Letters

I am responding to Allison Hanken’s comments on the article of “The Problem of Legal Immigration”(June 2006).

You should emphasize the difficulties of obtaining H4 dependant visas for spouses and children. I am a H1B holder and have been working as a consultant for the past 5 years, paying taxes regularly. I was married in November 2003, but even now I can’t bring my wife on a H4 visa to this country. We are continually responding to queries from the Chennai Consulate. Every time I submit the relevant documents they demand, officers don’t bother to look at them and ask for additional documents. I spent all of 2005 in India to bring my wife, but came back alone in December.

I have a friend who married two years ago and who is still waiting for his wife’s H4 visa, which is languishing in administrative delays, so he is returning to India next month. Another friend, who supplied all the original certificates to the consulate is still waiting for almost a year and is repeatedly told only that his case is “under administrative process.”

These are just a tip of the iceberg. Many families are separated and suffering. Bill Gates and others are lobbying for increasing the H1B quota, but no one is bothered about the sufferings of their spouses. If the government grants a primary applicant an H1B, then why is it blocking the dependant visas?
We consultants help the American economy and its people with our technology services. We deserve better treatment. There is talk of amnesty for illegal immigrants, but there is no consideration for the professional community that is servicing the country and paying its fair share of taxes.

Kannan Viswagandhi
Via Email

Your June 2006 editorial “Worst President in History?” is truly courageous. To address this president as the “worst president in the history of USA is factually correct and proven by the ongoing killings of 2,500 troops and marines along with more than 50,000 innocent kids, young women and men in Iraq.

Bush’s government is a complete failure at home. It has also been rebuked by the Supreme Court on Guantanamo Bay prisoners. But this shameless and incompetent administration has no regrets. In the name of terror, this administration is terrorizing its own people. But for how long?

The article “The Problem with Legal Immigration” (June 2006) has some factual errors. She should check her facts with the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service. Hunderds of thousands of people are still waiting for their visas under the three categories mentioned by her. I am one of them. My daughter sponsored my wife and me in December 2002. My wife received her green card in February 2005 after two years. I am still waiting even after three-and-a-half years.

What is Hateja’s definition of “immediate visas with no wait.” Does she comprehend that 2, 3, or 4 years is a long wait? How can she say that “parents…can get immediate visas, with no wait.” I am still waiting with no end in sight.

Anonymous

I really relate to your magazine, because I had encountered many Indian immigrants living in America with their families during my college years at City University of New York. Many of them became close friends over the past 25 years and I’ve experienced their joys and pains as well as Bollywood movies, Lata Mangeshkar, Kathakali concerts and Indian theater. 

Beitha
New York, NY

I am Indian of African descent. I recently saw a copy of Little India and even before opening its pages felt a deep connection to it. I can imagine how this must sound. But for me, it reverberates in something very intrinsic. My upbringing failed to facilitate a proper understanding and embracing of my Indian half because of a lack of interaction with the Indian community.

For years now I’ve existed in and through what seemed like only a partial form of expression. Little India serves a tool of enlightenment, one that provides the reader with a probe into the affairs of its people, my people!

My discovery of this publication was truly fortuitous, helping me bridge two bodies of thought, form and expression. It marks the beginning of something profound, a birth centered around the search for knowledge and appreciation of a misplaced portion of my identity.

Raja Raghubeer Singh
Vonia, MI

I am amazed by Little India. I came to the United States two months ago and have been frustrated and have even been toying with returning. When I discovered Little India I was overjoyed with articles about Indian life in America. You should add more articles about India. The article “My Indian Attachment” (Sept 2006) touched me deeply.

F Durrat
New Jersey
 
I found the letter by an Indian, Dominic Anthony (Aug 2006), condemning Indians as a class in humiliating terms unfortunate. The letter cautions against doing business with Indians merely on the ground that they are frugal and “cheap.” The letter is highly derogatory and no Indian with pride can tolerate being branded “cheap”.

It may be true that Indians are frugal. A vast majority of them immigrated to U.S in search of greener pastures. Nevertheless, they leave behind in India aged and sick parents with huge commitments for their medical expenses, dependent brothers and sisters. Many are therefore bound and forced to be frugal and that is good as long as they do not exploit others in business.

One shouldn’t on the basis of stray cases resort to condemning or blacklisting the community as a whole. Criticism should always be objective and constructive and that demonstrates the quality of our mind and life. Indians do know to enjoy life and live with dignity as much as they endure suffering.

Satyanarayana
Naperville, Ill.

The limits of your ignorance shows no bounds. Your anti-Bush editorials combined with your unabashed a..-licking of Clinton (September 2006) shows me what total morons you and your staff are. Since you dislike the policies of this country so much, why the hell don’t you take your rat worshipping a.. back to that stinking third world hell hole you crawled out of. How I wish your mothers had heard of abortion!
Please remove my name from your subscriber list as I don’t need your rag polluting my home. I already have plenty of toilet paper. 

Raj Paul
Houston, Texas

I read your magazine with deep
interest. All your sections are valuable. I especially appreciate that you show both sides. All of us have different point of views and you may agree or not, but your magazine reflects all viewpoints.

Vinita
Via Email

Every month, I turn to two features first -ones by Kavita Chhibber and Lavina Melvani. I was terribly disappointed to see an article on Zayed Khan “The Son Rises” (July 2006). Chhibber has written such classy and candid interviews or articles on Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Imrat Khan, Shaan, Gen2 Gen, Anoushka Shankar and Anglo Indians. But what are the achievements of Zayed Khan as an actor? He is a new kid on the block born with a silver spoon in the mouth, probably in a golden crib, with beautiful genes from his parents and in the shadow of an yesteryear handsome actor father. Even if are dedicated to so called “Bollywood” stars, there are many other accomplished sons and daughters rising on the horizon with their hard work. I hope to see more articles on truly deserving sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, even grandpas and grandmas who have contributed much more in various fields.

V.K. Murthy
Via email