Patel combines American, Indian cultures

Sophomore Aditya Patel is a second-generation immigrant from Gujrat, India, who grew up celebrating that most American of family traditions: the Fourth of July parade.

His grandparents from both sides immigrated to America in the ’80s, and Patel’s grandfather owned a mini-mart in Brentwood, which was the center of their family’s social activities. 

“Every 4 July, we would bring chairs and sit outside to watch the parade. Since everyone in Brentwood knew us, it was easier to socialize and so we adopted that part of American culture,” Patel said.

His parents, who are adventurers, would bring him and his young siblings to American national parks. 

“I went to Yosemite National Park whenever I was younger, around 10 or 11,” he said. “Whenever I was 12, we went again from New York all the way to San Francisco.”

Despite being so immersed in American culture, Patel’s parents encouraged his love for Indian cooking and his desire to stay connected to his Indian heritage. 

“If my mom is in the kitchen, I’m usually there with her because I don’t want to lose that part of my culture,” Patel said. “I want to learn how to cook, and I’m going to learn how to make the dishes that only my mom, my aunt, or my grandma know how to make.”

Patel grew up with traditional clothing and sometimes performed arati (prayer) in the morning. They also went to Garba, a traditional Indian dance event, during the festival of Navaratri. 

While Patel has always been proud of his culture, sometimes he faces rude comments from others. For example, at a Denny’s restaurant in South Carolina, an elderly White woman told his mother “you do not belong here” – to which his mother replied, “Yes, I do.”  

Patel points out that his native language is being lost in America.

“A big part of it is a lot of Gujarati kids, especially our age, they’re losing the language,” he said. “They lost it with my little brother. … My little sister is not going to speak it. But as long as I’m around, I’m going to speak it. I’m going to remember it.”