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At the risk of generalizing, people of Indian descent take pride in our community’s achievements (I am an American-born daughter of Indian immigrants myself). But there are prominent Indian-Americans who inspire controversy at the Indian dinner party.
Take Vandana Shiva. Undoubtedly a controversial albeit prominent Indian public figure, the stately, self-proclaimed food activist rakes in big bucks on the premise of benevolence. She has achieved the deplorable yet amazing feat of appropriating her own culture. The term “cultural appropriation” usually describes the use and adulteration of elements of one culture by another. But Shiva has managed to exploit and demean her own culture under the guise of standing up for her countrymen, as a means to advance her anti-biotechnology agenda.
With greying hair pulled back in a low bun, a massive bindi, and always wrapped in a saree, the activist exudes the “aunty” persona, a term of respect that Indian people endow to unrelated women in their parents’ generation. Despite her endearing looks, Vandana Shiva’s exotification of the country and India-as-victim messaging does her few favors in the Indian community.
To me, an Indian-American daughter of immigrants, Shiva’s appropriation of her own culture is among the most offensive tactics in the activist’s repertoire. She reeks of “more Indian than thou”, leaving many non-Indian westerners accepting her without question as the voice of the Indian David against the Biotech Goliath. She characterizes her critics as “English Sahibs,” diverting attention from the reality that anti-GMO activists love to avoid—Indian farmers are benefitting from agricultural biotechnology. Non-Indians presumably refrain from doubting her authority for fear of appearing racist. A clever tactic, indeed.
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