UNSWERVING FOREIGN FINANCIAL FLOW: FDI, OVERSEAS ASSISTANCE AND REMITTANCE FROM DIASPORA
Dr. Rikin D. Patel, Controller of Examination, SGSU, Gujarat, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Lecturer, KSV, Gujarat and Mr. Vijay Tripathi Asst. Prof, SMPIC, Gujarat
The paper examines the cyclicality, firmness and sustainability effect of international diaspora remittances, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Overseas Assistance (OA). The paper finds that: i) FDI is more firm in urban area than remittances and OA, and remittances are stable in the rural areas; ii) all three chain, remittances, ODA, and FDI are all pro-cyclical in the rural region iii) All three financial flows are concentrated upon certain regions of the country. FDI has no sustainability effect in any part of the country. The whole paper is divided in five parts. The first part carries introduction and primary information about the paper. Second part describe the literature review. Third part is about the methodology applied and data collected. Part four views the result and part five shows the conclusions.
Key Words: Diaspora, Remittance, Foreign Direct Investment, Overseas Assistance.
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TRANSNATIONALISM AND INDIAN DIASPORA IN LUSOPHONE AFRICA
Dr. J. M. Moosa, Associate Professor, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Indian Ocean served as a vibrant link for commerce and exchange amongst the different littoral countries for ages much before the advent of European domination. The arrival Vasco da Gama and Portugal ascendance in the region resulted in enhanced interaction between different Portuguese controlled territories. As a consequence large number of people from Goa migrated to Mozambique and other territories. They played a pioneering role of moving into the hinterland and establish themselves into a successful and dynamic community. Similarly the Ismaili Khoja community utilised the opportunity provided by British expansion and domination of the region to spread across in different waves and settle down in different countries. Some of them also settled in Mozambique and Angola. In the post independence era as a consequence of different rounds of migration and cyclic movements these communities have transformed themselves into a transnational community with linkages spanning from Brazil and Europe all the way across to Africa and India. The paper proposes to study and compare the social reproduction of identities and transnational tendencies amongst these communities and its impact on India external engagement.
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INDIA’S “ACT-EAST’ POLICY AND ITS DIASPORA AS A STRATEGIC RESOURCE
Dr. Amit Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Amity School of Liberal Arts, Amity University, Gurgaon, India
The large presence of Indian Diaspora in the Asia-Pacific region can play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s profile in the region and can also act as a lynchpin in fulfilling India’s strategic dreams with regard to its “Act-East” policy. Hence, the paper is an attempt to critically evaluate India’s “Act-East” Policy and its impact on Indian Diaspora. The paper will also discuss how the Indian Diaspora could play an important role in achieving New Delhi’s foreign policy objectives in the Asia-Pacific region.
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ANALYSING THE ROLE OF PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS (PBD) TO ENGAGE INDIAN DIASPORA
Dr. Santosh Kumar Singh, Assistant Professor, Aurobindo College, Delhi University, New Delhi, India
According to the Government of India, there are around 25 million people of Indian origin living outside India, they live in nearly every country of the world. Since independence (1947), the government of India has explicitly urged Indian emigrants to identify with their host countries. But since mid-1980s, the Indian diasporic communities and the Government redesigned their stance toward one another. The Indian Government has taken some new policy and institutional initiatives to strengthen and build the ties with Indian Diaspora.
In this process in 2000, the GOI has commissioned a high profile committee to research and write an extensive report on the Indian diaspora. On the basis of their recommendations, on January 9th 2003, the government has inaugurated its first annual conference of overseas Indians, known as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) or “Overseas Indian Day” every year. The PBD try to provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities. It also work as successfully in networking with among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.
In this regard, this paper will evaluate the role played by the last twelve PBD to strengthen the ties between Indian across the world. This paper will also share the experience and view of Indian Diaspora people participated in the PDB. Finally, from the policy perspective, it will analyse the role of PBD to achieve its goals and end.
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EMERGING ROLE OF INDIAN DIASPORA AS A STRATEGIC RESOURCE FOR INDO- SOUTH AFRICAN RELATIONS
Dr. Vidhan Pathak , Assistant Professor, Department of African Studies,University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India
India began to resolutely court its diaspora and started setting up dedicated institutions and incentives for overseas Indians in the 1990s with the onset of economic reforms in the country. Though economic factor has remained the most important driver of India’s policy approach towards its diaspora, however it led to the realisation of many other aspects related to the significance of diaspora for the country’s growth and development. Thus, India is engaged in a vigorous strategy to rope in its diaspora not only for economic purposes but also to strengthen its relations with their host countries. This also holds true for the Indian diaspora in South Africa. Not only India is eager to draw its diaspora for the purpose but diaspora and South African government on their part are also now willing to accept such linkages to strengthen the bilateral relations.
