At home and abroad, Gujarat has never loomed larger

Long before the PM’s NRI-fest in America, there was the global Gujarati. From Uganda to the US, the non-resident Gujarati has been criss-crossing the globe more regularly than perhaps Superman on an urgent mission. Those of us acquainted with American Born Confused Desis, emigrated From Gujarat, House In Jersey, (ABCDEFGHIJ), also know that the Gujarati may have been globalised for two centuries yet has always clung tenaciously to his civilisational roots.

From managing grocery stores in Leicester to running motels in Los Angeles (or ‘Potels’ as they were famously known), the Gujarati — along with Punjabis — are India’s first globalised community, driven by an incorrigible spirit of ‘dhando’ or business. As they once said of geeks, never make fun of a Gujju-bhai because one day he could be your boss!

In Jackson Heights, NY, sometimes referred to as little Gujarat, you can play garba during Navratra and get the best dhoklas and farsan. Disco dandia and Patel rap, “no-onion” pizza and sitaphal ice cream, the smooth Gujarati synthesis of East and West could well be a model for those anxious about loss of culture in globalising India.

Tony Blair and Bill Clinton may have once hot-footed it to Hyderabad, David Cameron may have set sail for Bangalore, but now with Xi Jinping and Madam Liyuan smilingly swinging on the banks of the Sabarmati, maybe it’s time to say move over Bangalore and Hyderabad, Amdavad is now the sweet spot for global premiers.

It should come as no surprise that Narendra Modi packed in the crowds at Madison Square Garden. For the non-resident Gujarati, Modi is an icon: he speaks their language of Hindu nationalism while retaining his Gujarati pride. Long before the rest of India discovered him, the NRG had already discovered Modi magic. Only then it was over a video link since Modi wasn’t given a US visa. Now, their hero is with them, not in 3D, but ‘live’. For the rest of the world, Madison Square Garden may conjure up memories of boxing matches and rock concerts: for the NRG, Modi is their very own rock star.

The global Gujarati is steadfastly loyal to his kin: the Gujarati diaspora rushed to the rescue of his home state after the 2001 earthquake. The Palanpuri Jains may run a global diamond empire, yet remained closely bound by ties of family and community. Gujarati grannies are often seen crowding airports, off to push perambulators in Pittsburgh, to make sure that American-born grandchildren do not forget the joys of undhiu and thepla. For the Gujarati, modern mercantilism combines easily with traditional social mores.

Many of the first outbound NRG travellers were bania merchants from Kutch, discovering new horizons in Africa, while trading in spices and commodities. The most famous NRG was, of course, Mahatma Gandhi, who discovered his vocation in South Africa. Another proud Gujarati, Dhirubhai Ambani, travelled to Aden in search of his fortune.

In more recent times, America is the most preferred destination. Affluent and upwardly mobile, Gujaratis are a tad different from that other great other migrant community: the NRP (non-resident Punjabi). While a sardarji may cheerfully drive a cab in London or New York, the Gujarati prefers to sit behind the shop window, keeping services open even on a Sunday.

Long distance nationalism or internet nationalism dominates: a desire to retain one’s Indianness even while thriving in another country. Modi has tapped into that desire like no previous leader and membership of Overseas Friends of the BJP has skyrocketed.

As they say with a distinct American twang in Jackson Heights, with Modi at the helm “all is fine” or “badhu saru che!”