International Conference
on
“Indian Diaspora Policy: Regional and Linguistic Challenges
October 12, 2011
School Of International Studies
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Concept Note
The Indian diaspora policy evolved in the framework of globalisation and under interaction with prosperous and mobilised section of Indian diaspora. As the Indian Diaspora spreads globally and represents a microcosm of Indian diversity, the evolving diaspora policy of India needs to be more comprehensive and should be engaging all sections and categories of Indian diaspora. Though in the past one and a half decade, Indian diaspora policy is seen as one of the success story. It has also been pro-actively networking with diaspora to realise domestic and foreign policy objectives of the country. The Indian diaspora kept on assuring its ever increasing role and profile in its drive to move forward from remittance to investment to lobbying to trade, and then as a strategic asset for India which has global aspirations.
Despite the fast pace of Indian diaspora policy, its consolidation needs a relook of its engagement with diverse components of Indian diaspora. The diasporic identity, aspirations and expectations from India varies regionally. The Indian diaspora policy, instruments and events like mini-PBDs had been catering to map these issues. What needs to be evaluated is how far these regional issues and challenges had been incorporated in Indian diaspora policy in actual operation. There are still issues and expectations from different regions which diaspora feels that India needs to engage more extensively.
Similarly, the linguistic profile of Indian diaspora also poses challenges to policy instruments. There is around 5% of Indian diaspora which is Francophone and a large number is Lushphone. The bulk of Indian diaspora policy is targeted only towards Anglophone diaspora. The majority of instruments and events are developed to focus on Anglophone component.
Their certification requirements for non-Anglophone assimilated diaspora like Francophone and Lushphone is not properly tuned for their historical experiences. There is a feeling among Francophone and Lushphone diasporic component that India should equally engage with them.
This seminar would like to discuss and examine the linguistic and regional challenges to Indian diaspora policy in a comparative and comprehensive way. The objective is to identify the expectations and aspirations of the diaspora from regional and linguistic perspective in order to evaluate the actual operation of Indian diaspora policy. |
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