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To continue a previous theme of peeking into the Indian social structure, let me paint you a vignette of one family's current problems and how they may relate to Indian society.

June 18th: Chandigarh

Esilbert
2006-01-19 13:27:31

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To continue a previous theme of peeking into the Indian social structure, let me paint you a vignette of one family's current problems and how they may relate to Indian society.

I spent the past four days with Sonia, the woman I met on the plane and Sunny, her husband. For those of you who are reading all of these entries (100 points for you!) you'll recall that Sonia lives six months in Canada and six in India working towards her family's immigration papers. Sonia has a 14 month old boy, Prince, who she left in India with her mother-in-law seven months ago.

When Sonia ran up to me with a big smile and looking stunning in Indian dress and gold jewellery I had no idea what was in store for me in Chandigarh or my time with her. The first thing I asked was, "How's Prince?" Her face clouded, then brightened as she said fine and ushered me to Sunny and the car. We drove to Sunny's aunt's house and as Sunny went upstairs to knock on the door, Sonia's story gushed out. Back for almost five weeks, like me, Sonia's mother-in-law won't let her have her son. In the Indian tradition, their family lives all together - Sonia, Sunny and Prince, as well as Sunny's family. Since Sonia had been away for so long Prince only knows his grandma as his mother. Upsetting enough as that is, grandma won't let Sonia slowly take over the duties of a mother, in preparation for taking Prince back to Canada.

Sonia cries daily, has talked to her mother-in-law, Sunny and the entire family. The whole family thinks Sunny's mom is in the wrong, but they only talk, they do nothing. As Sonia's tears couple with her words, telling me that Prince doesn't feel like her son, she relates how everyone tells her to wait, that soon she'll be going with him to Canada. But she has waited eight months to be with her son and the prospect of four more is more than just daunting, it's killing her.
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