July 2010

The almost tropical sweat-inducing heat, luscious Kent, Haden and Ataulfo mangoes stacked up in crates at the store, my husband Arun's carefully tended jasmine plant gracing our porch, the voices of children playing outside and the multitude of ethnically-robed Indian parents visiting their kids and grandkids makes me feel as though I'm in Chennai, the city where I was born. It's a joy to see the sky lit with the light of the sun till as late as 8:30 p.m. and to awaken to chirping birds. Nowhere is it more beautiful (or cooler) than by the water, and in this we Connecticut vaasis are blessed. Usually, a short drive of 20 or so minutes leads to a breathtaking expanse of lake, pond, waterfall, river or ocean.

Summer is also the time when parents visit from India. Our home is transformed by my mother's presence as we travel, site-see, visit and receive numerous family members and friends, have long talks on days gone by, cook and do yoga together, and learn music and Thirupavai hymns, which she teaches me. A Vidwan from the Central College of Carnatic Music in Chennai, I thought she was the right choice to interview Douglas M. Knight Jr., author of the recently published biography "Balasaraswati: Her Art & Life." My mother was a student of Bala's cousin T. Brinda, and is familiar with the family's unique, hereditary style of music.

Do check out our cover and two features. Associate Editor Amishi Shah writes about the tough job scene for recent graduates in Connecticut, and the opportunities that draw young Indians back to their country of origin. Our reader Yamuna Kona sent in an interesting narrative about her relative, a young traditional Telugu girl who became thoroughly Americanized soon after she came here as a student. Yes, we are inundated with publications that talk about roots. But we cannot escape the reality that every single immigrant goes through this right of passage of making choices about what to retain, what to assimilate, and what to make a fusion of. Kona's is just one point of view. Long-time contributor Adesh Saxena has a feature about Avon-based Skills Advancement, Inc. (SAI). If you like what you see, join founders and couple Suguna and Mohan Chunduri to help the nonprofit provide educational assistance to children who need it.

Between his doctoring duties, reader Niranjan Sankaranarayanan gave in to the writer's bug and penned a review of "Naatiya," a new South Indian restaurant in Bloomfield. One of my two book reviews is of Sheena Iyengar's "The Art of Choosing," in which she discusses, among many other things, why Indian arranged marriages have a higher success rate.

Enjoy reading, write in, and spread the word about your very own community publication.

Have a splendid summer.

Sincerely,
Sujata Srinivasan
(Publisher/Editor)
sujata.sriniva@gmail.com
editor@ctindianlife.com