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Indian Americans squabble over I-Day parade in Chicago

Ashok Easwaran in Chicago

Barely a fortnight before an Independence Day parade by Indian Americans in Chicago, two community factions are tied in a battle about who has the right to hold the procession.

The war, which began in Indian restaurants, was taken to courts and eventually spilled out onto the streets.

Two factions of the Federation of Indian Associations, the apex body of Indian community organisations, are claiming legitimacy.

The FIA has traditionally organised the Independence Day parade in Chicago's 'Little India', Devon Avenue. Indian Americans from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan come for the annual event. Some estimates put the number of visitors at more than 15,000.

But for the past several years, the FIA has been faction ridden with a tussle between Gujaratis and non-Gujaratis for key positions.

Matters came to a head this year, when one faction took the other to court claiming that the election was not held according to the bylaws of the organisation. A Cook County judge accepted the petition and asked the FIA to hold fresh elections.

Bad blood between the factions spilled onto to the streets during a recent visit by Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansingh. While Mansingh attended a reception hosted by one FIA faction, members of the other group saw in it a sinister attempt to 'divide the community'.

To register their protest, they stood outside the restaurant where the event was being held, holding placards which read 'Mr Ambassador, you represent the whole of India, not one group' and 'Support community unification, not segregation'.

Protesters accused Consul General Surendra Kumar of arranging the event 'stealthily' so that the other group 'could get mileage'.

While bemused passersby in downtown Chicago looked on, the scene took on the semblance of a street fight. The rivals hurled allegations at each other. The uproar was interspersed with shouts of Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Long Live Mother India).

"This is the only thing the FIA does," said one Chicago resident. "Do they have to bring their squabbles into the open and make Indians the laughing stock of the mainstream community."

Indian merchants on Devon Avenue informed the FIA they will not allow two parades to be held on Devon. And then came the final thrust -- the Indian consulate announced they will not 'offer legitimacy' to either group.

Unwilling to get caught in the war between the two groups, the consulate also decided that no diplomat would attend the parade.

Backed against a wall, and with the threat of the merchants' boycott hanging over them, representatives of both groups are trying to hammer out a settlement.

While at present things seem to have cooled down enough for both to agree to a 'unified' parade, witnesses say the peace may not hold.

"We have stopped what could have been an Indian soap opera," said a local wag, "Now let us hope it will not end in a Greek tragedy."

Indo-Asian News Service

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