Each month, at least four young British-Indians who want to serve in India, reach out to me for advice on how should they go about doing so. However, whilst young diaspora is keen to engage with India and this is also a part of India’s agenda, the channels to do so are limited to short term activities. This disconnect leads us to ask what more we must do to make it possible for young people to connect to India through service.
Over the years, I have had numerous conversations with 3rd/4th generation British-Indians to understand their relationship to India. Them presuming I wanted to hear why India was important to them automatically limited our understanding of “their relationship to India.” The reasons for their connection to India are largely sentimental, passive and distant; whether these reasons are based on ancestral roots, religion, pop culture or ethnicity. As these conversations go deeper, we realise they are mostly based on the past and they struggle to find forward-looking reasons for why India is relevant to their aspirations and priorities.
Looking at the broader context, research over recent years has highlighted that the success of the British-Indian community has been particularly strong across various socio-economic indicators, including employment and education. The efforts of 1st/2nd generation British-Indians have enabled the 3rd/4th generation British-Indians to pursue opportunities with a higher degree of freedom and choice, often underpinned by family stability and financial security. However, recent studies suggest that this may not necessarily be enough; the millennial generation are seeking more. This is a generation that is witnessing in real time the rise of trailblazers such as Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and organisations such as Google that are redefining what ‘work’ looks like. As well as being inspired by such stories, they are being challenged by major shifts in the political landscape such as Brexit, the urgency to find global agreement on issues like climate change and growing social inequality. This generation wants to be inspired in their work, feel connected, be a part of something bigger. They seek purpose, they seek first hand experiences and it is in this aspiration, where the opportunity to connect them to India through service exists.
Service offers young people an opportunity to connect to something greater than themselves and simultaneously, India’s vibrant grassroots development sector can benefit through this exchange of enthusiasm, skills and time. By listening to those who have served in India, it is evident that there is immense personal growth through this process. Volunteers engage with inspirational change-makers and peers, they build empathy, ownership and self-efficacy to effect positive social change. This development of personal-leadership often translates into them doing more in their home country. They carry forward with them a new perspective on their role as citizens in society, often raising the bar on what success looks like, as being more than just social status or material wealth. They become strong role models, guided by their values, rooted in their own experience.
Underlying this conversation are important questions about one’s identity; how does India play a role in how we see ourselves and equally importantly, what role does India play in how others perceive us? Dinesh Kerai, a 2nd generation parent says, “I want to influence my three children (age 14, 19, 23) to have a connection with India, but how is that possible, if I myself do not have a relationship with India? I want my children’s future in our interconnected world to be grounded in a strong sense of who they are.
As India grapples with global issues such as poverty, while also pushing the boundaries of space technology, it plays an influential role in shaping our future. I feel fortunate that through my heritage my kids can access the opportunity India presents. I believe that through purposeful service in India, they will be anchored and will nurture a strong moral compass that not only shapes their life, but also touches those around them, wherever they are.” For many of the British-Indian diaspora, this is an emotive, multifaceted and deeply personal dialogue which changes for each person as they grow through different stages of their life. This has been explored further in an article titled “What is the relationship you would like your grandchildren to have with India?”
Historically, another way that British-Indians engage with India is through charitable giving and remittances. The nature of this giving varies between generations. Whilst, there are several fundraiser balls hosted in the UK by prominent India based NGOs, they largely attract a particular audience who do not represent young British-Indians. The broad scope of charitable giving in the British-Indian community has been explored through an article titled “The need is right where we are”. Through this article, I urge that we think ahead about the changing relationship of 3rd/4th generation British-Indians and the impact this trend will have on charitable giving.
We may also applaud other diaspora groups in the UK, including the Jewish and Afro-Caribbean community on how they have engaged and nurtured their next generation of leaders. They have done so by intentionally investing the time, mentorship and financial resources for these outcomes. We can draw on examples from the Prince’s Trust, The Young Foundation and the RSA Millennium Fellows programme on how we engage young British-Indians in different ways. Envisaging an active and collaborative relationship between 3rd/4th generation British-Indians and India is a dynamic, vision building process which will require commitment, resources and patience. The initiatives we build, should tie together to create a ‘Living Bridge,’ ensuring there is continuity of opportunity, as we grow a community of young people with a shared experience who will together define the next chapter of the British-Indian story.
Bridge India
June 10, 2019
source https://indiaoutbound.org/how-can-we-influence-the-next-generation-to-have-a-connection-with-india-when-we-dont-have-one/
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