Exploring Indian Identity: Beyond Stereotypes and Fetishisation
The author explores the complexities of Indian identity, challenging stereotypes and fetishisation, and shares personal experiences navigating cultural dualities and the ubiquitous 'Where are you from?' question.
The author begins by questioning the notion of a stable 'Indian' identity, arguing that the idea of a singular essence is a 'fetish of origin' that overlooks the hybrid nature of Indian culture. Indian literature authors, they note, often grapple with this, either embracing nativism or passing as Western to gain visibility, their identities shaped by what they 'sell and show'.
The author expresses love for Indian food but dislikes its commodification outside India, preferring to enjoy foods from other cultures like Turkish gozleme. They also highlight the diversity within Indian food, a nebulous category that encompasses regional cuisines with their own caste and community quirks.
Growing up near the Taj Mahal, the author found interactions with non-Indians attractive due to their distinct clothes and accents. However, they now find the 'Where are you from?' question annoying, having encountered it repeatedly in places like Kenya, Sardinia, Italy, the US, the UK, and West Asia, as well as in their hometown in Uttar Pradesh. The author resists the urge to snap at enquirers, instead choosing to challenge the underlying assumptions about identity and belonging.
The author's experiences and reflections underscore the fluid, complex nature of Indian identity, which resists simple categorisation or fetishisation. They urge a more nuanced understanding of Indian culture, one that acknowledges its hybridity, diversity, and the dualities that many Indians navigate in their intellectual and everyday lives.
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