Indian Diaspora as a political group during apartheid period and now as the most advance educational and professional ethnic group in South Africa is one of the important driver of Indo-South African relations. They provide familial and trading links between the two countries and have remained instrumental in increasing exports from India. South African Indians with their entrepreneurial skills and capital can play a direct and an intermediary role in promoting India’s relations with South Africa.
With the above perspective, this paper will attempt to assess the role and contribution of South African Indians in South Africa. It will further examine the emergence of Indian Diaspora as an important factor in strengthening India’s linkages with the South Africa. It will also highlight the initiatives taken by the Indian foreign policy in recent years to strengthen its relations with South Africa with Indian Diaspora forming the bridges of cooperation.
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SECURITY OF INDIAN DIASPORA AND INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY
Ms. Dhanwati Yadav, Research Scholar, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
The inception of history had devoid of any dichotomy introduced the paces of immigration or the history itself has been a process of migration. Immigration is found as an inevitable part of human history. With the rising of the waves of globalisation the seeds of immigration are discovered on a large scale in an unprecedented manner. Movements are driven by varied purposes like, for the search of asylum, work or better livelihood; but movement at the international level dictates the movement across state borders. The term ‘Diaspora’ - a synonymous to the process of traditional immigration is derived from the Greek word ‘diaspeiro’ which means ‘scattering’. “Originally Diaspora was referred to the dispersal and settlement of Jews outside of Palestine following the Babylonian exile”. So, traditionally the term ‘diaspora’ is used to refer to Jewish Diaspora. But the exploration under the globalization age reveals that the diasporas have registered there global presence and voluntary movement is being noticed departing from the erstwhile involuntary marches as indentured labourers by the colonial forces. Today the diasporic groups are overwhelmingly contributing to their home and host-land countries in a comprehensive manner. But contrariwise diaspora policies adopted by the home-land countries are not up-to-the-level and satisfactory. So, the theme of this paper is to throw light on the concept that the national interest is the chief determinant of India’s foreign policy involving the diaspora policy. Whether the diasporas are facing challenges or in dire need of India’s emotional or material support, it is the national interest that determine and shapes diaspora policies.
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CHANGING POLICY OF GOVERNMENT TOWARDS ITS DIASPORA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF KENYA AND INDIA
Ms. Priyadarshika Subba, Research Scholar, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
In a rapidly globalizing world, developing countries have had to adapt and adopt new ways to gain the ability to integrate with the larger world outside in order to become a dynamic nation. Developing countries like India and Kenya therefore to acquire this ‘dynamism’ have recognised and realized the need to establish the important bridge between diaspora and development. The success of this bridge is heavily dependent on two conditions, firstly, on the part of the diaspora, to develop and project a coherent and motivated progressive identity and on the part of the home country to establish conditions and institutions for sustainable and a mutually rewarding engagement.
There are several reasons for this paper’s focus on India and Kenya’s diaspora policies. There is a significant diaspora presence of these two countries abroad. The Indian diaspora is among the top three, population wise globally and the Kenyan diaspora amongst the top ten amid African nations. This paper will analyse how Kenya has witnessed rapid emigration to the developed world only in the last three decades and although their diaspora is fairly new, there has been a major interest of the Kenyan government towards its diaspora. There has also been the expressed interest of the network of Kenyans abroad in development efforts in Kenya. On the other hand India in contrast has been historically a much older diaspora but along with the different governments in power Indian foreign policy and in turn its diaspora policy which is its major soft power has had to make several hard choices along the way.
This paper will focus on how there has been a significant shift of these two countries to avoid viewing diaspora through the narrow looking glass of just remittances and quantifiable outcomes but instead to see diaspora as an agent to access knowledge, expertise, resources and markets for the development of both the home and host locales.
