The question of identity for many Indians abroad often elicits complex responses. On a humid afternoon in New York, a casual inquiry—"Where are you from?"—prompted a moment of reflection for an Indian expatriate who has spent two decades in Sweden. Despite his accent suggesting his Indian roots, he hesitated,caught between his birthplace and his current home.
Born in India,he now considers Sweden his home,yet finds himself in the U.S. for work,feeling like a transient. Texas, where he currently resides,has been welcoming,but it lacks the emotional connection he has with Sweden. His longing for a different America, one that diverges from the uniformity he has experienced,led him to seek solace in New York.
In Times Square, atmosphere was electric as soccer fans gathered for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Amidst excitement, he encountered Ale, fellow sports enthusiast. Their conversation quickly turned to the familiar question of origin . For many migrants, such inquiries can unravel a complex tapestry of identity and belonging.
While he could easily claim India as his origin,doing so felt like a simplification of his multifaceted identity. India holds his childhood memories,the small town where he grew up,and the years spent in Delhi . Yet,he grappled with the idea of belonging, often feeling disconnected from places he has lived.
Edward Said,a Palestinian-American postcolonial theorist, posits that birthplace and belonging can diverge. This resonates deeply with the Indian expatriate,who finds himself navigating a layered identity. In Times Square,he opted for the simpler answer, avoiding the complexities of his life story .
The following day, he met Yuriy, Ukrainian-American who has lived in U.S. for 14 years. When asked about his origins,Yuriy expressed profound sense of alienation. Despite being a U.S. citizen,he felt like an outsider, unable to return to Ukraine due to military obligations. His situation starkly contrasted with Indian expatriate's,highlighting varying experiences of migrants .
Yuriy's children,however,felt at home in America,a silver lining in his otherwise challenging narrative . This exchange brought comfort to the Indian expatriate,who recognized the privilege of having a place he could still call home.
As he prepared to leave New York,the question of origin lingered in his mind. He realized that he need not choose one identity over another. His Indian heritage remains integral to who he is,even as Sweden has become his home. The experiences of living in multiple countries have woven together to create a rich tapestry of identity.
In future encounters, he might respond to question of where he is from with a smile, indicating that it depends on which aspect of his identity one is inquiring about. This realization marks a step toward embracing the complexity of belonging in a globalized world.
