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The Rye Arts Center and The Indo-American Arts Council present Tanuja Desai reads from her novel, Born Confused January 21st, 7:30 pm, at The Rye Arts Center Part of Colors of India: a five'week celebration of Contemporary Indian Art and Culture Born Confused, debut novel from acclaimed author Tanuja Desai Hidier, follows the story of Dimple Lala, a teenage girl exploring Indian and American cultures. On January 21st, 2003, Ms. Desai will read selections from Born Confused and talk about the book and the issues raised therein. The book promises to be of interest to teenagers and parents of teens or pre-teens. Taking its title from the South Asian slang "ABCD" or "American Born Confused Desi" (dcsi refers to someone of Indian origin), the book tackles not only the popular theme of inter-generational conflicts between parents and offspring and first and second generation immigrants, but also the cultural spectrum inherent in these worlds: How Indian is Indian enough? Can one become too American and lose one's cultural heritage? The trouble begins when Dimple's parents decide on a "suitable boy" for her to date. The khaki-clad NYU student gets on famously with her father, but he doesn't turn Dimple's head until she runs into him DJ-ing at a popular underground dance club in New York City. The encounter sparks her interest in the young man, as well as her awareness of the larger Indian world outside her suburban New Jersey home. Born Confused fills a gap in today's proliferating Indian and Indian-American literature and, in the process, has received worldwide critical recognition. Alongside familiar issues of adolescent identity crises, such as sexuality, beauty, bigotry, drugs, and popularity, Dimple's questions of selfhood will appeal to anyone who's ever wondered who she or he really is. Tickets $12 for RAC members, $15 for non-members, $8 for students and seniors. For information and reservations call (914) 967-0700 X24. |
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