Exploring how five Indians in Switzerland value their community, the differences between Swiss and Indian people, and their adaptation to life over 6,000 km away from where they grew up. An article by Antara Verma.
Of the 8.85 million people who live in Switzerland, approximately 27,300 are of Indian origin, according to the Indian embassy in Bern, the capital city. While they form an ethnic minority, their celebrations and tight-knit community more than compensate for their smaller numbers. As Anupam explains, “India has 1.4 billion people, so there is a chance for them to sprout out anywhere,” which, in a way, they have in Switzerland. While it is important to adapt to new surroundings, missing the place where they grew up is a normal feeling and part of the immigrant experience. Thanks to many Indian organisations across the various cantons of Switzerland and social media, immigrants and international students are able to connect with people who have had similar experiences. For example, Shereen mentioned that while she misses her family and childhood friends, she “can’t complain much since [she] does have a big group of Indian friends here in Zürich,” indicating that the sense of community here is stronger than some may think.
Due to the long and expensive flights, as well as the timing and planning among family members, it is not always possible for Indians in Switzerland to fly back frequently. That’s precisely why maintaining these social groups and interacting with people from similar backgrounds is a way to feel at home emotionally while being physically far away. This includes speaking their native languages, sharing homemade food, wearing traditional clothes, sharing the same sense of humour, discussing the latest news from India, and much more. Furthermore, there are many temples, restaurants, grocery stores, and events that allow Indians to feel a little bit closer to home and experience it in a country that is so different from everything they have known. A big part of feeling at home and Indian culture, generally, also includes celebrating traditional events. This article explores how five Indians in Switzerland value their community, the differences between Swiss and Indian people, and their adaptation to life over 6,000 km away from where they grew up.
There is no doubt that there are vast differences between the two countries and the cultures associated with them. When asked about this, the consensus was that it is easier to connect and meet up with other Indians than Swiss people. Anupam (51), who has been living in Switzerland for 20 years with his family, says that from his experience, “It’s more a formal interaction with non-Indian people. You have to plan in advance by making an appointment to see them. [Whereas] with Indians, it’s informal, and it’s much easier to meet up with them.” This sense of formal vs informal was also mentioned by Abha (50), who has been in Switzerland for 18 years. She truthfully said, “I personally think Indian people are much warmer than Swiss people. I have Swiss friends too, but it’s different. You can talk more freely and openly with your Indian friends, and it’s a more formal setting with your Swiss friends. We often do potlucks, and it’s not formal at all. It is just easier socialising with Indians than with Swiss people.” Hence, there is some kind of common ground between Indians, where they automatically feel more open and comfortable with each other. Shilpa (49), who has been living in Switzerland for 18 years, elaborated on this phenomenon: “When you come in later in life, it’s not the same connection you would have with friends from back home,” and that “if I had been born here, I would have made friends from the beginning.” Hence, finding other people from similar backgrounds is a way to quickly make friends and feel comfortable around people in a way that is not possible with the locals.
Shereen has been living in Switzerland for over 30 years and explains, “When you are sparse, you need an association to come to,” which is why many Indians living in Switzerland have decided to join various Indian associations. Shereen has been an active member since the beginning of her time in Switzerland and started out in one of the oldest Indian associations in the world, namely the Indian Association Geneva (IAG), which was founded in 1947 and has been running uninterrupted since then. After spending 15 years with them, Shereen joined the Indian Association of Greater Zürich (IAGZ), where she has been active for over 15 years. When asked why she initially joined, she answered, “Switzerland is very different to India; people are kind, but you do miss the culture. Sometimes you are nostalgic, and you want to feel at home, which starts by speaking your mother tongue. Also, being able to take part in humour, which is very different in a new language. Additionally, enjoying the food, which is very close to the culture. All the things that are close to home, you miss from time to time. These [the members of the IAG] are the people that can relate more to you and have a shared understanding of how you feel, what you’re missing, and what you enjoy eating.” It is clear that having that sense of community can make one feel more at home than anything else can.
Nevertheless, there are other ways to find your own community, rather than joining a big one. For example, Shilpa had been a part of the Kannadigas, a subcommunity, for two years and participated in the annual Easter hunt; however, she left the community afterwards. She and her family now have their own group of Indian friends that they spend time with when their calendars align. Shilpa elaborates: “There are one or two families with whom we are extremely close. It is an informal setting, but rather than meeting at home, we go to a hotel in Switzerland and go hiking, try to go on walks and activities together, rather than being home and cooking every time.” This shows how spending quality time with a smaller group of Indians is also a way of connecting with them. Similarly, Abha is not a very active member of the Indian community in Lausanne, of which she has been a member for two years, and prefers to spend time in smaller groups. She explains: “I have close Indian friends and know 3-4 families that my family and I hang out with rather than going to group activities. I like that much more than getting ready and wearing saris.” Hence, there is a spectrum of what it can look like to find one’s community.
A further example of active members of social groups are Nikita (49) and Anupam, a married couple with two kids and former members of the IAGZ. They were members for four years, during which they went to their Diwali Gala, Holi, and Dandiya events; hence, the bigger, community-based Indian celebrations. However, they have their own social groups that they meet up with regularly to share a meal, play games, and talk about the latest news. Over the past years, they have created a larger network of friends and said, “Last Diwali we attended 5 or 6 parties as guests.”
Diwali, Holi, Navratri, and other festivals are something that all the interviewees continue to celebrate in their own ways. Shilpa explains that she and her family often attend friends’ celebrations, and the main reason for this is the “feel-good factor.” She explains: “It’s nice to know the culture that you’ve been brought up with, and it brings a positive vibe that I would like to share with my kids. It has nothing to do with religion, but it’s about bringing in the feeling of goodness.” Wanting to share the family’s culture with the children is something that Nikita and Anupam also stressed when talking about the importance of these celebrations, as they want them to “understand the major festivals of India. It’s a training for them for when they grow up.” Abha similarly answered: “This is what we carry from our culture in India, I want my children to know what Diwali means, and it’s important for them to know it is a big Indian festival.”
When asked what they miss most about India, there were various answers, but all of them revolved around the same themes: family and friends, food, and the way things are celebrated there vs. in Switzerland. Nikita and Anupam elaborated on the latter point and shared their experience by saying: “We took the girls to a wedding last November. They really enjoyed the rituals and how the Indian festivals take place. She also participated in a lot of the traditions. She was really excited, and that’s the kind of thing we miss here.” Despite the number of Indians, and along with that, restaurants, grocery stores, and events increasing, Abha said, “India cannot be replicated; it is a completely different culture than here.” Thus, while the Indian community in Switzerland has been increasing and making it more and more accessible to access aspects of Indian culture and traditions, it will never be able to replace the unique country with its rich culture and history.
Swiss Indian Fine Arts Association (SIFAAch)
at the IndiaFestMargazhiUtsav2024.
