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হৃদয়গ্রাহী স্বাগত    Herzlich willkommen!    హృదయపూర్వక స్వాగతం   hartlike welkom!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     a hearty welcome to all visitors!

 

 

    This is a multimedia-rich, versatile E-publishing website for books, poetry, essays, articles, short stories, music, sound, video files/footage; graphics & photo images reaching visitors on a global scale, scope, and interest. It is purposed for the advancement of the immigrant communities consisting of great diversity, nationalities, languages, races, cultures, and economic classes spread across the continents. Here, you can browse, read, listen, watch, and shop for downloading the items that pique your interest. When you decide to buy an item, the correct download links for the items will be sent to you via Email!

 

   Well,  'Desi' and 'Paradesi' are two popular words with profound significance and 'homely' meanings. They are very pertinent to describe the current world demography. These are two frequently used Sanskrit words whose variations are found in all vernacular Indian languages. 'Des' in North Indian and 'Desam' in South Indian languages simply mean 'the homeland'. Hindi is by far the largest used Indian language, and others are compelled to learn it for national interest, unity, cohesion, mobility, employment opportunities, and advancement.

 

    In local languages, a polite way of inquiring about a newly met person's identity is putting forth the simple question “Where is your desam?”, in a conversational saying “Where are you from?'. It shows respect and a person's strong traditional sense of belonging to one's own land or “place of birth” (so much so, lately, it has become an inevitable 'security question' for sign up!). In most Asian countries, it tells a lot more about a person: such as mother tongue, cultural habits, sensitivities, proclivities, food, attitudes, customs, the common dress they wear and so many other subtle and 'not so subtle' facts. It keeps the introductory conversation curt, concise, quick, civilized, and efficient!

 

    Desi has assumed a much broader meaning and significance in the preeminent age of the Internet & social media. It now comprises all things 'South Asian' and many other Asian countries, perhaps excluding Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and the Philippines. Broadly, the term encompasses anything and everything, including, grocery commodities, items, people, race, cuisine, art forms, and all that have an origin and a connection to the traditions of the subcontinent. Besides, several African, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, and other Island populations with deep cultural roots & traditions find good rapport and understanding with the desi phrase and community. It signifies the awareness of the newly understood common identities, perspectives, and commonalities in traditions, family hierarchy /structure, food, fashion, speaking accent, arts & culture; strong religious influence on earthly life and the afterlife, and so much more. They are the largest English-speaking community in the world and are destined to influence thoughts and discourse in world affairs of all kinds. Although political and religious spats, strife, rivalries, and conflicts do exist and often simmer, the desi populations find camaraderie, trust, and alliance when they meet others in foreign countries. Sometimes, it may fall by the wayside or be entirely forgotten with one's own individual 'upward mobility', prosperity, fame, or in the event of repatriation back to the homeland. It could just be an 'arrangement of convenience' or genuine goodwill towards one another. Quite often, they recognize each other by their 'looks' and show a friendly face, or even a subtle simper-like the smile of Mona Lisa in a manner of  'enigmatic, mute, friendly greeting without words'. Perhaps, the issues, struggles, and hostile encounters a  person experiences in foreign countries concerning discrimination in many aspects of daily life and employment are just the same as those felt by others of a similar kind! Also, in any culture, it is considered rude to be 'indifferent' to others. Any friendly gesture goes a long way towards mutual recognition, respect, and sophisticated behaviour!

 

    Suddenly, the North Indians and the Pakistanis discover that there are so many things in a common bond that are close to their heart, life, customs, traditions, and culture that unite them than the ones which separate them. Food, films, and music are just a few of them; they are conducive to friendship! They have more things in common among themselves than the North & South Indians. Often, one is pleasantly surprised and becomes very sentimental when finding out that the fellow he/ she is now meeting hails from the same places / 'des' which were the birthplaces of their own grandparents. The Bangladeshis, find out that they have a strong language & cultural bond with the Bengalis and people from Myanmar; their climate and staple food are similar to those of Malayalees and Sri Lankans, and so on. It did all come to light because of the interactions and conversations that help to dispel perceived fear, myths, and mistrust. They are now able to form their own opinion first- hand without any coercion, political/media propaganda, and media portrayals. Soon, people discover the 'humanity' in each other, notwithstanding other divisions. That's powerful and what matters the most. It is amazingly true, visible, palatable, and agreeable to the mind and sensibilities from the meeting of minds just described.

   All humans have identical genes, anatomy, aspirations, needs, wants, and plans, as well as similar struggles in life. One shouldn't trample upon other peoples' rights and desires while enjoying the same basic things in life themselves. After all, the whole human difference manifests only in a mere minuscule percentage of microscopic genes in chromosomes!

