From The Peopling of New York City

Interview Transcript

Next, I interviewed a Catholic Indian family (mother-Zita, father-Ramesh and teenaged son-Anthony) that attends the St. Sebastian Church on 58th street. This family also lives in Jackson Heights and has a lot of family back in India that are directly involved in the current Christian-Hindu riots. Fortunately, this family was more open and frank when asked touchy questions.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Hi, my name is Yasmin Zakiniaeiz and I am currently doing a school project at Hunter College. Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?

Anthony Rodrick: Umm, yea I guess…

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: How long have you been coming to this church?

Anthony Rodrick: I have been going for 10 years since I was 9.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: How about you ma’am?

Zita Rodrick: 15 years.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: How do you feel about it?

Ramesh Rodrick: I feel that there are things that happen to us for a reason and not everything can be explained by science or common sense and that’s where god and religion come into play. I feel like god guides me through all my difficult times. I use my prayer to show my faith to god and to ask for forgiveness when I sin. I believe that you are not a complete person without religion and in my family we are thankful for everything we have and we use our Sunday masses to give thanks to the god almighty.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: How do u feel about your interactions with other South Asian families at St. Sebastian?

Ramesh Rodrick: There aren’t that many South Asians in this neighborhood; they are predominantly Spanish and white. But for the few that are there we do sometimes acknowledge each other and greet one another.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Is that as far as your communications go?

Ramesh Rodrick: Yes

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Do u attend cultural events with other South Asians?

Anthony Rodrick: Okay so we have something called Probashi. This is a cultural group predominantly from Bangladesh. So… my ancestors are from Bangladesh and about 20 years ago this group was founded by many of my relatives. There are a few Catholics in Bangladesh and even fewer living in the US...so this group has been founded to connect all Bengali Christians together. At our last event there were 500 visitors. Almost all of us are related in one form or another and we throw parties during catholic events like Easter and Christmas. My parents have been participating in this group since 1989. They are a non-profit group that does ask for certain donations.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: How involved are you in this group?

Anthony Rodrick: My parents are very involved and we participate because this is a way to see our relatives from across the country.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: What about you?

Anthony Rodrick: Ummm…honestly a lot of Indians come here and its a way for me and my cousins to kind of talk to Indian girls and make friends and our parents don’t mind us mingling with girls that are the same culture as us. We make a lot of friends and we get to kick back with cousins.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Is this organization for Christians only?

Anthony Rodrick: Bengali Christians.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Do you go to events with South Asians of other religions?

Anthony Rodrick: No.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Do u have any other relations with South Asians of different religious backgrounds?

Anthony Rodrick: I guess so…my best friend is Hindu and although we have different religions, we are very similar. My parents were born in India and they grew up learning about the Hindu gods, and although we are Catholic, my parents do respect the Hindu gods. Like we play holy which is a Hindu game of where we throw colored powder at each other; my parents recognize Diwali, the Hindu New Year too.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Wow these interactions between religions are very interesting. How do u think this affects your opinions of the Christian-Hindu riots in India?

Anthony Rodrick: I’m happy that I live in a country with religious freedom and a country that is strict with law. The only reason there aren’t fights here is because of the punishments and how strict the country is. I believe those fights are un-called for and they are a reaction to the poverty in the country.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Has there been any major tension between you and other religious groups?

Anthony Rodrick: Here or in India?

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Both.

Anthony Rodrick: Over here we tend to work together and help each other out because at the end of the day, we are all Indian and have love for the country. I'm very happy inside when Indians get recognition because then I'm proud of my country so over here we work as a team but in India most districts are built as religious quadrants and its dangerous for a Catholic woman to walk around a Muslim or Hindu region at night and there is constant bickering and disputes in local counties over religion.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: How about in the Jackson Heights community?

Anthony Rodrick: Over here, in my eyes, it seems that most stores are predominantly Hindu and there is no fighting or hatred here and because we are all Indians. Often it’s easy to bargain at stores and you can see cliques of the same religion talking and drinking tea in the street.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Would u say that Jackson Heights has united Indians of all religions?

Anthony Rodrick: Yeah, that’s a good way to put it.