Thoughts on Kind of Hindu

I read Kind of Hindu, from Mindy Kaling’s Nothing Like I Imagined, a 6-part Amazon Original Stories, on Kindle Unlimited yesterday. I chose to read Hindu first (other titles include Big Shot and Help Is on the Way) because I find it the most relatable, as I am kinda Hindu.

The book starts with how Mindy identified as a secular American. Growing up as an Indonesian Indian, with significantly less exposure to Indian culture and Hindu religion, I can relate to her. However, I have always held on to my religion and cultural heritage. Even stronger now as an Indonesian Indian living in Australia.

The book is a light, entertaining read. Dripped with the usual Mindy-ism. One of my favourite phrases in the book: “My Indian Hindu assistant, Akshara, had once hired (an Indian priest) to bless her new VW Jetta“.

I got a bit emotional towards the near end of the book when she talked about her mother, maybe because I read it past midnight, after a couple of glasses of alcohol. Or perhaps because I haven’t hugged mine for almost a year now, no thanks to Corona. Either Way, I was like, “I get you, sis!”.

But there are parts in the book that made me go, “Huh?!” — like when she categorized paper towels, scissors and apples as mysterious items because the Indian priest had asked for them. Because, as she said, Mindy had been to Hindu pujas before, where all these items are must-haves. And even if you have never been to any Hindu ceremony before, I can guarantee there is no mystery about a regular household paper towel.

Also, I don’t get the joke about not knowing whether to call the Indian cities Chennai as Madras (former) and Calcutta (former) Kolkata. Even I, the third generation of Indian Indonesian, know why they changed the names of some cities in India — and my parents were born in Indonesia! I didn’t find that bit funny. It was a kind of knowledge-white-washing of your heritage. I didn’t expect that from Mindy, my brown heroine.

The rest? Well, you’ve got to read it; I will not give you any more spoilers of the 23 pages book.

Kind of Hindu would make a perfect blog post or two (it’s divided into two stories in the Kindle version), but it is not something I would pay $1.99 for. But since it’s on Kindle Unlimited, which means I am getting it for free, I have downloaded the next one; Please Like Me But Keep Away.

This time I am going to listen to it because listening to Mindy reading a Mindy’s adds charm to it.

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