WHAT'S WHAT?
What's ' Never Have I Ever and the Indian diaspora'? Well, for those not attuned to the novelty of pop culture and unfamiliar with the conceptual understanding of Indian Diaspora, Globalization and Transnational Studies; the title of the article may appear literal and bland.
Since my blog section is for people from every walks of life, I will proceed bit by bit clearing all the roadblocks that come in grasping the crux of the article.
THE FIRST DIG
Created by Mindy Kaling and loosely based on her childhood experiences, 'Never Have I Ever' is a Netflix series that traces the coming-of-age story of a spirited, restless yet sensitive teenager Devi Vishwakumar, a first-generation Indian-American growing up in California.
Also embracing the academic nature of the article, I must bring to your attention the difference between 'coming-of-age' and 'bildungsroman'. While 'bildungsroman' follows the character from youth to adulthood, 'coming-of-age' is a broad term that speaks of any story about growing up.
Until its 1993 edition, the New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary defined the term ' diaspora' as the ' dispersion of Jews among the Gentile nations.' The term has a Greek origin and refers allegorically to the scattering of seeds sowed in a wider area. But, in that edition, for the first time, it also added that the term also refers to ' the situation of people living outside their traditional homeland.'
Moving forward, my every binge stokes the firing pen of my thoughts. This article is no different. More importantly, beneath an entertaining watch lay a range of emotions of longing and belonging.
THOUGHTS BEFORE ANOTHER DIG
Now you can figure out how the Series and the concept are correlated, right? The comedy-drama portrays the Indian diaspora but is quite notorious for stereotyping; not just their immediate homeland, but families far back in India.
Are Indians so obsessed with gold that they are cheaply laden with it at weddings or family gatherings? This series hasn't really sobered in their show of 'Indianness'. Ivy Leagues are the new IITs! The badgering and the commotion around the right suitor are prominent. You may feel, that the lands have changed but mannerisms haven't in a few instances. The solidarity suffers a blow when an English teacher is undesirable irrespective of place. Only the likes of Rishi Sunaks deserve a morsel from Pati's delectable South Indian platter. An attempt to restore the homeland in the set up of pious occasions like ' Ganesh Puja' bannered under ' The Hindu Association' is littered with fawning impatient aunties hankering for the latest gossip. You can't go on discussing and analyzing without the tropes, and at times falling into the traps of stereotypes.
THE SECOND DIG
Globalization entails the global processes - communication, markets and network. Import and Export, Forex and the Stock Market, Skype, Facebook and Twitter - encapsulate societies in securing transnational connectedness. Events happening in one part of the globe have repercussions in other parts of the world. When situating Diaspora in the context of Globalization, the old diasporas previously disconnected from their homeland have renewed their connections by being in constant touch.
An understanding of Transnational Migration can be sought in Devi's mother Nalini who although moves across international borders and establish new social connections, still, maintains social connections back home. On the contrary Devi, a first-generation Indian-American identifies herself as Indian but only superficially. A hyphenated identity finds comfort in friends- Elinor and Fabiola- sharing similar origins.
THE STUDY OF THE INDIAN DIASPORA-BEYOND TEXTBOOK
Reel and fiction presentations of diasporas have always popped two names in my head- Gurinder Chada and Jhumpa Lahiri. 'Bend It like Beckham' and 'The Namesake' are the earliest memories. You may find a list of several other reel depictions in GQ. It's an interesting read. Oh wait, Bride and Prejudice, how can I forget! But, it is not about diaspora per see, but the east-west divide loosely based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
I hope the article has thrown some clarity and has provided room for assimilation for non-literature readers. The approach must have shifted in understanding as well as calling out the reel and fictional presentation of diaspora.
WRITER-ANKITA KUMARI