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DIASPORA IN DEVELOPMENT: ROLE OF INDIAN DIASPORA IN 21ST CENTURY
Dr. Tanuja Singh Post Doctoral Fellow, Centre for African Studies,School of International Studies,J NU, New Delhi, India
A successful, prosperous and politically influential diaspora is an asset to India, for it acts as a vibrant bridge between two countries, adding sustenance to their bilateral relations. In the wake of globalization and radical structural changes in the world economy, Indian Diaspora is considered a viable and potential source to bail out the threatening problems before India. The significant presence of diverse Indian community in the various parts of the globe has also had implications on India’s diplomatic relationship with many countries. Indian diaspora which was abandoned by India since its independence also saw new initiative by Government of India to woo its diaspora worldwide. The Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi's early foreign policy blitz and his emphasis on economic "deliverables" suggests that he is rewriting the nationalists' script on what will determine India's power, to include a strong emphasis on economic growth. The Indian Diaspora is estimated to be second largest in the world and has a diversified global presence. The Diaspora, estimated at over 25 million, is spread across more than 200 countries with a high concentration in regions such as the Middle East, the United States of America, Malaysia, South Africa. Members of the Indian Diaspora do play a significant role in mobilizing political support for in their country of residence on issues of vital concerns to India. A tangible and scrupulous policy is imperative to leverage upon the growing Indian Diaspora population. With the versatile role of Diaspora, India could fulfil its cherished dreams and it could make much head way in its international and foreign affairs.
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ROLE AND DILEMMA OF ERITREAN DIASPORAS IN THE PROCESS OF THE ERITREAN POLITICAL REFORMS DURING 21ST CENTURY
Mr. Nuguse Bahre.G, Research Scholar, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi,India
It is undeniably true that the statehood of Eritrea’s is at stake as it is apparently going through “no war no peace” condition, UNSC imposed sanction , immense international pressure for human rights violations and most importantly under a state of an imminent outbreak of war with Ethiopia any time soon. Such standoff resulted into internal dismay, inconceivable influx of refugees with grave alarm that provoked the reaction of diaspora which yet remain bizarre to fathom on the role played out to that effect. Understandably, the role of diaspora is acknowledged not only in sustaining and winning war of liberation but also in the reconstruction and development process following independence.
This paper therefore, seeks to examine the role of diaspora under the condition and hope of the government opening up/ undertaking restructuring and reform endeavors. It argues, that diaspora conscious driven approach is in disarray as the very organization per se is pathetically structured in a narrow line and largely remain a mere virtual transnational networking that lacks effective power to leave mark on ground. Besides, the paper endeavors to highlight on the practices and conflicting take of diaspora that had ramification on deconstructing, or and reforms in the political developmental process that invariably cries for.
Key words: Eritrea, diaspora, sanction, reforms/ political development
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ROLE OF INDIAN DIASPORA AS HERITAGE RESOURCE IN INDO-AFRICAN RELATIONS: A CASE STUDY ON TANZANIA
Ms. Ruchi Verma, Research Scholar, School of International Studies,Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
With the beginning of 21st century the process of global economic, social and cultural integration has received a stimulus from the presence of transnational communities. In such circumstances the study of Diaspora has gained momentum. Diaspora is a diversified group in terms of their language, identity, status, socio-economic political role, level of integration and assimilation. The actors of Diaspora are either looked at with suspicion or with awe. Diasporas have been posited as challenging traditional state institutions of citizenship and loyalty, and as an important feature of the relationship between domestic and international politics.
Indian Diaspora is playing a very significant role in international affairs due to its presence in large numbers in almost all parts of the World. Africa is the host of more than three million people belonging to Indian Diaspora. And it is an undeniable fact that a new dimension to India-Africa relations was added when a large number of Indians went to, and settled in Africa. But as a heritage resource Indian Diaspora contribution to the African society had not got much attention thus, this paper will try to look into that gap. This paper will particularly focus on Indian Diaspora in Tanzania and thus, taking Indian Diaspora into account as a heritage resource will try to look into India-Tanzania relations. This study will look into what are the challenges and opportunities in utilizing Diaspora as a heritage resource.
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INDIAN INDENTURED LABOUR MIGRATION TO MAURITIUS: ROLE IN POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT
Dr. Sushmita Rajwar, Assistant Professor, Maharaja Agrasen College, Delhi University,Delhi, India
The expansion of sugar production in Mauritius and the abolition of the slave trade are among the most important reasons which led to an acute labour crisis in Mauritius. This gave way to the Indian indentured labour migration to Mauritius which was a replacement of the slave labour that existed before. Slave trade was abolished in 1833 and was implemented in Mauritius in 1835. The first batch of Indian indenture labour ship arrived in Mauritius in 1834. While slavery was being abolished, indenture labour system was designed and implemented as and where slavery got abolished. Indenture labour went to same territories largely for the same work which slaves used to do. In the later phase of slavery large number of Indians were also taken as indentured labour as India was under subjugation of colonial rule as domestic workers, artisans and sugar cane cutters in the capacity of workers.
