The Atma of Politics
Ideology vs. Ethnicity: The Curious Case of Bobby Jindal!

Here is an excerpt from the 60 Minutes interview with Louisiana’s Republican Governor, Piyush “Bobby” Jindal a week after he gave the GOP response to President Obama’s first address to a Joint Congressional session:

“SAFER (Interviewer- voice over): Little Slade Jindal came into the world in a hurry back in the summer of 2006 — at home, with his then-Congressman father forced to serve as midwife.

They (the Jindals) have three children, aged 7, 4 and 2, who have made the governor` s mansion their own — a picture-perfect family life.

Safer (on camera): Does your family maintain any of the Indian traditions?

Supriya JINDAL: Not too many. I mean, not...

Bobby JINDAL: They`ve been here for so many years that...

S. JINDAL: ... that we`ve sort of adapted. We were raised as Americans, you know? We were raised as Louisians. So, that`s how we live our lives.

SAFER (voice-over): He`s a classic product of the American melting pot — this oyster- and crawfish-eating Louisianian tends to downplay his ethnic background.

AMOSS (announcer): When we sent a reporter and photographer to India to write about his family and their origins, the Jindal family was very queasy about, about that undertaking.

SAFER (on camera): He clearly presents himself as a true blue American.”

The question that I have looming in my mind for the past few weeks is how we as South Asians reconcile within ourselves the paradox of having someone share in our heritage but disavow that heritage and possibly support that candidate because of that shared culture, irrespective of party affiliation or political beliefs?

Republican Governor Piyush “Bobby” Jindal of Louisiana

Governor Bobby Jindal has been cast as the rising star within the Republican Party (GOP). Some have even said that he may be the next Republican candidate in the 2012 presidential elections. Moreover, there are many South Asians whom I have spoke to, whether Democrat or Republican, who have admired and supported him and have taken pride in the fact that an Indian-American has risen to such levels. Being the First Indian- American Governor and U.S. Representative before that, Mr. Jindal has accomplished a lot. However, what happens when a person whom we support, at least partially because we share the same heritage and background, states openly and suggests to a national mainstream audience that the shared background that we hold so dear is not very important to him, because he is “American?”

The definition of what an American is, is a debate for another time. But the idea, that somehow practicing Indian values, customs or traditions removes someone from being American seems to this author to be at the very least, a misunderstanding. America was, is and hopefully will remain a land of multiculturalism. The essence of why this country is great is its ever-changing dynamics of culture based in part on the growing cultural diaspora of people that make America their home. Being different is not and should not be construed as un-American.

Now, it is true that Governor Jindal converted from Hinduism to Catholicism when he was in high school and his wife did too, a few years after marriage but that does not, in it and of itself, remove him from his Indian roots. India is home to millions of Christians and Catholics, who are proud of their Indian heritage. However, it does, in the grander scope of things present a concern about his longing for acceptance in the mainstream American community. This is especially true considering the fact that Louisiana has a plurality of Catholic adherents in the state. Afurther example can be shown by his answer to the reason why he refers to himself as Bobby, supposedly after Bobby Brady from the Brady Bunch T.V. serial. He felt a connection to this character, which in no way resembled his Indian heritage. You cannot find fault with him for identifying with a mainstream television character, everyone does that, including me. But, as a collective impression from all the various issues raised above, it seems clear that Governor Jindal is not proud of his Indian heritage and does not identify with his South Asian roots.

Which brings up the ultimate question of whether we, as South Asians can in good conscience support a man because of his ethnic/ cultural/racial background, when he himself feels no connection to that background. Now there may be those who agree with his politics and for that they remain his supporters, but it is quite another issue to support him for his heritage if that is the only reason for supporting him. Only individuals can make up their mind about this decision, but it is a decision which should not be taken lightly and is worth its due consideration.

Whether or not Bobby Jindal is a good political leader or would be good for our country is not at dispute in this article. He has gained the respect of his party and his constituents in the state of Louisiana. He has brought a sense of determination of ridding the state of corruption through ethics reform and has shown himself to be in touch with the voice of the people. However the question remains, whether he is in touch with the Desi-American people? Maybe the bigger question is, whether the South Asian- American and PIO population feels connected with him for no more than the fact that he is PIYUSH Bobby JINDAL?

Dev B. Viswanath is a practicing attorney who is currently hosting a weekly political show called Desis & Politics which airs on Saturdays at 8:30 am and repeated on Sundays at 10 pm on ITV/ITVGOLD in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut on Time Warner Cable (Channel 77 or 563) and Cablevision (Channel 544). You can also watch previously aired programs at www.itvonweb.com . Please feel free to email Dev with your comments or suggestions at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .