Living in Between : 2 cultures, 1 heart.

Name: Rashmi K.Chainani

IG Handle: @rkch04

3 generations of my family have lived in Indonesia after they fled from India due to the partition. 3 generations of my family called themselves  "warga negara Indonesia" and yet 3 generations later, I asked myself the question, am I an Indonesian? 

It all started when people at university asked me, the classic introductory question : where are you from? Thus began the identity introspection. Do I tell them my complicated history or just say that I am from Indonesia? But the latter would still lead me to tell my complicated history anyway because I don't look Indonesian enough. 

I grew up in an Indian household, and yet Indonesian cuisine is still mostly cooked. One of the Indian dishes known as Sindhi Kadi is usually eaten with tempe orek at home. It is seen as a confusing combination but I can vouch for myself that it is delicious. From nasi lengko to butter paneer, both Indian and Indonesian culture was fused in the food we ate at home. 

Both cultures coexisted in my multiverse, from belting to Sempurna by Andra & The Backbone and Tulus to going on long drives through Sudirman with Bollywood songs playing in the background. After going to an Indian wedding, the comfort food was usually roadside roti bakar or Indomie. In my world, I spoke English, Bahasa Indonesia and Hindi all at once just because no English word would be able to explain the feeling that certain Indonesian words would have. 

I may not be seen as fully Indonesian but I know in my heart, I am. The privilege I hold of being both is something I would always be grateful for. I am a proud Indian living in Indonesia and I would not have it any other way.