 

    The desi phenomenon is a silent but burgeoning autonomous movement that grows by interactions, as newly found similarities of many kinds emerge, vast in scope, and magnitude, ignoring the trivialities and other annoying aberrations. In essence, desi is the common “home”' of the diaspora of Asian communities where Desi, Paradesi, and Diaspora communities amicably interact, work and reside side by side with civilized recognizance, tolerance, and cooperation!

 

    Paradesi means 'not belonging to this place'; not indigenous or not an original inhabitant of  'this place', community; in short 'coming from another place'. In its wider sense, it means a foreigner, immigrants without citizenship status, stateless, refugees, expatriates, 'Gast Arbeiter' (guest workers); people with temporary 'work permits'; those with 'student / H1 visas'; officials with international, Government, UN and NGO organizations, as well as persons with another 'exempt' status. Most have left behind not only their beloved homelands but also their loved ones. In the new lands, they face an uncertain future of residential status, prejudices, and even ignominious and disastrous deportation. Besides, language barriers, unknown customs, conventions, discriminatory laws, and complicated systems pose formidable struggles and problems in the crucial adjustment period. In the host countries of the Western world, an immigrant is often reminded "Hey, you got an accent!" reminding that he/she is an immigrant with perhaps some 'communication' issues, subtly declaring an air of earned superiority, privileges, and righteousness of the 'original' class of settlers and homesteaders, all the while ignoring the status of the original occupants of the land, the hapless native, indigenous tribes.

 

    The Gulf countries Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain serve as temporary homes and workplaces for Millions of expatriate desi workers. Eventually, they must go home. When that should happen, they hope to settle down in peace; instead, face another struggle for 're-integration 'in their own homelands, exacerbated by the hostilities and jealousies of neighbours; thoughtless actions and ordinances by governments, meddlesome bureaucrats as well as unscrupulous fraudsters. In this connection, it is worth watching the PBS TV program "Workers Cup" soccer tourney which shows the daily lives of some of the 1.6 million African and Asian migrant workers who toil hard to build the huge stadiums for the next FIFA World Cup but earn neither glory nor a chance to experience the live events. This POV (Point of View) documentary follows these workers as they participate in a football tournament organized by, and for themselves, without a single sponsor. The labourers are the largest consumers of Soda, and the Soda companies are the biggest sponsors of football tournaments!

 

    Diaspora, or the 'scattering', though originally meant to describe the historic exodus of Jews from their ancestral land following their expulsion by the Babylonians, has now come to describe a closely-knit community or population from another country spread out in different parts of the world. The world is witnessing a burgeoning trend in a diaspora of other nationalities and races. This is caused not only by the industrial/Internet/Business revolutions but also by migration, political upheavals, religious persecutions, ethnic cleansing, wars, economic backwardness, rampant rate of inflation, consumerism, grossly disproportionate wealth distribution to the extreme fringes of poverty and super affluence; sub-par subsistence level returns from traditional farming activities; depletion of arable land due to continuously worsening 'climate change', deterioration due to industrial pollution; debt burden of farmers; mining& deforestation; construction of transportation infrastructure; 'eminent domain' laws ruthlessly imposed by governments with authoritarian means. As a matter of fact, this has been a dynamic phenomenon throughout human history from very ancient times. It is believed that the human race started its earliest journey from the great continent of Africa, as deprivation, disease, and other calamities befell upon the inhabitants. They travelled on foot, carrying belongings on their heads and shoulders; swarm the rivers; passed hundreds of miles through hostile jungles, dry, and barren deserts;  over the treacherous hills. On their arduous journey, they are confronted by greedy smugglers, cruel gangsters, and unscrupulous human traffickers. When they reached a certain place, the land stretched further beyond. They searched, wandered, and explored; finally settling on the most inhabitable place they could find. In the epic migration, quite sadly, only a few could arrive at the hallowed 'promised land' losing many compatriots on the way; grieving for them for the rest of their lives.

It was a cruel flight and a grim plight of humanity! To the greatest dismay and horror, the struggle for human survival continues unabated to date and certainly far beyond. The existential threat is caused by the rapid, ravaging, and extreme 'climate change' as the farmlands they cultivate cannot support lives at this galloping rate of inflation and mounting daily needs. Pandemics are another ominous calamities that occur frequently worldwide! Besides rampant inflation, drastic income disparity is another major cause of mass migration. Unnecessary wars and conflicts exacerbate the situation even further. Most world leaders are too focussed on skyline structures ignoring people living far down on the flat earth; while the industry/business leaders lobby against and sabotage any remedial measures organized by the populace.

