You think you left the social class system back home, when you left India? Think again! :)

Perhaps, classes are part of our social life. May be this is how society works – one group of people trying to put down the other group while struggling to prove its own superiority.

The Indian society in the foreign lands has its own social classes, its own divisions. From outside, these divisions are not very visible, not very noticeable. This should come as a no surprise to those who have lived abroad amongst other Indians. You may see these partitions less if you are very isolated from rest of the Indian society overseas.

These classes are not based on your last name, cast or creed. Rather, the division is based on your social acceptance among the Indian diaspora. This somewhat hidden division is less visible an outsider – those who are not Indians or not a part of Indian community.

These classes or groups have their own way of looking across this social division. The locals – those who grow up abroad among the foreign culture, have their derogatory term for these new comers: FOBs. Similarly, first generation desis and these new-comers have their own name for the local Indians – ABCD. By end of the day, it boils down to how you look across the pond.

The ABCD:
This class or subgroup comes from the westernized desi society, mainly the second generation of Indians. This social group is much more in-tune with the local (the foreign adopted country) ways of living – their language, the slang and the dress-code follows the local trends. Their life-style is less desi or Indian, and much closer to the western ways of life.

This self-styled ‘cool’ group of Indians is mostly born and raised abroad. They are much more adapted to the society of the adopted country and the local ways of life. They often have a social circle of their own.

Most of those who fit in this category are very independent, less restricted by the desi customs and more adventurous outside the India society. They generally have a limited knowledge of their mother tongue.

Some Indians call them ABCD – America based confused desi. This derogatory term may not mean much. This group may be confused by the Indian customs, especially when visiting India, but in their own land, they are quite at home, in fact masters of their domain.

The FOBs:
And then, there are the new-comers or the first generation of Indians who are born and raised in India and then ventured out to other courtiers. They come from all walks of life, just like the local Indians. Some are highly educated and have good jobs, and yet others are average immigrants with occupation ranging from business owners to labor work.

This group has their very own noticeable traits. They hold on to the Indian lifestyle, whether subconsciously, or consciously – often out of nostalgia of homeland. Their dress code is more Indian and conservative; they often have a strong Indian accent. They are more conservative and less outgoing outside the desi circles. The local Indians often calls them FOBs – fresh off the boat. This is not a very welcome term, and it often carries a negative tone of contempt or tease.

This division among the two groups runs deep in all walks of life. You can go to any Indian social gathering, an Indian wedding or a desi outing – the two classes can often be spotted separately. They have their own passé; they have their own grouping, their own social mingling

These groups or social classes are not hostile to each other, not to the point of brawls. The division is not like gangs. They are not enemies by any measure. It is just that each group consider itself superior or better that the other.

In some cases, these divisions may be quite subtle. You may consider yourself belong to one group, while the others may think of you otherwise.

And, the Fabs:
Out of these two groups, you may ask, which one is more ‘cool’ or more ‘’fabulous!
Or which of these groups or social classes is better?
It depends on which group you belong to, or perhaps which group you ‘think’ you belong to! That would certainly be the superior group! :) Every group believes itself to be better than the other – a natural bias.

So which group you belong to? :)

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