INDIA ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA ORAL HISTORY PROJECT (PHASE 4):

This is the fourth in a set of interviews with the India Association of Minnesota [IAM], formerly known as the India Club. Formed in 1973, it seeks to build a sense of community amongst those of South Asian Indian origin while serving as a focal point for advancing cultural, educational, and charitable interests. Some of the subjects discussed by the interviewees include moving to Minnesota and becoming acquainted with members of the Indian community; education; marriage; finding jobs; involvement in the Festival of Nations; the role of politics; participation in the School of India for Languages and Culture [SILC]; India Day activities; involvement in the Minnesota Asian Indian Democratic Association [MAIDA] and the Asian Indian Women's Association [AIWA]; the organizational structure of IAM, including the Trustee Advisory Committee and the Nomination Committee; the fiftieth anniversary celebration of the independence of India; current challenges faced by IAM; membership and future of the organization; second-generation Indian-Americans; identity and gender issues; service projects and fundraisers; discrimination; and future challenges for IAM.

Return to top

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. India Association of Minnesota Oral History Project (Phase 4). Oral history interviews of the India Association of Minnesota Oral History Project (Phase 4). Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: AV2007.24

Processing Information:

Processed by: J. Huebscher, September 2009.

Catalog ID number: 990069594030104294

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Jagadish Desai was born in India and came to the United States in 1959 to study chemical engineering. He came to Minnesota in 1962. He was one of the founders of the India Association of Minnesota [IAM], formerly known as the India Club.

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include coming to the United States to study chemical engineering; difficulty initially finding a job; meeting and marrying his wife; moving to Minnesota; first job with Gould-National Batteries; housing and job discrimination; meeting other Indians through the University of Minnesota’s Indo-American club; involvement with the International Institute, and subsequently the Festival of Nations; involvement in the foundation of the India Club; process of inviting speakers, musicians, artists, and others from India to speak and give performances in Minnesota; involvement in Bicentennial activities; meeting people of various ethnic backgrounds in Minnesota; becoming a United States citizen and involvement in politics; obtaining his law degree; and retirement.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Gummadi Franklin graduated from pharmacy school in India before immigrating to Minnesota in 1969. He became president of the India Association of Minnesota [IAM] in 1998.

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include childhood; growing up in India; family; education; getting married; moving to Minnesota and finding a job; involvement with the Trustee Advisory Committee of the IAM; creation of the School of India for Languages and Culture [SILC]; various demographical branches of the IAM; importance of community; membership in the association; involvement in the Festival of Nations; serving as president of the association; fiftieth anniversary of India’s independence celebration; involvement in relief projects; commercialization of the organization; future of the association.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Neena Gada immigrated to Minnesota in 1967. She was active in both the School of India for Languages and Culture [SILC] and the India Association of Minnesota [IAM].

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include coming to the United States after marriage; meeting other Indian families; involvement in early cultural programs; involvement with the Indo-American Association; participation in the Festival of Nations; involvement in SILC, including recruiting participants and teachers; involvement in the India Club; planning the first India Day activities; importance of teaching her children about Indian culture; recruiting members for IAM; involvement in MAIDA [Minnesota Asian Indian Democratic Association]; and retirement.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Deep Shikha Gupta came to Minnesota in 1986 and completed her Ph.D in economics. She became involved with the School of India for Languages and Culture [SILC] and also the India Association of Minnesota [IAM].

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include growing up in India; having an arranged marriage; teaching economics; moving to the United States and completing her Ph.D in addition to raising two children; meeting other Indians in the community; involvement in SILC; involvement in IAM and participation in events such as India Day; personal rewards of involvement in IAM and problems faced by the Indian community; impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Indian community; controversial issues faced by IAM; membership and future of IAM; second-generation Indian-Americans and identity issues; gender inequality in India and in the United States; and opportunities for women in the United States.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Dilip Mallick immigrated to Minnesota in 1985 and became involved with the India Association of Minnesota [IAM] shortly thereafter. He became president of the organization in 2005.

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include family; education and working in India; immigrating to the United States and finding a job; getting married; initial involvement in IAM; mission statement of IAM; serving on the board of IAM; coordinating service projects such as fundraisers for environmental disasters; providing humanitarian aid to India; funding process and role of non-governmental organizations in relief projects; challenges faced by IAM; involvement in the annual India Day event; life in the United States versus life in India; involvement in Bengali Association; IAM member recruitment.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Ashoke Mandal came to Minnesota in 1995 and, upon arrival, contacted various members of the Indian community. He became president of the India Association of Minnesota [IAM] in 2002.

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include family; education in India; immigration to the United States and becoming a citizen; finding a job in Minnesota; contacting members of the Indian community and subsequent involvement with IAM; involvement with the Bengali Association; participation in the Festival of Nations; coordinating the annual dinner for IAM; contact with important Minnesota political figures; issues dealt with by IAM; organizational structure of IAM; member recruitment; impact of Senator Paul Wellstone’s death on him and the Indian community; newsletter India Town; and future of IAM.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Niru Misra came to the United States at a young age and became involved in the India Association of Minnesota [IAM] soon after college. She served on the board of IAM for three years before being elected president.

