Ms. Hena Banerjee (Masala Chat Project)

Description

Hena Banerjee, 80, is an accountant and one of the first Indians to move to the United States in the late 1950s. The interview includes discussion of her early life in Mysore and Calcutta, traveling by boat to New York from Bombay in 1958, for her husband’s fellowship in engineering at Penn State University. She discusses being trust into the work world during the recession of 1971-72, and gradually adapting through adversity and innovation to become a medical billing specialist. Even though there was not much of a community to welcome her to the US, Hena devoted herself to helping others, especially at-risk youth whom she took into her home. Other topics discussed include: the importance of looking after the elderly, opening your arms to others, daily Hindu worship practice, and the partition of India.