Are we Indians or South Asians? American desis are confused (again!)

Washington DC,UPDATED: Nov 9, 2024 18:42 IST

The identity of Indian Americans in the United States has been evolving for decades. For many, the term "Desi" – a name rooted in the Sanskrit word desh, meaning homeland – captures a shared bond among people from the Indian subcontinent. The label transcended national boundaries, welcoming Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and other South Asian neighbours under a single banner. But as the generations have changed, so has the significance of the term, and with that comes a question that divides the community: Are we Indians or South Asians?

The Arrival of Indian Americans and the Rise of “Desis”

The first major wave of Indian immigration to the U.S. began in the 1960s and '70s, followed by another surge during the tech boom of the ’90s. As these communities grew, they adapted to life in America, drawing strength from their shared backgrounds. The term Desi emerged as a catch-all to describe those from the Indian subcontinent, and for a long time, it unified families under a single cultural umbrella.

The children of this era, born in the '90s and early 2000s, now range from their mid-20s to early 30s. They are the second generation of Indian Americans, having grown up in an America different from their immigrant parents' – a place where diversity was celebrated, and the Democratic Party’s messaging of inclusivity made the party a natural home. But today, shifts in American politics, coupled with changing definitions of identity, have led some within the community to question the once-assumed loyalty to the Democrats. For others, an embrace of Republican values marks a new chapter in their political journey.

The Conservative Shift: Aunty and Uncle Epiphanies

As time passed, Indian American families began experiencing significant financial success. The “aunties and uncles” who came in the ’80s and ’90s, once part of America’s working or middle class, now hold positions of influence as lawyers, doctors, engineers, and successful business owners. Their values – conservative on issues of family, religion, and economic independence – increasingly resonate with the Republican Party’s principles of low taxes, limited government, and a pro-business ethos. And with a Democratic Party that has moved further left, many Indian Americans feel the party no longer represents their interests.

Today, some of these Indian American parents and their young adult children (aged 18-25) have found themselves voting for Trump. The familiar Republican themes of economic strength, scepticism toward “woke” culture, and a patriotic zeal for an America they have built their lives in, resonate deeply. They look around at what they see as an America drifting too far from the ideals they value – ideals that first attracted them to this country. Many believe that MAGA’s slogan of “making America great again” aligns with their vision of protecting what they love about the country they adopted.

Generational Divides and the Liberal Legacy

The story, however, is not monolithic. The second generation of Indian Americans, many of whom attended prestigious universities, still lean left. These young professionals in their late 20s to early 40s often support Democrats and continue to be drawn to the party’s message of inclusivity and equality. Growing up in diverse, progressive environments, they view the Democrats as champions of multiculturalism. But recent years have brought questions. Some now wonder if inclusivity, at least in its current form, comes at a cost to their community’s identity and issues.

A former campaign volunteer for Kamala Harris, a 32-year-old Democrat, expressed her frustrations. She loves the Democrats’ inclusive message but feels the party too often conflates legal and illegal immigration. She spoke of experiences within the party where she was “corrected” for using the word “illegal” to describe those crossing the border without a visa. This conflict between her own understanding of immigration and the party’s language around it has led her to wonder if the Democrats are truly in touch with the challenges faced by legal immigrants – challenges that affect nearly a million legal Indian Americans.

This sense of being misunderstood or overlooked is growing within the community. Many Desis feel their distinct cultural background and struggles as immigrants are blurred when the Democratic Party combines them with broader “South Asian” or “Asian American” communities. For some, these categories dilute their identity.

The South Asian Label: A Source of Frustration for Some

Not everyone in the community is comfortable with being lumped under the term “South Asian.” One prominent 56-year-old Indian American leader, a former Obama campaigner, recently registered as a Republican. He expressed his frustration with the Democrats’ tendency to group Indian Americans with other South Asian countries. “Why should we be clubbed with Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Sri Lankans?” he asked, feeling that Democrats have used the label to broaden their base while overlooking the distinctiveness of each community. India itself is incredibly diverse, he argues, and combining it with other countries in South Asia glosses over important cultural and historical differences.

For him, Trump’s overt outreach to Hindu Americans and Indian Americans, as well as his close ties to Prime Minister Modi, signalled respect. When Trump spoke about the Hindu community or about India specifically, he gave it a personal touch. This kind of acknowledgement means something to Indian Americans who want their heritage recognised as uniquely their own, without being merged into broader regional categories.

A New Generation’s Dilemma with “Woke” Culture

For younger Indian Americans, the politics of “woke” culture add another layer of complexity. A recent college graduate from North Carolina shared his reasons for voting for Trump, citing his

discomfort with the “woke” culture that permeated his high school and college years. For him, these values clashed with the ones he was raised with. He spoke about how some of his peers, eager to fit in, adopted progressive social views without fully understanding them. But for many, it left them feeling confused and detached from their upbringing.

Similarly, a 28-year-old lawyer from Connecticut described her own journey. Raised in a conservative household, she embraced the liberal values of inclusion and identity politics in college, seeking to fit in. But as she entered the workforce and reflected on her values, she found herself gradually returning to her cultural and familial roots, which leaned more conservative. The “woke” culture she once embraced now felt, to her, like a superficial identity. Instead, she finds herself aligning more closely with her family’s conservative views, reflecting a shift that she sees happening across her generation.

A New Phase of Realignment

Indian Americans are currently navigating a complex phase of political and cultural realignment. As they establish themselves as a significant voting bloc, they no longer want to be taken for granted. They seek recognition not just as another “minority” group, but as a community with a unique voice, distinct from broader Asian or South Asian categorisations.

These Americans are re-evaluating the values they hold dear, from conservative principles to liberal ideals of inclusivity. They are questioning whether the political parties they have aligned with truly serve their interests or merely court their vote as a box to check.

In an America where identity politics has become central, Indian Americans are exploring the boundaries of their identity, trying to forge a path that allows them to be heard as Indian Americans. They are desis, yes, but they want their identity respected on their own terms – as Indian Americans, not just another group within the nebulous label of “South Asians.” The question of who they are, and which party speaks for them, is one that remains open – but it’s a question they are increasingly determined to answer on their own terms.