Heath crisis in India and impact on the Indian community in the US

During the past few weeks, just like many Indians in the US, I have been living life with a dual identity.  Our routine is somewhat resuming to normalcy here but the catastrophic COVID crisis in India with significant death rates and lack of healthcare has left Indians living abroad paralyzed in many ways.

On one hand, my heart is filled with gratitude by the generosity of people around the world who are willing to lend monetary aid and healthcare assistance, but the inability to travel to be with your loved ones, dealing with constant worry to keep them safe while navigating through a range of personal emotions and guilt is limiting and unsettling.

Around the clock, we are digesting horrific news, updates, and pictures of the state back home as we are prepping our kids for school, centering ourselves for the next work call and churning through personal obligations and professional deadlines. The emotional exhaustion throughout the pandemic and the fear of the unknown is not yet over for some of us who continue to be threatened by the devastating additional waves of COVID-19.

Your friends, neighbors, and colleagues from Indian origin are likely experiencing and living through this tragic state and here are a few ways you can support them:

Check-in with them: In the past few days, I have received numerous calls, texts and emails enquiring about my family and their well-being. The outpouring of concern was not only comforting but gratifying.  Some of us are grieving the loss of our loved ones and this situation is worse for first generation immigrants who cannot travel to be there with their aging parents or attend their funeral. When we come half-way across the world to build our lives in another country, our friends, network and community are our lifelines and an empathetic gesture could provide much-needed strength and relief.

Practice compassion: As we continue to be socially distanced, it is hard to gauge what people might be experiencing emotionally. Therefore, understanding their struggle and being empathetic and considerate gives them time and space to process and brave the circumstances.

Leverage Allyship: Not everyone is aware of the current state in India nor would they necessarily understand the implications on the Indian community. This might be a perfect opportunity to learn more context about their challenges, lend emotional support and educate other friends, colleagues, and leaders who could also begin to practice allyship.

Small acts of kindness and compassion during such times of adversity will have huge and lasting impact.  Just like hate and discrimination can plague our society, rising above to understand some of the unique  challenges of others can establish positive relationships and build greater equity for all.

Kanarys is Your DEI Champion

At Kanarys, we are the diversity, equity, and inclusion people with the data-driven approach. Since 2018, Kanarys has aimed to change the world by creating equitable workplaces where everyone belongs. We guide your organization’s DEI path every step of the way with courage and collaboration. It starts with data, analytics and insights, and continues with recommendations and implementation. 

Our mission, as your partner and champion in the ever-evolving DEI journey: Help you understand what it takes to foster lasting, systemic change today and for tomorrow. Because when you succeed with DEI, your employees can thrive—and so can your organization.

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Dinaz Kachhi-Jiwani

Founder, work/REFINED

Dinaz is an analytics and research expert who combines her passion for data and people to help problem solve, strategize, and generate outcomes for clients. Dinaz is an experienced data scientist who has worked for several Fortune 500 clients and international non-profits to provide data-driven solutions to attract and retain underserved consumers. 

Dinaz was a lead research methodologist at Nielsen and worked on projects for Walmart, Verizon, Google, Comcast and Bank of America.  She also served as a Diversity & Inclusion leader at the Boy Scouts of America, where she was instrumental in developing strategic plans, creating and expanding employee resource groups and key community partnerships.

Born and raised in India, Dinaz moved to the United States in the early 2000’s to pursue her higher education. Dinaz has a master’s degree in Applied Research from Boston University and University of Pune (India). She has been a board member for several professional associations, a proud mother of three children and enjoys playing Throwball, traveling and creative arts.