Thread by @gauravsabnis

It is not the norm but there are definitely more people than you'd think who do it. Heck, there have been a few documentaries about that.

https://twitter.com/mdeii/status/1409445673309593600

There are two distinct sets in this as I've seen. One - very orthodox ones who brainwash or pressure their children into it. I know of stories where brothers have threatened emancipation to parents if they kept trying to make their sisters get an arranged marriage.

Second are the "born-again brahmins". They led a typical American social life but had a couple of bad breakups and decided, fuck it, I've been told all my life we bommins are best so I'm just gonna try that like my friends who turn to the bible. They jump back into the rituals.

All the nonsense I spent 25 years unlearning, they then start learning because of heartbreak or sometimes even career crises. Try to convince themselves and Netflix directors that it's no different than online dating or j date or christian mingle.

I don't use the "born-again" thing lightly. They've been systematically pulled in by the deep pockets sangh overseas orgs following almost exactly the same tactics as US evangelicals. Many are explicitly modeled after them. Like a Sunday mass of sorts but at a mandir.

Some of my US desi students are shocked to know that everyone going to a mandir once a week, with everyone else in the community is NOT a thing in India! Yes, some will go everyday, but by themselves or just the family. And leave in a few minutes. Very few are socially involved.

Just like evangelicals recruit and retain by being a multi-service entity, the sanghi orgs offer things like free lessons in indian languages for the kids, yoga, scripture reading, indian "history", subsidized daycare even! It's a very sophisticated operation here.

Wife and other desis who grew up in the US say it was nowhere as widespread in the 80s and 90s. This religious and caste angle to things. It was either india clubs or then language/state based clubs. Mostly just celebrating festivals, trying to make friends etc.

And I've seen it grow in front of my eyes. From early days. Hey @ProfMaterial, remember the panga I took with the "vedic society" at Penn State? 🤣🤣

Just got permission from a past student advisee to share our conversation.

Her: I also used to feel anxiety at the sunday mandir get togethers where everyone was into everyone's business. I feel guilty because that's what we're supposed to do as good Hindus. But still.

Me: Eh?

Her: How did you deal with it India? Must have been even worse there.

Me: In India, everyone is in everyone's business anyway. But there is nothing in hinduism that requires a weekly mass like christians have. Some sects and guru types do it. But even they're copying Christians.

Her: *eyes as large as frisbees* Wait, in india, you don't go with your family and neighbors on the same....Oh my mom is going to get a call from me tonight!!! 😠😠😠
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They've rarely heard a different take on hinduism or caste except their parents.

Some of my desi cousins and friends who grew up here and are most definitely liberal, even left of me, were shocked when I told them that SEWA International is an arm of the fascist RSS. They were aware enough to be anti Modi. But thought SEWA was a different legit thing.

We need to set up some alternative avenues of india-related information for indian american kids. Because right now, the sangh has that locked down in many sub communities. Not the mallu ones AFAIK 😍😍😘😘 but so many others.

Yup, this. US born desi kids are surrounded by a Judeo-Christian majority world where these weekly collective things are the tradition. So they don't question it when herded to temples to be lectured by a few dozen more uncles and aunties.

https://twitter.com/hoarse_feminist/status/1409461327223918595?s=19

They don't know that temples in india are more obsessed with keeping people out rather than attracting them in.