Bidesh: a log

log/progress tracker of summer project

[imrul-islam]

EJ sees the light

[imrul-islam]

September 11, 2001 changed everything for Bangladeshi Muslims in America. Once considered the token minority, Bangladeshis transformed overnight into terrorists, Arabs, hate-mongering Moslems who sought to destroy America. First hand accounts describe how in the days and weeks after 9/11, Bangladeshi businesses were vandalized, children racially abused in schools and mosques threatened. For Bangladeshi Muslims, a big part of living in America is to live in fear, and although 9/11 happened 14 years ago, the backlashes are still being felt. 

Photograph: The One World Trade Center at sunset.

[imrul-islam]

What drives migration? Do long term gains outweigh initial costs? I'm spending this summer trying to chart the experience of adopting a new identity in a foreign land by documenting the Bangladeshi immigrants in NYC. The people I talk to often attribute migration to providing increased opportunities for their children. In the photo, my 5-year old cousin, a PR of NYC for the last 2 years plays at sunset.

[imrul-islam]

Immigration is often less about bettering one’s own life and more about paving the way for the next generation. It is estimated that around 60,000* Bangladeshis live in New York as of now, but numbers are growing astronomically. Between 1990 and 2000, the Bangladeshi diaspora (reportedly) grew faster than any other Asian immigrant group in the city. However, over 27% of this population do not hold a high school diploma, and around 31% live in poverty. The situation, however, is improving-- with Bangladeshis opening up small businesses and thriving. 

In mapping the Bangladeshi immigration experience, I initially struggled with deciding which aspects I wanted to concentrate on, for encyclopedic entries interest very few. Conversations with a few incredible photographers later, I was led to realize that although the struggles faced by immigrants can never be generalized, the emotions evoked by those (very different) struggles have common threads. This blog therefore will serve as a more academic view of the experience, separate from the photo story that I hope to put up on my website at the end of summer.

Photo: A girl eats chotpoti at a Bangaldeshi mela in Ozone Park, New York.

*Sources: http://huff.to/1QgKAnC, http://www.aafny.org/cic/briefs/bangladeshi.pdf 

[imrul-islam]

The Bangladeshi immigration experience seems to revolve around an odd mixture of hiraeth* and muted happiness. Happiness because there is social and financial security here in America, muted because home is not synonymous with the star spangled banner. I have talked to a handful of people so far, from Najim Uddin who works at a makeshift shop on the sidewalk selling prayer mats, to Abdus Samad, who stands by 69th and Roosevelt passing out jewelry store cards to strangers. There are commonalities in hope and despair when it comes to immigrants– most move because of families, better healthcare, social and financial security … in short, the American dream. “Bidesh” however, often involves grappling with work that is deemed demeaning back home, or worse, no work at all. 

*hiraeth is a Welsh word that can be loosely defined as homesickness tinged with grief or sadness-- a mixture of longing, yearning, nostalgia and wistfulness for the past.

[imrul-islam]

The American dream ebbs and flows, draws in and discards at will.

[imrul-islam]

Seen on Brooklyn Bridge: a man prepares to photograph his mother with the Hudson as a backdrop. This is a popular destination for first time visitors, and many walk the bridge for a view of the skyline from the piers on the other side. Almost as if the American dream is embedded into the Manhattan cityscape.

[imrul-islam]

Roosevelt Ave/ Jackson Heights. The city is abuzz.

[imrul-islam]

“Bidesh” was inspired in part by Nani, who spent her entire life back in Bangladesh before immigrating to America. This however is not her first time here: nani visited once before, and upon returning had important wisdom to share. America apparently had great cutlery but the fruits didn’t taste as they did back home and the flowers didn’t smell right. For more about my Nani, check out Slow Decay and A+ Stories, C- Sword on WordPress.

[imrul-islam]

As part of my summer research/ photo project, I’m supposed to blog. As a means of keeping track of what I’m doing/ how I’m doing what I’m doing.The idea is to use the Burnam Fellowship to document the experiences of Bangladeshi immigrants in New York City. I will concentrate primarily on the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn, and will use photos to tell stories. This blog will serve as a progress report of sorts, a day-to-day/weekly-when-I’m-lazy log of activities and changes. I’ll officially start the project June 1st, right after moving into my (way) uptown room for the summer.

Photo: A stranger naps at Poughkeepsie Train Station, New York.