Linguistic Landscapes are a very special thing, however, in a country where it’s not even the second language spoken by people, you may not be surprised to learn that there are not many linguistic landscapes in New York revolving around South Asian languages. However, even if it’s the language mostly spoken, it is a spitting image of Bangladeshi markets around the whole country. The Indian markets als immigrants, it’s a testament to how much the people have built around here to recognize their establishment here. When I first came here, my mother took me to the first place she visited when she first came to New York. My eyes went over to the setting of Jackson Heights, it took me back to Bangladesh as there were vast arries of Bengali, Indian stores throughout the place. It will resemble what I have seen when I went to Kolkata. It sure made me feel like I am still home even if I was so far away. A landscape that really touched my heart was the Bangladesh street. A street in a country that was thousands of miles away from mine recognizing my people and my country really made me feel comfortable where I was. As we can see in the figure 4, there is a store called, “Mannan Market” which resembles a store called, “Agora” which is a very nostalgic factor for me as I grew up around the place. As I stood before the road sign, I felt an immense amount of warmth of appreciation for who we really are. The “desi” markets had also received me well as I stomped over familiar items and food that took me back to my homeland. These ‘desi’ markets weren’t any different from the ones in Bangladesh, such as it had local Bangladeshi food stalls such as seen in figure 6, “Fuska House” which serves fuchka (Crisp Sphere Eaten), Jilapi (Sweet Spirals), Chotpoti ( Spicy white pea medley), and many more. The street was filled with many small traditional jewelry stores. Cultural events provide the Desi community in New York City with a sense of stability. A limitless number of stalls selling traditional clothing, home décor, henna art, and other items are open during the month of Ramadan. Jackson Heights’ streets are crowded with people going shopping, dining at neighborhood restaurants, and socializing with neighbors. After the prayer, everyone breaks their fast together in restaurants, where a wide variety of cuisine is prepared for iftar and maybe also stop for a cup of chai in figure 10, “Apnar Pharmacy”. I was surprised to discover that, on Chand Raat (Night of the Moon) this year, people of all cultural backgrounds flocked to Jackson Heights to watch the Eid fireworks. I was unable to see the road because of the crowding. While Holi transforms the streets into a riot of hues, Diwali casts the city in the splendor of diyas (Oil Lamp). These festivals invite New Yorkers from all walks of life to participate in the celebrations and gain knowledge of South Asian customs, while also celebrating Desi heritage and providing a platform for cross-cultural interaction. However, I have noticed a trend on how many stores prefer to use English for their stores rather than using the native language. This may be down to the fact of attracting customers away from the south asians as well as the settlers here already know enough English to understand the signs. But it also intrigues me on how Arabic or Chinese stores often proudly display their language and not dawn the local language for everyone’s convenience but it also may down to how many of them may not be able to understand English so well. In Jackson Heights, New York, 73rd Street was renamed “Bangladesh Street” on March 26 in recognition of the neighborhood’s Bangladeshi minority. The effort was spearheaded by NYC Council Member Shekar Krishnan and was launched on Bangladesh Independence Day. The name change honors the achievements of the community, which include a multitude of companies and cultural establishments, and reflects the increasing impact of Bangladeshi Americans in New York City. This has been highlighted in Business Standard’s article on “Bangladesh Street”. Indian businesses have been monumental in these linguistic signs across New York or the United States as a whole. The thriving South Asian immigrant community in Jersey City, New Jersey, is examined in the City Journal article “Bombay on the Hudson”. It demonstrates how this group has developed the region into a thriving destination rich in Indian business, culture, and food. The article explores the obstacles faced by Indian immigrants as well as their socio economic contributions and impact on local politics. It also covers the more general effects of this demographic change on urban growth and harmony among cultures in the US. (Foreman 1997). Religion plays a vital role in linguistics of the New York demographic. The Museum of the City of New York’s “City of Faith” display honors a variety of South Asian religions practiced in the city. The multimedia presentations in the exhibit, which include images, audio recordings, poetry, artwork, and even a perfume installation with scents like sandalwood and musk—fragrances commonly found in mosques—explore how various religious traditions impact the urban environment. It discusses issues that religious communities have to deal with, like racial profiling and monitoring, especially in the wake of 9/11. Works such as Tanaïs’ “A Love Supreme” and Chitra Ganesh and Mariam Ghani’s “Index of the Disappeared” underscore themes of activism, perseverance, and identity. The exhibition seeks to promote awareness and respect for the diverse religious life of the city. (Post 2023) Even though I have been talking about how the South Asian community has been recognized heavily in recent times, it has also been noticed how severely the community lacks in the government. Despite significant demographic increase, South Asians in New York City are still underrepresented in the state government. Approximately 4% of the city’s population, or 330,000 people, are South Asian, with most of them in Queens. Nevertheless, there are just two South Asian legislators who do not represent any districts in New York City. This is attributed by critics to targeting, which lessens the voting power of South Asians. If the districts are redesigned to better reflect the demographics of the community, possible redistricting following the next census may increase representation. (Fink 2019) The community has also been heavily exploited throughout the years. Significant underpayment and exploitation of South Asian workers occurs in New York City, especially in the retail and food service sectors. Numerous workers, particularly undocumented immigrants, endure unfavorable working conditions including extended workdays without breaks and pay that is significantly less than the minimum wage. Workers’ rights are promoted by groups like Andolan and DRUM (Desis Rising Up & Moving), which also organize campaigns for improved labor standards and offer legal assistance. Improvements are being made, but progress is still being made slowly, and many employees are still afraid to report mistreatment for fear of reprisals or deportation. (Reed 2012)
Citation
- https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/street-new-york-gets-named-bangladesh-street-607206
- https://www.city-journal.org/article/bombay-on-the-hudson
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2023/03/17/city-faith-exhibit-celebrates-south-asian-religion-nyc/
- https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2019/12/17/south-asians-continue-to-be-underrepresented-in-albany
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/19/south-asian-workers-new-york-exploited-underpaid-report
