Outstate Indian Immigrants of Minnesota
(All digital objects on this page are held by Minnesota Historical Society at their repository at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul)
(All digital objects on this page are held by Minnesota Historical Society at their repository at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul)
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Lincoln Gada was born in India where he attended school and college. He worked in Singapore before coming to the U.S. in the mid-1990s.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Family background; education; experiences in Singapore; arrival and adjustment to Minnesota; Indian community in Minnesota; work experience in India and Minnesota; differences in work environments, promotional opportunities and resources between India and Minnesota; consulting work and traveling; prevalence of computers in India; marriage; differences between Indian and American parenting styles; family values; maintaining ties with family in India; participation in Indian associations; future goals; impressions of U.S. before and after moving here.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Sunanda Iyengar was born in India where she attended school and college. She immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1990s, and works in the health care industry.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Family background; early life; school days; family values; cultural values; first impressions of U.S. and travel remembrances; experiences in college level schooling in India and the U.S.; first job in India compared and contrasted to first job in U.S., impressions of current employer; future plans; benefits and opportunities compared and contrasted to those in India; maintaining Indian culture; Indian associations and activities.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Ravinder Manku was born in Nairobi, Kenya to a family of Indian origin descent. Her family also lived in Zambia and Canada. She attended college in Canada. She moved to the U.S. in the mid-1990s to continue her education, and is currently working on her PhD as well as doing educational research.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Early life, parents; Indian communities in Africa; memories of Africa; adjusting to life in Canada; discrimination; her education; career choice; college education; Canadian GED program; JET program in Japan; traveling; teaching ESL; Dominican Republic; Indian and Western culture and customs; involvement in Indian community in Minnesota; future plans.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Prasanna Mishra was born in India where he attended school and college. He came to U.S. in the late 1970s. He lived and worked first in Pennsylvania, before moving to Minnesota. Currently, he works as a researcher.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Birthplace; parents; education; arrival and adjustment in U.S.; marriage; early work experiences; Indian community in Pennsylvania and Minnesota; family values; Indian associations in Minnesota.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Neelam Naik was born in India, where she attended school and college. She immigrated to the U.S. in the mid-1990s, arriving first in Georgia and later accepting employment in Minnesota. She works for a consulting firm.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Birthplace; parents; primary and college education; religion; early employment; traveling to the U.S.; Georgia; early adjustment; cultural adjustments; acceptance; values; Indian associations in Georgia and Minnesota; marriage; Indian community in Minnesota.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Krishnan Namboodri was born in India, where he attended school and college. He immigrated to Minnesota in the early 1990s. He is a machinist.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Birthplace; family background; Indian Freedom Movement; early life; schooling; personal values; education; early work experiences; starting a business; marriage; sponsorship process; arriving in Minnesota; early adjustments; discrimination; social circle; family values; maintaining ties to family in India.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Jonathan Remund was born in India and adopted by a family in Minnesota. He attended school and college in Minnesota, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Birth; early life; adoption; International Mission of Hope; education; citizenship; learning English; family; marriage; home ownership; travels to India; work experience in India; culture and values; socializing; future plans.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Ved Sharma was born in India where he completed undergraduate and graduate work. He immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1970s and completed more graduate work. He came first to Missouri and then moved to Minnesota, where he teaches at a university in the outstate area.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Birthplace; parents; religion; education; family values and traditions; marriage; university studies; early work experiences; experiences in Missouri; early adjustments to out-state Minnesota; Indian community in out-state Minnesota; Indian associations; travels to India; personal values.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Nayana Ramakrishnan was born in India. She immigrated to the United States with her parents in the early 1960s, and attended school and college in Minnesota.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Early life; parents; journey to the U.S.; adjustments; education; food; dress; language; traveling to India; discrimination; home ownership; socializing with Indian community; comparing and contrasting Indian and Western culture and values; marriage; family values; School of India for Languages and Culture; participation in Indian associations.