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[Rev. Kevin Dean] Pakistan, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.
These are the South Asian countries, and their peope
and customs are a valued part
of Chicago's cultural kaleidoscope.
Hello, I'm Chaplain Dean with the Chicago Police Department.
This is another in a series of videos to expand your knowledge
and understanding of the many diverse communities
within our city.
Having even a basic knowledge of a person's customs
and culture enables police officers to conduct their duties
in a more efficient and respectful manner.
Today, we look at Chicago's South Asian Community.
When you say South Asian, you're mostly referring to people
from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and so forth.
More of less, India, Pakistan.
Bangladesh have the same culture same kind of people and most
of them are either Muslim of Hindus and, and uh,
due to long history they intermingle well together.
[ music ]
[Rev. Kevin Dean] India is the largest South Asian county
and not surprisingly,
represents the largest South Asian Community in Chicago.
[Chris Zala] The Indian-American communities is probably the largest,
South Asian population here in Illinois and uh,
that of the United States according to the 2000 census.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] And while South Asians are spread throughout the Chicago
area, there is a large concentration in the West Ridge
and Rogers Park communities near Devon Avenue.
[Aperna Sen, Ph.D.]
the
,
most of the immigrants from South Asia were professionals,
physicians, engineers, scientist, professors.
In eighties, immigrants the wave that we saw that was mostly
on the basis of Family Reunification Act.
So, these people were mostly sponsored
by someone who lived here.
[Chris Zala] You'll have two to three generations living in one home
from the grandchild to the parents to the grand parents
in both Indian, Pakistani even Sri Lankan communities as wel.
Some South Asian men prefer the light,
[Rev. Kevin Dean]
comfortable clothing common in their homelands.
[M. Hamadeedolla Khan] That long shirt and baggy pants
which we call the shirt is Kameez and the pants as Shalwar.
This is, it is just a regular normal dress of Pakistan.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] Saris are traditional dress for women from India or countries
such as Nepal, which has a large Indian influence.
Others may wear more westernized clothing,
but that doesn't necessarily mean they are more westernizd
in their customs.
[Chris Zala] You will see more modern dressing during the day time
and then during cultural events, you will see a lot more
of the traditional clothing and so forth.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] The use of henna to create body art is called Mehndi.
These intricate designs last anywhere from one to three weeks
and are of cosmetic rather than religious value.
The three major religions
of South Asia are Hinduism..
Islam,...
and Buddhism.
[Chris Zala] A country like India, uh, we have religions
from all different parts of the world.
the majority of the population in India is Hindu.
Uh, and the rest Muslim, Buddhist,
you even have Christians, especially down further south,
uh, and some Jewish, uh, religious,
uh, communities as well.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] And in India, there are people of the Sikh faith.
Sikh men wear a distinctive head covering
over their uncut hair.
They carry a small religious sword called a kirpan.
The south Asian countries of Nepal and Sri Lanka have a mix
of a mix of Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists.
Pakistan and Bangladesh are overwhelmingly Muslim.
[Mapara Chowdhury] Both people are Muslim but the language is different,
the culture is different.
Bangladesh people speak Bangoli and Pakistan people speak Urutu,
that's the basic two languages.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] And while the language and culture may be different
in each county, the basic tenets
of the individual religions are the same.
That means, most Muslim women wear a head covering called
a Hijab.
The Hijab is not something they remove in public.
They also avoid physical contact
with any male who is not related.
[Mapara Chowdhury] Some people if they want to, shake hands.
Some women will do it, some people will not do it.
If the woman married, okay.
We usually shake hands man to man and woman to woman.
We do not do that, uh men to woman.
Do not do that.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] That applies to South Asian women of other religions too.
[Aperna Sen] Definitely, I would say a very large percentage
of Indian women, South Asian women are not really comfortable
shaking hands with men.
Bodily involvement, bodily touch isn't something
that they're very comfortable with.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] When in doubt.
Officers may greet with a simple hello.
[Sharda Thapa] In all South Asian, Southeast Asian uh, cultures the greeting
of choice is 'Namaste'.
Uh, you'll find that I think in Thailand, India, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Pakistan, everywhere that's,
that's basically the greeting.
[Rev. Kevin dean] When entering a South Asian home is polite
to remove your shoes.
The same show of respect is expected at Buddhist
and Hindu temples and Muslim mosques.
In Chicago, South Asians from all countries worship together.
[Sharda Thapa] There are maybe 14 different Indian temples around the city
and the Nepalese go to many of the temples, and uh,
you know there are some slight differences in ritual
but the deity is the same,
and the way in which the deity is perceived is the same.
[M. Hameedollah Khan] Muslims, they don't discriminate by color
or race or religion nothing.
Anybody who say they Muslim or non-Muslim or they just want
to get to know, if they are clean
and proper they can come and join them.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] Muslim, Hindu, Sikh
and Buddhist homes may have areas set aside for worship.
These areas, and the items within them,
must be treated respectfully, especially the holy books.
[Chris Zala] I know in the Pakistani community the Koran,
and the bhagavid gita as well.
Certainly neither should be placed on the floor or handled
in a disrespectful manner.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] South Asian women may be defer
to their husbands in police matters.
[Sharda Thapa] The police should not be unduly alarmed that the men
in the family tend to talk for the women and uh,
e
int
ke
that clear that will not be a problem.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] Women may also be hesitant to report domestic violence.
[Aperna Sen] They are not aggressive, most of them are not.
And definitely the husband will scare them,
tha
ce
Immigration is a big issue.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] Fear of police on the part of both men and women is real.
Police culture in South Asia is far different
from what we find here in the United States.
[Mapara Chowdhury] It's a fearful one, there's no friendly relationship at all.
Yeah, they're very afraid of police.
And there's a lot of corruption in the police over there too.
That's why they do not have a lot of trust in the police.
[Sharda Thapa] By and large immigrants would consider the police as a figure
of authority that meets out more punishment than gives help.
So therefore, I think in dealing with Nepalese,
and a lot of other South Asians,
that the police should keep that in mind.
[Rev. Kevin Dean]
A Asi
e,
that doesn't mean police need to fear them.
[Chris Zala] We're very pacifistic and we uh, we don't want to get
in trouble. I think that is the concept that is uh, is held.
[Mapara Chowdhury] We are a good people.
Trust us, If anything happens,
find out what really happens the make a decision what
to do, okay?
[M. Hameeldolah Khan] They're really law abiding, peaceful,
hardworking family people,
that they should be treated equally like any
American citizen.
[Rev. Kevin Dean] Keep these things in mind when dealing with members
of the South Asian Community.
Immigrants may have a fear of police
because of a past history in their homeland.
Fear and cultural factors may prevent people
es
Police are often associated with a fear of deportation.
Women may be hesitant to report domestic violence.
Physical contact during a greeting, or in the course
of a discussion, may be considered inappropriate.
Unless there is an emergency, it is respectful to remove shoes
when entering a temple, or mosque, or South Asian home.
Members of some religious groups should not be asked
to remove head coverings in public.
All of the people we encounter on a daily basis expect
to be treated with dignity and respect.
It vid
his ghten
and foster a new awareness and understanding.
Thanks for watching and as always, stay safe.