Mexican Punjabis in California and Texas - 70th Anniversary of Mexico-India Diplomatic Relations

Interview with Dr. Karen Leonard and Mrs. Amelia Singh Netervala.
At the beginning of the XX century the oppressive agrarian policies of the British in India combined with financial debts drew the attention of Punjabis towards the West, particularly the United States and Mexico. The restrictive migration and citizenship laws of U.S. pushed solidarity between the Indian and Mexican migrants in California and Texas. These migrants mainly interacted in the fields and slowly formed a community through marriage. Recently, scholars in US are studying the rise and decline of a Punjabi-Mexican community that was composed of around 400 marriages, mostly Mexican women with Sikh men.
Special appreciation for the pictures courtesy of Amelia Singh Netervala and South Asian American Digital Archive
www.saada.org/...
www.saada.org/...

[@daniela.vega.]

As Mexican, when i find out India, i was so exited to know about this country, but when my ears listened for first time Punjabi music i was shocked, music is so incredible, i loved bhangra since the first time i saw in a YT video, it was a special connection i felt when i saw and listened all this new things, idk, i fell in love with Punjab and i didn't know why, it was something I can't explain, i feel the necessity to go to Punjab, to meet Punjabi people, to connect with the culture, since 2015 , some moths ago i find out this fact and that makes me wonder that maybe in my previous life i was born in Punjab or maybe in one of this Mexican - Punjabi marriages, because it's unreal what I feel when i listen Punjabi songs, what I feel when i see bhangra dance, hope someday fullfil my dream to go and meet Punjab, at least meet Punjabi people in Mexico city 💗 Lots of love and respect to India, Punjab and my Mexicans 🥰💗 from México City 🇲🇽✨🇮🇳

[@jordan7339]

I’m Punjabi and I’m born in London.. you should go to Amritsar golden temple you will love it

[@zj3451]

Absolutely identical unexplainable feeling we share! Been feeling this way since 2008! -Also Mexican here, came to know about half and halves in 2013

[@sarthakrawat1327]

hola hermosa 😍😍

[@Tooill4daIRS]

I always knew Mexicans and Indians were family just some moved to different parts of the world.. much love my worldly family🙌❤🙌

[@mikedelvalle1522]

I’m a Mexican and love Indian culture love their food and music 🇲🇽 🇮🇳

[@phylicia595]

Its one state in India

[@allencampbell1058]

Makes perfect sense since I have love and attraction for indian women 💯 and I'm a latino

[@AliAhmed-ve5xl]

I think its just Punjabis

[@f34rbeast32]

What is cool to know is that I am related to a Mexican Punjabi from my grandfather’s cousin. My grandfather’s cousin married a Mexican and started a family with the Mexican.

[@asingh5482]

Thanks for uploading the video. Culturally both Indians and Spanish are very similar. I felt this during my visit to Barcelona in Spain.

[@Dovith]

Nope. I don't know where you got that idea from.

[@sahirjimenez4569]

I really love this! My dad is from Sinaloa and my mom is Navajo so i understand perfectly how it is to grow up in two cultures..blessings from Phoenix Arizona!

[@andresgcoderoilpaz2806]

Cool

[@shenidan2023]

Absolutely amazing. Never knew about this. Thanks for recording their story.

[@joannawarren24-7]

My ancestor was one of the women who married a Punjabi too 😮

[@ginamann225]

Never knew this about Mexican punjabis. 💖

[@heraldomedrano851]

🇮🇳 🤝🇲🇽

[@jasvirkler7120]

Good history from Chicago

[@shawnchowning5177]

Studied many years to learn this

[@Quest3669]

Punjab is a state in india ... Every state here has diffrent culture .... Punjabis went abroad under british regime to foughtbworld war 1 n 2nd. They were strong , tall n sturdy rather others in india . They fought well n won many batykes in abroad for brtishers. Thtst why they were providef land in california, canada , n mainly. Better to say its punjabi indian culture rather indian . Thnks

[@FromPlanetZX]

No, it's only Indian culture, there is no independent Punjabi culture...

[@extreme4642]

Maybe that's why a lot of latinos look like North Indians.

[@AliAhmed-ve5xl]

Its mostly because the mixtures are similar

[@Apache148414]

You both are very wrong

[@ГаджиМагомедовКураев]

More likely for residents of northeast India

[@garryj7845]

Punjabis are Indians ? How ? What about Pakistani Punjabis ? What about Punjabi/ Sikh Gen0cide by India ?

[@wagwan6248]

Likewise with Bangladeshi men that married from the black community in Harlem.

[@AliAhmed-ve5xl]

Yes its similar with Bengali men and Puerto Rican women

[@wagwan6248]

@@AliAhmed-ve5xl oh really? Was that in Harlem too?

[@phylicia595]

Punjab is a state in India They are .0001% of India

[@anshuchoudhary5081]

I don't agree with interracial marriages though. But, it's people's choices.

[@thekingofmoney2000]

Mexican isn’t a race, it’s a nationality.

[@sarthakrawat1327]

Latinas 😍😍😍😍😍

[@TheForthemankind]

Mexicans Sikhs I would say not Punjabi. Please do proper research on our culture before posting.

[@Sona77.]

What’s a Mexican Sikh? Sikhs come from Punjab.

[@biggitybossity]

@@Sona77. That's like saying American Germans. It doesn't make sense. Mexican Sikhs makes more sense... such as saying American Christians.

[@Sona77.]

@@biggitybossity lol alright

[@shenidan2023]

This video shows some people do have Punjabi ancestry. Certainly that is their heritage as some parents or grandparents were Punjabi.

[@shenidan2023]

@@Sona77. Orthodox or not, Sikhs can be from anywhere. It is what is in their heart and minds which counts.