 

   Today, aspiring migrants from Central American countries carry only a small bundle of their most essential belongings on their heads, and children on their shoulders, while the infants peacefully rest on their mother's bosom, set out as caravans, on foot to distant destinations they only heard of in connection with great opulence, relative peace, wealth, and good life. Their sole intention is to escape abject poverty, the wrath of gang violence, discrimination, and lack of hope. They had underestimated the distance, the arduous journey ahead, the perils of the desert, the harshness of the climate, the limit of their strength and health, and human sufferings of thirst & hunger. In great determination born out of dire necessities, they disregard the pre-heralded unwelcome hostilities of sneers &  jeers, racial violence against them, the threats of 'caging' & incarceration under inhuman conditions, separation of infants from parents, torture & deportation after all these sufferings, and numerous other uncertainties that ominously lie ahead and yet to face. These are people in dire distress. Aren't they  'children of the same God'? What does separate the pilgrims/ armed colonial settlers of yesteryears and the hapless asylum seekers of today?           

 

   This is in contrast to the armada of European colonialists who set out from across the ocean with arms and ammunition. They harboured sinister intentions of conquering and subjugating the unwitting and harmless indigenous people who lived peacefully on their own ancestral lands for many generations for thousands of years. Ultimately, the invaders became rulers, occupiers, and owners of the 'conquered ' countries for good. Quite shockingly, the existential necessities and beliefs of the natives are mercilessly ridiculed, sneered at, and systematically trampled upon. They were not even considered  'persons' and have been treated accordingly with numerous human rights violations and ill-treatment. The large-scale atrocities committed against them, the decimation and desecration of their sacred ancestral lands is gravely hurtful, and indeed the most horrible 'crime against the entire humanity ' in the whole of history. It's quite hypocritical that the influential religions, pastors, and preachers who preach and interpret the holy  'Ten Commandments', proscribe evils and prescribe 'penance & repentance' to the believers for the redemption and atonement of sins, unabashedly ignore their extensive patronage and explicit complicity in the brutal events in colonial invasions, persecutions, brutalities, and forced religious conversions. It seems that the 'Word of the Lord ' is here conveniently supplanted by the political paradigm that "a rule or a law can make everything legal, and I'm the law; so shall be it forever! ". How queer and morally repugnant it has become? The nations, instead of admitting the truth & facts, and starting a process of truth, reconciliation, and reparations, let the heavy burden of mortal sins and guilt weigh over them and the subsequent generations for the entire course of eternity. They vow stubborn reticence and utter silence on these historical events; give out vehement denials when confronted, utilizing the overwhelming media and propaganda machinery to deflect growing public outrage, criticisms, and condemnations.

 

    The 'desi paradesi diaspora' is spread around all the continents and countries across the globe, although relatively fewer in the South /Central American continent,  except for the retiring Americans. The contributions and sacrifices they make to their respective adopted as well as the home countries are substantial and invaluable, but gravely underappreciated. Sadly, it's a terrible fact!

 

    This particular effort here is to participate in the 'desi-paradesi-diaspora' trend and culture to promote ideas of “Humanities” which includes the branches of knowledge, such as philosophy, literature, and art, that are concerned with human thought and culture. The intended aim is to help the communities to enhance the quality of life, the size of the contribution they make, the good standing they stand to earn, the unity & self-reliance they can build, and to peacefully coexist with the rules & norms of the adopted countries. These are the essentials in seeking successful integration without relinquishing traditional values and principles of tolerance, a sense of responsibility & civic duties; serving humanity, as well as the earth & environment. The changes come through interactions between the populations and an 'all-inclusive community spirit'. It comes awfully slowly but will evolve surely and inevitably. It's a glowing foregone conclusion that it shall contribute to the causes of peace and well-being of all humankind, notwithstanding the deep differences in beliefs, caste, creed, culture, ethnicity, religion, and other prejudices, persuasions, or divisions that presently exist and spread rampantly everywhere.

 

   The desi-paradesi-diaspora and immigrant communities are poised to make great contributions to the world by providing human/manpower resources and; at the same time curb the unbridled frenzy of industrialization, reckless environmental damage, and insatiable greed of the super-rich countries controlled by its wealthy elite classes. Eventually, they can lead the world to a path of moderation, cultural integration, peaceful coexistence, and more enjoyably, healthy living for all.

 

    Wherever “East meets West; North meets South in any combinations or directions, there is desi, and paradesi”; when there are many such places scattered around the world, there is diaspora”!

    This site earns its name desi-paradesi-diaspora as it is tuned to the causes, and effects identified with this extensive, resourceful, and vast community of diverse masses of people representing all countries and parts of our world!

​Nothing stays still in the universe; it's dynamic!

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