To think that Romesh Ranganathan is everything that’s right with multiculturalism

[EvangelicalAboutButteredToast]

I’ve been listening to his podcast for a few weeks now, diving into the back episodes and the episodes with his mum on a Thursday and I loved him before and love him even more now. He is everything that’s wonderful about multiculturalism is my mind.

He is British but respects his Sri Lankan heritage, has close ties with his family but is also deprecating and honest about the culture clash. I don’t know. In a time when everyone is so negative about immigration and the supposed ‘melting pot’ of culture I just think isn’t it lovely to smile and laugh alongside someone who is the epitome of it being successful and loves Crawley into the bargain!

I cant stand him anymore and think he's a real sellout for making all those crap shows on the BBC.

I dont like the way he speaks about his wife and children. Not a man I admire or would want to be friends with.

Yes this sounds like.most of my family and friends. There are small pockets of communities who have not integrated who are in the main causing most harm to themselves ( cousin marriage etc) but most people just get on with their lives like everyone else and also keep hold as much as they can to their cultural heritage.

I’m sure there are lots of examples of the melting pot working, maybe my algorithm is fucked as I get so much anti immigration propaganda come through and it just made me smile to see (and hear) Romesh and his mum bantering back and forth this morning. I can see I’m on my own though so I’ll happily pop myself back in my box.

Don't like him so haven't listened to his podcast, but from what you've said he sounds pretty typical of the second (or is he third?) generation of immigrants. It's very standard for them to feel British first and foremost, and to take the mick a bit of their heritage. Contrary to what you read in the Daily Mail, the overwhelming majority of second gen immigrants are British, and have no need to integrate, because they are very much part of the societal fabric.

This is DM rhetoric again. Even if some community members marry their cousins it doesn't mean they haven't integrated. They live here, work here, send their DC to school...they might even be surgeons and speak English as a first language!

I like him a lot. Thanks OP I’ll put his podcast on my list.

Perhaps self-deprecating was intended, rather than deprecating? I'd fine-tune the idea of his being everything that's good about multiculturalism because that gives no space for others to do multiculturalism differently. While his self-deprecation is a great part of British humour, it's not mandatory for us all to get along. It's not just the famous Ranganathans of this world where you and I, (and most people), outside of the media spotlight, participate in multiculturalism in our quiet little ways and everyday actions.

No, he doesn't speak his parents ' language, only English, so isn't particularly "multicultural ".

I don't know of any Hindu families that haven't assimilated like RR's family tbh.

If you're reading bad press about "the brown people" not integrating with British culture, it won't be Hindus. (I have no doubt there will be a cousin's, friend's, aunt's nextdoor neighbour to prove me wrong though).

That's because they spoke to him in English as it was (and still often is) seen as the better language to speak. Sadly many immigrants particularly of his parents generation had been raised to believe that Britain wasn't only the mother land but the more superior of courtiers and cultures

Many Sri Lankan's speak English some as their first language

Second generation children often have a mixture of their parents/family influence with British culture. I loved his tv show where he went to Sri Lanka it was funny and touching

Yes I am of Indian descent but only speak English for this reason.

Yes I understand why, we have the same situation in extended family. But I just don't think it's possible to fully understand a culture without speaking the language. Therefore I wouldn't really call him "multicultural". Not that it matters really, you can't change the way you've been brought up.

Well apart from liking Crawley, I agree.