Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation
4th Floor Gallery, October 27 through March 31, 2019

In the Western imagination, India conjures up everything from saris and spices to turbans and temples—and the pulsating energy of Bollywood movies. But in America, India’s contributions stretch far beyond these stereotypes.
 
From the builders of some of America's earliest railroads and farms to Civil Rights pioneers to digital technology entrepreneurs, Indian Americans have long been an inextricable part of American life. Today, one out of every 100 Americans, from Silicon Valley to Smalltown, USA, traces his or her roots to India. Breakthroughs in business, the arts, medicine, science, and technology, and the flavorful food, flamboyant fashion and yoga of India have become a central part of our national culture.
 
Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation, created in collaboration with the Smithsonian's Asian Pacific American Center, explores the Indian American experience and the community's vital political, professional, and cultural contributions to American life and history. Local supplements will highlight the Indian-American experience in the Red River Valley.

*Also, please join us for a FREE opening reception on Saturday, October 27, from 1-4PM. We'll gather on the Hjemkomst Center's 3rd Floor to explore the exhibition and share refreshments.