, and Baltimore.

The "Hindoo" Monk

In 1893, Swami Vivekananda, whom the American press referred to as the “Hindoo monk of India,” visited Chicago to represent Hinduism at the first-ever Parliament of the World’s Religions. Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk and one of the most celebrated spiritual leaders of India. He was more than just a spiritual mind; he was a prolific thinker, great orator and passionate patriot. He worked tirelessly towards betterment of the society, in servitude of the poor and needy, dedicating his all for his country. He was responsible for the revival of Hindu spiritualism and established Hinduism as a revered religion on world stage.

Elephant Symbolism in Asian Psyche

Elephants have been on the planet for over 50 million years, and have one of the largest, most complex brains of any land mammal. It is three times larger with more neurons than a human brain (though only a third are present in the cerebral cortex compared with humans). Not surprisingly, they are some of the …

Nostalgia & Food Marketing

Nostalgia can be evoked in different ways, but scents are most likely cause, because of the strong biological link between scents and memory. Chelsea Reid at Virginia Commonwealth University says, “the olfactory bulb, which is involved in the sense of smell, is linked to areas in the brain associated with … …

Social Distancing & Asian Culture

During COVID times, the Asian tradition of greeting with folded hands and bowing drew a lot of attention. Social distancing is not just a potentially lifesaving tradition woven into Asian cultures, it is also a spiritual safeguard from contrary thought infections. Bowing of heads and folding of hands quite naturally promotes humility, and a grateful fame of mind... … …

Tantra & Transnationalism

How many of us refer to immigrants as transnationals? Probably not many, as the beautiful latin term trans/tranz, replete with potentiality, is being used mostly short for transsexuals or transgenders. It’s true that the original root of the word trans denotes ‘opposite’ or ‘across’ (e.g., transcontinental) or into another state or place (e.g., transonic). In chemistry, trans denotes molecules with opposite arrangements …

Metal Over Matter: Worship of Metal Instruments in South Asia

Metals have been worshiped and revered in South Asian culture since ancient times, and the legends and myths still prevail and influence to this day. Metal worship is deep rooted in Indian psyche; it is an inseparable part of lives. Yet, what is revered is also feared, and some fear the deities ruling over them...

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