Sam George is the Executive Director of PARIVAR International - a non-profit initiative to address the needs of youth and families of Asian Indian origin in North America and to the Asian Indian community worldwide. Parivar means family in many Indian languages. Sam George also serves as one of the founding directors of Urban India Ministries www.UrbanIndia.org Sam George and his wife, Mary have spoken at premarital and family events in many countries. They are parents of two boys and make their home in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Sam is the author of the book “Understanding the Coconut Generation: Ministry to the Americanized Asian Indians." Check out this website www.CoconutGeneration.com Coconut (brown on the outside, white on the inside) is a metaphor for the Americanized Asian Indians. Sam George can be reached at sam@coconutgeneration.com
Coconut' Generation has fused food habits, blended fashion trends, merged the East and the West, amalgamated belief systems and have developed a unique sense of identity, consciousness and spirituality . . . Fusion food is served at the trendiest restaurants in London and New York. The popular glue of Bollywood (and its siblings Tollywood and Mollywood) has played a crucial role in creating a universal consciousness of the Indian mindset. Sam George explains more about 'coconut' - a metaphor for being brown on the outside and white on the inside.
I am not much of a movie buff. But I do enjoy well researched, stimulating and entertaining productions by talented actors/actresses/directors. Fusion of East and West is a growing theme in Desi movies. I have made references to and drawn lessons from a few themes in the book – Understanding the *Coconut Generation.
Here are some links to the growing breed of films: American Chai, ABCD, American Desi, Bend it like Beckham, Bhaji on the Beach, Bride & Prejudice, Chutney Popcorn, East is East, Flavors, Green Card Fever, The Guru, Harold & Kumar go to White Castle, Heat and Dust and Hollywood, Bollywood
Coconut Generation has fused food habits, blended fashion trends, merged the East and the West, amalgamated belief systems and have developed a unique sense of identity, consciousness and spirituality. The literature of Indian Diaspora top best-seller lists is world reknowned. Fusion food is served at the trendiest restaurants in London and New York. The popular glue of Bollywood (and its siblings Tollywood and Mollywood) has played a crucial role in creating a universal consciousness of the subcontinent.
Biculturalism is a reality with the Coconut generation. It is no more one or the other. Once upon a time, people cherished cultural purity and mixed people were marginalized and despised. Cultural pedigree was preserved, sought after and enforced. But lately, cultural intelligence in multiple worlds is seen as a strength. Hybrids possess an exceptional ability to see at once both the inside and the out. The in-between-ness has become a place of power and influence. The margins have now become the new center!
Coconut generation will lead us into this new world reality!
*Coconut (brown on the outside, white on the inside) is a metaphor for the emerging generation of Asian Indian communities in the Western cultures.
For more information on Sam George, please visit,
www.CoconutGeneration.com (read book online)
cocogen.wordpress.com