From The Peopling of New York City
Mr. Agarwal is an attorney who currently practices in the South Asian-Jackson Heights area, although his office is physically located in Woodside, Queens. He has been located in the area for three years but has been connected to the shopping district since childhood.
April 20, 2009 at 4pm Transcript
Where you born in the US?
No. I moved here when I was about six years old.
So where you born?
Actually I was born in England. We lived there for a few years but I do not really remember. We also lived in India for a little while. But, I have lived in the United States for most of my life and consider myself an American.
How do you identify yourself ethnically?
I guess I would have to say Indian. From the way I look and from my name it is obvious that I am Indian. But, to tell you the truth, I do not identify with India or South Asia culture. I guess the extent of my Indian interaction is that I eat Indian food but I eat Chinese or Japanese food just as often. Above all, I am American. I live here, my family lives here, and this is the country that has given me many opportunities.
Why do you choose not to identify with Indian-Americans?
To tell you the truth, I cannot relate to them. Actually I have an interesting anecdote. I have been to India a few times but my parents travel back there more often. In America, Indians stick to old Indian values from like the 1960s but Indian has modernized. I am relatively conservative but the way many Indians act is far too extreme for me. They try to cling onto the “back in Indian” mentality but to be honest the India of today is different from the India of their imaginations.
I will give you another classic case. My wife and I will go to an Indian restaurant and the service is horrible. The waiters will go up to a Caucasian diner and ask them for water and be really attentive but they ignore Indian customers. That’s just not right. Many Indians are cheap and don’t really tip. But I do. Actually, I probably tip more than the white customers. I hate how people make generalizations about Indians.
What is your educational background?
Ugh, just generally or specifics.
I guess as it pertains to your practice?
College, Law school. After law school I have a graduate degree in taxation.
What law school did you attend?
I went to two law schools. I went to Temple University and I have my JD degree from there. Then I went to the University of Florida. I have an LLM in taxation.
Do your parents live in the United States?
Yes, they live nearby. They go back to India every once in a while to visit family and their friends.
What is their educational background?
Well, my father is a doctor so medical school. He went to Medical School in India and he went to school for part of the time in London. And my mom- I guess high school or college.
Do you have any siblings?
Yes, one brother.
What is his occupation?
Ugh, I don’t know. He works for CBS…CBS sports. He also owns and operates a literary company. You talk about values… He went to film school. And so he got out of film school and with a friend of his he opened up a literary magazine. That’s not exactly what good Indians are supposed to do.
Why did you want to become a lawyer?
That’s not an easy question. I really don’t have a good answer. You know, its not like I dreamt about being a lawyer when I was a little kid. It kind of just happened. Now, I don’t know if they is anything else I could do but there are times when I wish I would have chosen something else. You should think long and hard before considering becoming a lawyer, it is not fun. It is one of the most aggravating jobs.
I had no other option. It was as simple as saying I woke up one morning and decided to go to law school . No prior thought in that regard. I don’t have an explanation for you. Nothing.
Do you specialize in a certain field?
Real Estate and litigation. Not so much litigation any more.
Do you work specifically in Queens, or?
Queens, the city, Long Island, all over.
What is the ethnic makeup of your clients?
Would you like me to specify like X percent Bangladeshi and X percent Punjabi or like South Asian?
As specific as you can be.
Hm… let me think. 50 % Bangladeshi, 20% Indian- subcontinent. And the rest- everyone else, non Indian or Bangladeshi.
Do you do anything to specifically advertise towards South Asians.
Um…no. I have put in ads in papers. In Indian and Bangladeshi papers. I have been on my own for 15 years. In the past 15 year, I have probably put in three ads in South Asian papers. Two when I was first starting out and I put one in a Bangladeshi newspaper last year. There is nothing else.
Let me tell you a funny story about that and labeling, I used to work in Forest Hills prior to working in this office. I worked with about seven other lawyers. One of them said to me, I’m going to advertise in a gay newspaper. They are clean, they pay, and they don’t talk back. I was going to do it. People stick to their own kind. I was going to do, but imagine the ad with a picture of my wife and kids.
I take offense to it. A lot of my clients are through referrals. I tend to get Indians through referrals. Brokers don’t care and will send me any kind of client but lawyers tend to give me Indian clients. They think, he’s Indian, so this will work.
Do you think your clients feel more comfortable?
They may think they do. They are the worst people. I am not like this and my parents are not like this- in terms of being cheap. Like at nice Indian restaurants, we just don’t get the same service. They assume, rightfully so that Indians are cheap. It is often true. I prefer working with non-Indian.
Do they seems to feel more comfortable?
Maybe. They would probably treat a non-Indian better. They would act nicely and listen and pay the expected rate. To me, they are like, you are my brother you can trust me, can’t you give me a less expensive rate. If you were actually my brother I would not charge you but you are not. They have this idea of the “Desi Discount” you know we are all Indian so my rates for co-ethnics should be less, but that does not make sense. You pay for what you get. If you want a good attorney then you will have to pay.
Do you belong to any Professional Organizations?
No. I have no idea why people do that .Any spare time I have I spend with my family. I don’t join any club that would accept me as a member.
Where do you currently live?
In Long Island. Manhasset Hills.
Why do you work here?
I used to work in Forest Hills. It was a nice location. Two reasons, most of my clients work here, literally down the block. Two, I was part of a big office, and things weren’t working. We couldn’t get along. My wife is a lawyer also. We both decided to mover our office here together. But another example of how we are conservative. You that her name is on the door but she probably comes in like once a week. Ever since our twins were born, she stays at home more.
Do you like working here?
Um… the fact that I have to pause should answer it. MY father is a doctor. And I feel like I have a practice similar to his, which is something I never wanted. My father would have a waiting room filled with people waiting to see him who did not make appointments. In Jackson Heights, people feel like they can just come up here and talk to me, people do not feel the need to make an appointment. In Forest Hills, no one would ever do this. I’ll tell you what, because I am located here. I am suffering a lot less than I would otherwise during this economic time. In Forest Hills, I was unable to attract customer and people didn’t want to come there. I tried to attract the Russians and other people in Forest Hills, but it is much easier here. The clients are here, but the location isn’t the nicest.
To tell you the truth, I have been familiar with this area since I was a kid. I used to come here with my family to buy Indian products. I have seen the area change. It used to be just Indian, then the Bangladeshis moved here and now there are new people. I just don't always like dealing with those people (points out the window unto 73rd St)