Can you reach the top of the world aka 'America'?

Growing up in India in the 21st century meant that I spent most of my life thinking about how, one day, in order to live a successful life I would have to go abroad, preferably the USA. Chances are that this is not an idea that is unfamiliar to you, especially if you’re living anywhere in the so-called ‘Third World’. The idea of the ‘American Dream’ is deeply embedded in our minds, with it materialising in terms of migration to the United States or the hopes of doing so. 

Centuries of colonial rule has inflicted painful wounds on the minds and bodies of people across the world and across generations. In the light of post-coloniality, the impact of colonialism and imperialism has been investigated and critiqued from a number of vantage points. Even as ex-colonies come to the forefront of the world stage and carve out a unique identity for themselves, in many ways, the old wounds are yet to heal. The persisting effects of colonialism are not that apparent on the first glance. But a closer look at many of these old colonised societies reveals how new forms of domination have come about to replace the old. The end of colonial rule all over the globe did not mean that the colonies had been completely freed of the years of control and oppression. In the South Asian context, British rule had left the subcontinent completely ravaged by the woes of partition and economically degraded. This combined with worsening communal relationships and political complications cut short the celebration of independence. The newly emerged nation-state of India found itself in the midst of insecurity and instability. 

Reflecting back on the nationalist movement and the early years of independent India, one begins to identify certain cultural, social and political ideas that had been cemented in the minds of the people in the light of 200 years of colonial rule. Eurocentric ideals of beauty, English or broadly ‘Western’ education being viewed as more ‘scientific’ or ‘modern’ than indigenous modes of education and therefore the West being the ideal place to get an education, the growing importance of the English language and its consequent identification as a symbol of status are some of the first things that come to mind. With the advent of liberalisation in 1991 and growing impact of globalisation at the beginning of the 21st century, not only did these ideas continue into the new millennium but there was also an increasing infiltration of largely American ideas and commodities into the Indian landscape. The idea that ‘Western’ or in particular ‘American’ culture and goods were in some ways more ‘sophisticated’ or ‘modern’ was becoming increasingly commonplace. The explanation for this is fairly simple, owing to the emergence of the USA as a superpower at the end of the Second World War and its subsequent hegemonic role in global affairs with the disintegration of the USSR in 1991. 

The glorification of America is something that I have witnessed from a close proximity in the course of my life. Such an exaltation was everywhere; in familial and other social circles, in books and magazines, movies and TV shows, music, and then to a large degree on the internet. Throughout my childhood, I heard about life in ‘America’ (referring to the USA) whether it be through media or through relatives. It was in this one country out of the entire world that the best parts of mankind seemed to come together. I remember, sometime in elementary school, I heard about a classmate moving to America. 8-year-old me had lamented on the fact that my father did not have a job that would ever require our family to move to this glorious country. 

However, as I grew older, I became increasingly disillusioned with such perceptions. The urban, middle-class Indian version of the ‘American Dream’ of going to the United States to pursue higher education, get a well-paying job, start a family and settle down did not appeal to me once, the real-life complexities that exist even in a seemingly ‘perfect’ country became apparent to me. Yet, I form a mere minority who holds such an opinion. Most, even those in my close family, still wholeheartedly believe in this imagination of America. 

But even before one prepares to try and reach this so-called ‘paradise’, there are attempts made to try and replicate that ideal life in the context of one’s own country. This is most evident in the case of the urban, middle-class Indian youth as they grapple with the clash between their increasingly ‘westernised’ lifestyle, visible in their choice of attire, food and media preferences, etc., and their actual physical location in South Asia which presents a contrasting socio-cultural, political and economic landscape. A dichotomy is often created in Indian society, between ‘tradition’ and ‘modern’, making it difficult for the youth to find a place for themselves in the society that takes into account their transnational identities. Aspiring to be ‘modern’ which inevitably means being ‘western’ puts one in direct conflict with the supposed ‘traditional’ characteristics that India is supposed to represent. Such binaries are deeply rooted in orientalism and require a much deeper understanding in order to fully reveal their inner workings. The Indian diaspora in the US, especially the young NRIs (Non-Resident Indians), complicate this black and white view as they are often perceived (and portrayed) as being widely different from native Indian counterparts. They are often a subject of parody as they try to inhabit the seemingly opposing identities. This often results in a sense of detachment from their ‘actual’ culture, a phenomenon that occurs with almost all migrant communities in America.

This piece briefly tries to look into the role of aspirations in identity formation, particularly in the Indian context. There are a number of underlying processes which are deeply complex, and it is not possible to explore all of them in the depth and detail that they deserve. Hopefully, through some of the points that I have attempted to highlight in this article, one will be able to reflect on the complicated and dynamic nature of identity and how strongly it is influenced by one’s circumstances in life.