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."