MIXED MARRIAGES: They give rise to a 'Malaysian' race

 

LOVE is blind and marriages are made in heaven. In a multiracial country like Malaysia where people of different races live, learn and work together, it is inevitable for them to fall in love and marry someone from a different ethnic group. 

Samuel Yesuiah, NST 

Though initially, they face numerous problems from their families for wanting to marry someone from a different race and culture, they have blended well, overcame obstacles and today are living testimony of interracial and cultural bonding.

The trend of Indians marrying Chinese and vice versa has become quite common and the union has led to the emergence of a Chinese-Indian, or termed as Chindians, who have sharp facial features and fair complexion.

The Chindian family has the best of both worlds; enjoying food, culture, festivals and music from the two races.

Despite the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the union, Chindians face many challenges.

Most Chindians experience an identity crisis of being caught between two distinct and different cultures. Many of them are looked and stared at differently because of their mixed parentage.

Chindians are neither Indian nor Chinese and whatever name they are given would seem odd because they do not fit clearly into the main racial groups.

So when it comes to filling in the race column in official application forms, they are faced with a dilemma because they are of mixed parentage.

On a positive note, the Chindian identity crisis is an ideal ground for the emergence of a new race-- a true Malaysian -- not Indian or Chinese, but Malaysian.

The Chindian is the perfect answer to the new 1Malaysia generation where race and culture would be a thing of the past.