Mohan M.

What we bring:
I was born in India, got my degree, moved to Kansas in 1962, and worked there until 1981. Since then, we have lived for 0ver 3 decades in Texas and then in West Virginia. We bring a sense of openness and the ability to absorb different lifestyles while keeping our core cultural values. We have experienced the decline of regionalism as people find a deeper identity with humanity. 

Perceptions of Appalachia:
We see it as a geographically isolated place where some of its original cultures still linger. It has a charm of its own. Meanwhile, global changes have brought people closer and interdependent. 

The question of change:
The Appalachian region can be a great refuge, but it can also struggle to fit into a fast-changing new global reality. To change or not to change becomes the essential question. Change has already affected the whole planet. Everyone living in Appalachia carries a phone or have access to a smart TV. They find themselves a part of a new reality. 

Culture, permenance and self perveption:
It is self-evident that people of different cultures immigrated to Appalachia, and their joint activities contributed to a new way of life. It is also evident that anything we start must go through evolutional change. The very act of being born as a child is an entry point to infinite changes that follow. Birth also implies death. This cyclical nature of reality is well understood in the east, especially India, where I was born.

About negative / positive stereotypes:
The larger culture of the United States seems to measure success by transactional value. That usually means the ability to produce value (money), transact value, and then store that value. Doing honest work and keeping ethical standards may or may not create exchangeable value because others are focused on keeping it for themselves. Simple, hard-working people can easily get betrayed. Arab kings ruled India for 800 years, and then the British did the same for 200 years. Through 1,000 years of suppression, the people of India know what that means.

How can this be changed?
Mahatma Gandhi reaffirmed the greatness of India and her culture while affirming the good qualities of the British. As a result, the two countries became independent of each other and found greater self-respect. A change of philosophy may be needed. That could mean reexamining our sense of self-worth. One way is to give up the notion that we need to be number one, unwittingly pushing another down to that level. Identifying and expanding on our unique strengths is the best way. Like any athlete, there is no need to look at another one's performance. All we have to beat is our previous record.