By:Angela Marshall
But racist remarks sting those of Eastern heritage
Nupur Chowdhury has lived in America for 12 years. And until Sept. 11, he never felt insecure in his new country.
A native of India, few people had asked him about his heritage before and none in a threatening tone. For the most part, that continues to be true. But since the World Trade Center attacks, there have been more inquiries than normal and a few encounters that have left him wondering about his safety.
Chowdhury manages the Dunkin Donuts on North Village Avenue. He's been at this store for three years and managed a previous Dunkin Donuts on Merrick Road in Rockville Centre for several years before that.
Chowdhury and many of the other business people of Eastern heritage who work in Rockville Centre said their regular customers have been great, coming in as usual, talking a bit and going on with their day.
It is those he doesn't know, who ask him where
he's from and if he's happy the attacks happened, who make Chowdhury nervous. They are a small but vocal group.
Chowdhury tries to remain positive and be understanding to those who might just be emotional because they lost a loved one. "I never yell back," he said.
A few days ago Chowdhury went to a local party supply store and a man stopped him in the parking lot and asked him what country he was from. Chowdhury told him and then asked why. The man implied he would have beaten him if it were any other country.
"This is the first time in America that I felt insecure," Chowdhury said last week.
He likes to go out to clubs and bars at night, but since the attacks, he has stopped that completely.
Rahul Honda, owner of Bialystok and Bloom on North Park Avenue, refuses to change his lifestyle out of fear. His wife suggested that he should shave off his goatee so he won't look as ethnic. But Honda doesn't want to do anything that might send the message that he's afraid or doesn't feel he can trust the many customers he has befriended over the years.
Honda was born in India and moved to America in 1975.
"People are doing the right thing," said Honda, who has not experienced many problems since the attacks.
He said his customers don't see him as an Indian man but as the person who runs the deli and has a tan. "I haven't been mistreated," He said. "Quite the opposite."
Shangara Rana, owner of North Park Avenue Deli, said most of his main customers have also remained loyal. "I don't have any problems with anybody," he said.
Rana said business has been a little slow but doesn't blame it on prejudice. "Everybody's slow," he said due to the recent downturn in the American economy.
All three lost loyal customers in the attacks.
