Indonesian Sindhis make their own success stories

Indonesian Sindhis make their own success stories

By Yogita Tahil Ramani

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian-born Indians carve a respectable
niche -- a refined little India tableau in their adopted homeland
-- through their strong business acumen and hybrid spirit.

Examples of successful Indians from Punjabi, South India and
Gujrati are all around, but one group stands out. Counting among
them TV mogul Ram Punjabi, school administrator Pishu Sawlani of
the Gandhi Memorial International School in Pasar Baru, Central
Jakarta, entrepreneur Ram Bharwani of PT Ganda Agung and
restaurateur Ramesh Shamdasani, Sindhis are the most visibly
prominent lot in Jakarta.

There are a little more than 1,000 Sindhi families in the
capital alone. They are from Sindh, a land lining the lower delta
of the Indus River of the Indus Valley. Affluent, successful and
renowned, these people have branched out into innumerable
countries and become one the world's richest communities.

In keeping with their feted social skills, Indonesian-born
Sindhis are mostly traders, traditionally belonging to the trader
(vaisya) caste.

The old, current and coming generations of Sindhis in Jakarta
are symbolic of the fine balance between upholding ethos and
traditionalism, and interspersing it with Indonesian and Western
influences.

Staunch traditionalism still characterizes a distinct
minority, just as conservatism in social gatherings is still
indicative of dignity.

Marriages

But their Indonesian qualities are apparent, even though
speaking an Indian language would give their origins away. They
are not blithely idealistic, and they prefer to explain rather
than to be explicit. They might voice opinions, but ordinarily
they would never be the first to ask personal questions.

Arranged marriages are still a priority in most Sindhi
families, even as marriages for love are on the rise.

Relations manager of the department in charge of non-resident
Indians' accounts at Citibank, Geeta Tejoomall, spoke about
changing views on love marriages, once considered the ultimate
betrayal of a family's trust.

"The fact that love marriages are now welcomed in society is
already a significant plus," the 22-year-old said.

"They (parents) have to be practical. Parents no longer want
to be blamed for the bad marriages of their children, because
they always had good intentions in mind. It is a risk we take
alone, for the rest of our lives. They understand that now."

The Sindhi ethos of traditionalism and culture instills
community treasures of business ethics -- such as honesty,
calmness and avoiding unnecessary conflict -- within the clan.

Changing times have made these values fruitful for some, and
futile for others.

"In business, if all you do is consider values and feel sorry
for others, at the end of the day the only person you will feel
sorry for is yourself," Geeta said.

"I would like to be frank..but I cannot afford to. I have to
explain, or I would end up seriously demotivating my
subordinates."

Pishu Sawlani disagrees on ethical values being on the wane or
presenting a hindrance to money-making agendas.

"It is my firsthand experience that Indian values and
tradition instilled in me, my Sindhi ethics, have earned me my
customers," said Pishu.

Pishu had no doubts about where his loyalties lay.

"I don't really like calling myself an Indonesian citizen or
naturalized Indonesian," said Pishu. "I call myself Indonesian. I
take pride in having my Sindhi values, but I was born and brought
up here. The Indonesian Constitution and people have welcomed us
with open arms."

Director of film production firm Bola Dunia Films Dipti Sippy
said cultural changes were only to be expected in a shrinking
world.

"Brains open up. All you have to do is see reality firsthand,"
the daughter of late filmmaker Jiwat Khemchandani said at her
office on Jl. Gunung Sahari, Central Jakarta.

"Changing times demand a change in perspectives. There is no
such thing as inheriting an identity... Even if you inherit family
business, you have to live up to the name. A showpiece takes no
time to be discarded."

Young people

Romantic cliches of Indian youth have been superseded by the
reality of those living extravagant, even dreamy lifestyles, and
earning them as well.

Movers and shakers imbibe the trappings of the fast lane and
MTV culture. "When you see Mariah Carey in a gorgeous outfit, you
don't just sit there, you either go and buy something like it or
make the exact copy," said Geeta.

Similarly, the younger generation embrace hard-earned, fat
paychecks, sating intellectual appetite and dynamism in the
workplace.

Their irrepressible conviction is the definitive money-making
solution as they set off determinedly in pursuit of their dreams.

Son of Queens restaurateur Ramesh Shamdasani, 21-year-old
Munesh Shamdasani, said: "Your father's money, is something he
earned, not you. Our generation understands the value of money,
and a good life."

Individualistic identities matter; even as some do not yearn
to revisit India, they take pride in being Indian. Foreign TV
channels and shows increasingly breed hybridity and a big-world
culture. Almost every Sindhi household has satellite television.

"Foreign channels like Zee and EL (Indian channels) put our
Indian culture on the world map, through creative modes or
Westernized style."

"They make us more aware of Indian cultural festivals like
Holi or celebrating Id, and Indian values, current and old, more
than anything else," said the 22-year-old who is studying
business administration at the Institut Pengembangan Managemen
Indonesia in Kalibata, South Jakarta.

Preeti sums up the orientation of her peers: "Everybody wants
to be free. It's not about emulating TV cultures or adapting to
traditionalism, just living life your way."