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include growing up in the United States; professional life; father’s involvement with IAM and Niru’s subsequent involvement; experience living in the United States during the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement; presence of Indian culture in American media; involvement in the Festival of India; goals of IAM; reaching out to the non-Indian community; service projects and volunteer opportunities through IAM; involvement in School of India for Languages and Culture [SILC]; serving on the board for IAM; organizational structure; gender roles in India versus the United States; serving as president of IAM and the projects undertaken; difficulty in member recruitment; Indian performing arts; challenges faced by IAM; founding the Asian Indian Women’s Association [AIWA]; issues dealt with by AIWA such as domestic abuse; immigration and discrimination; changing the name of India Club to India Association of Minnesota; and future challenges of IAM.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Sarat Mohapatra was born in India and came to the United States in 1972. After moving to Minnesota, he became involved in the India Association of Minnesota [IAM] and became president of the organization in the late 1990s.

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include family; education in India; immigrating to the United States; completing his Ph.D program; getting married; moving to Minnesota; meeting members of the Indian community in Minnesota; involvement in the School of India for Languages and Culture [SILC]; participation in the Festival of Nations; serving on the board of IAM; major projects undertaken during his time on the IAM board, such as the fiftieth anniversary celebration of India’s independence and work on the Asian Indian Community Directory; involvement in the Minnesota Asian Indian Democratic Association [MAIDA]; service and community outreach projects done by IAM; involvement in the Trustee Advisory Committee, which is part of IAM; future challenges and future leadership for IAM; politics; balancing local commitment with the commitment to India; and the need for more volunteering and service-based activities.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Godan Nambudiripad came to Minnesota in 1981 with his family and became acquainted with the Indian community. He became president of the India Association of Minnesota [IAM] in 1990.

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include moving to the United States; education; finding a job; becoming acquainted with members of the Indian community in Minnesota; involvement in the School of India for Languages and Culture [SILC] and the Hindu Mandir; early involvement in IAM; India Day activities and community involvement; participation in Festival of Nations volunteering activities; serving on the board of IAM, and eventually as president; meeting the Ambassador of India to the United States; community outreach and service programs; involvement in the IAM-sponsored speaker’s bureau and experience speaking at various schools; community dance dramas; host family program for Indian international students; the Share and Care program; Literacy As a Movement for People [LAMP] movement and fundraising; IAM newsletter; the Children’s Home Society; early history projects and lasting legacies; role of the internet; the Numbudiri caste; IAM membership; and maintaining Indian culture.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Stefan Peterson married an Indian and thus became involved in the Indian community. He became actively involved with the Festival of Nations and was later appointed president of the India Association of Minnesota [IAM].

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include education; meeting and marrying his wife; becoming involved in the Indian community in Minnesota; volunteering for the Festival of Nations; learning about Indian culture and traditions; visiting India; being approached about the presidency of IAM and activities involved in during presidency; membership; India Day activities; support for service projects; organizational structure and political involvement of IAM; reasons for success of IAM; changing IAM’s name from India Club; immigration; and the future of IAM.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Shanti Shah moved to Minnesota in 1974 and began meeting members of the Indian community. She was involved in the School of India for Languages and Culture [SILC] and the India Association of Minnesota [IAM] and became president of IAM in the 1990s.

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include moving to Canada; getting married; coming to Minnesota and meeting members of the Indian community; becoming involved in IAM and SILC; funding for SILC; participation in the Festival of Nations and working in the café and the exhibit; participation of Indian children in the Festival of Nations; inception of the Festival of India; European views of India; involvement in the Trustee Advisory Council, which is part of IAM; serving on the board of IAM; gender roles; involvement in the Asian Indian Women’s Association [AIWA] and the Minnesota Asian Democratic Association [MAIDA]; events involved in while serving as IAM president; importance of the arts; reasons for the success of IAM; and the younger membership of IAM.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

Use Restrictions: None.

Biographical Information: Dr. Vasant Sukhatme was born in India and came to Minnesota in 1978 after finishing his Ph.D in economics. He became president of the India Association of Minnesota [IAM] in 1996.

Scope and Content: Subjects discussed include childhood; education; coming to Minnesota; marriage; finding a teaching job at a college; meeting members of the Indian community in the late 1970s; early involvement in IAM; volunteering for the Festival of Nations; reasons for joining the IAM board; activities involved in while serving on the IAM board; the fiftieth anniversary celebration of India’s independence; serving as president of IAM; involvement in the Trustee Advisory Council; future vision of IAM; outsourcing; membership of IAM; involvement in the School of India for Languages and Culture [SILC]; second generation Indian-Americans; challenges faced by IAM; politics; service projects, fundraising and volunteer efforts; and future aspirations for projects IAM might take on.

Interviewed by: Polly Sonifer.

Return to top

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Acculturation -- Minnesota.

East Indian Americans -- Minnesota.

Families -- India.

Persons:

Desai, Jagadish, interviewee.

Franklin, Gummadi J., interviewee.

Gada, Neena, interviewee.

Gupta, Deep Shikha, interviewee.

Mallick, Dilip, interviewee.

Mandal, Ashoke, interviewee.

Misra, Niru, interviewee.

Mohapatra, Sarat, interviewee.

Nambudiripad, Godan, interviewee.

Peterson, Stefan interviewee.

Shah, Shanti, interviewee.

Sonifer, Polly interviewer.

Sukhatme, Vasant, interviewee.

Organizations:

India Association of Minnesota.

Places:

India -- Social life and customs.

Document Types:

Oral histories

Interviews.

Return to top