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July 4, with shades of August 15

Prakash Patel can never forget the grainy, black-and-white images of Mahatma Gandhi marching to the beach and picking up salt, the first act of civil disobedience. The footage of the newsreels shown on theatre screens and television was inspiring and uplifting.

The crowds cheering the Mahatma, the cries for freedom, the Quit India and Swaraj movements are all part of history now.

But to Patel, who grew up in pre-independence New Delhi, hearing the impassioned speeches of Gandhi, Maulana Azad, Subhas Chandra Bose and other freedom fighters and the public's restlessness and growing resentment for the British Raj were all too real.

August 15, 1947, is seared in his memory. Especially since his grandfather was a freedom fighter. The battles, the bloody Partition and, finally, independence, where families died, separated and survived, still brings a lump to his throat.

"It's a part of my heritage, my soul, my blood. I am proud of India. If they had not won freedom, I would never have been educated and today I wouldn't be here," said Patel, who owns and operates a Day's Inn in New Orleans.

For his son Hitesh Patel, a high-school senior who has been born and raised in the United States, it means nothing. Ask him about the pledge of allegiance or the American flag or anything about the Fourth of July, he answers skilfully and quickly.

Ask him "are you an Indian or an American?" and without hesitation, he will tell you, "American."

For Patel and his son, east is east and west is west and never shall the twain meet.

"He can keep his July fourth and I will stay true to my memories. I don't expect him to feel the way I do. His loyalties lie with America because it is his country. It is mine too, but my heart, my soul and my blood belongs to India," he said.

Patel's story reflects the predicament of many Indian parents who were taught about India in history books and grew up hearing stories about how independence was hard-won. But when they immigrate to the United States and their children are born and raised here, they struggle between their love for India and loyalty to their new country.

And if that isn't hard enough, their children are US citizens and consider America their country.

Experts say it's the classic battle that every immigrant family must face and resolve the best they can, without tearing the fabric of the family apart.

Some parents compromise and celebrate both August 15 and July 4. For Puran Dang, memories of Indian independence are especially poignant. His family lived in what is now Pakistan. During Partition, they travelled through battled and ravaged areas to reach the safety of New Delhi, where they finally settled and prospered.

"Still, I feel sad when I think of Independence Day. It's a heavy feeling. I don't want my children to have the burden. It's my past and I will always carry it with me, but I want them to be happy," said Dang, who lives in Lexington, Massachusetts.

"That's why I made the decision to immigrate here and my children are raised here."

He also pointed out that the city where he lives and has his own software consulting business is the birthplace of the American Revolution.

"Everyday I pass the statue of Paul Revere and I think of the triumph of his ride and how an entire town stood up to fight, it makes me proud. And I too am feeling good about being American. It allows me to be a part of my children's lives," said Dang, who lives with his wife Kamlesh and has two married daughters, Reena and Rachna, both of whom are in their thirties and visit him often.

Others talk about the history of both countries and point out the good in both. But they refrain from taking a stand for either.

"It's a non-issue. When the kids were younger, we used to go to a whole lot of Independence Day functions done by Indian associations, but now that they are older it's simply holidays and family time, which we spend together," said Narain Bhatia, who lives in Massachusetts and is the president and CEO of asianmatches.com, a matrimonial Web site.

His wife Vidya and daughters Sangeeta and Sujata, both married, celebrate the holidays with cookouts and get-togethers.

Others also believe it's the ideal balance.

"We celebrate both. On August 15, we go to desi functions and on July 4, we have a big barbecue. We enjoy both the days," said Gitesh Pandya, who lives in New Jersey, just blocks away from his brother and his parents. Pandya has a Web site called boxofficeguru.com and he tallies figures for box-office hits.

Some parents take advantage of the historical events and point out similarities. "My father always taught me both America and India had to fight the British. He raised us as sensible, smart kids with an awareness of world history and he tried to inculcate in us the good from both cultures," said Poorva Joshipura, who lives in Philadelphia and will spend the July 4 holiday there.

"From Gandhi, we learnt about non-violence and vegetarianism. He has been my idol," said Joshipura, who is an animal rights activist and works for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

And then there's the school of thought that stands for serving one country. "If you have a foot each in two boats, you will drown. When in America, do as Americans do. I want my children to have a successful life here. They won't accomplish anything if they don't have a strong sense of identity. As it is, there are differences in skin colour, accents and religions. Why give them more baggage?" said Sanjay Gupta, a software engineer in New Rochelle, New York, who is raising three sons -- Vijay, Ajay and Jay -- with his wife Deepa.

"India and its triumphs are a past. A part of my past. I have some great memories, but at the end of the day what good will it do to my children. They live here, in the present, and they have to live in this country. I say salute the American flag, be happy and be successful," he said.

"It's foolish to sit and talk about where you actually belong. If you live here, you are American. You owe it to America to celebrate the Fourth of July."

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