The Indian diaspora played a major role in the political development of Mauritius. The political set up in Mauritius has been dominated by people of Indian origin since the independence from British rule in 1968. The major political parties are headed by people of Indian origin too.
The current paper would like to examine the journey of the Indians in Mauritius from the time they reached the land as indentured labourers till the time they dominated the political scene and reached the Parliament.
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CONTRIBUTION AND ROLE OF INDIAN DIASPORA IN KNOWLEDGE BASED INDUSTRIES: A CASE OF USA
Mr. B. K Pandey, Indian Economic Service, Government of India,New Delhi, India
High-skilled immigrants are a very important component of U.S. innovation and entrepreneurship. Immigrants account for roughly a quarter of U.S. workers in these fields, and they have a similar contribution in terms of output measures like patents or firm starts. This contribution has been rapidly growing over the last three decades. In this context, it will be interesting to examine the impact of Indian skilled immigrants on US economy and society.
The Indian population of approximately 200,000 in the San Francisco Bay Area represents one of America's most successful immigrant groups. The Bay Area has only six million people of which half a million are Indians. And of those Indians, 72% work in the tech sector. Of the total tech firms that get funded in the US, 50% are in Silicon Valley. Indian entrepreneurs are the faces behind a growing number of US tech startups. For instance, two of the first investors of Google - the leading Internet search company – are of Indian origin.
A study by the US based Kauffman Foundation shows that 33.2% of the cofounders of engineering and technology firms founded by immigrants in the US since 2006 were Indians. The next came the Chinese, at 8.1%.Another study done in 2007 for the period 1995 to 2005 had found that Indians accounted for 26% of the co-founders during that period. So there's been a 7 percentage point increase in the Indian contribution in the post-2005 period. In fact, the Indian immigrant contribution was the only one that increased; most other immigrant communities saw a decline in their contributions, leading to a general stagnation in immigrant entrepreneurship in the US.
The Indo-US Entrepreneurs broke the ice by creating an entrepreneurial culture, blurring regional differences that existed among immigrant entrepreneurs.Indian IT companies and the visa-holders they sponsor play a vital and vibrant role in America's economy and the communities in which they work. Highly skilled foreign-born individuals have been praised repeatedly for their invaluable innovations and contributions in the U.S. The IT companies that sponsor them are also regularly recognized for their work and their contributions to the American way of life. Today, Indian-based IT service providers employ well over 50,000 U.S. citizens and recruit and hire more each year. The industry supports more than 280,000 other local U.S. hires and aids many U.S.-based companies in developing new products and improving operations and efficiencies. This, in turn, helps them both preserve and create jobs here in the U.S.
Currently, there are more than 20,000 Indian millionaires in the US and many of them Indian knowledge workers provide a variety of economic benefits to the USA and its regional economy such as New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania regional economy. They provide a highly-skilled workforce which enables firms in the region to grow and innovate, giving them an edge over firms in other parts of the country which do not employ these workers. Employing Indian knowledge workers helps to keep jobs in the region, as opposed to other parts of the United State or abroad. The economic activity they generate benefits many groups in the region. Evidence suggests that the cost to local workers who are in the same field as the migrants is probably quite small, relative to the overall benefit to other workers, firms, and taxpayers in the region.
The key objectives of this paper are:
• To analyze the increasingly important role of the successful Indian Diaspora in the US in facilitating growth within the knowledge intensive industries -- (particularly the IT industry and other high-end sectors) and the two way flow the Indian Diaspora generate in terms of investment, innovation, employment,, growth etc in both the countries.
• To identify and analyze the future opportunities for the Indian knowledge-intensive sectors in the global economy and to forecast the expected role of Diaspora in facilitating further growth and development of US and Indian economy.
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INDIAN DIASPORA IN UNITED STATES: ROLE AND STATUS
Mr. Aditya Anshu, Research Scholar, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi,India
About 2.6 million Indian Diaspora with their families are residing in the United States of America. The people of Indian origin are the third largest immigrant population in the United States, but historically it was not an important and significant country of settlement for the Indian and Indians were not a major source of immigrants for the United States. The Indian Diaspora has comparatively young population with higher level of economic and academic attainment that set them apart from other Diasporas in United States. The trends in migration to US highlights that Indian immigration to United States have been largely through foreign temporary worker, family based preference and student admission programs. Also, the other factor for migration is the majority of benefit out of the H-1B program that Indian immigrants get. The United State’s largest temporary worker visa category and Indian together makes up the second largest group of international students at US colleges and university after Chinese. Demographically, Indian Diaspora is widely spread across the country, but the best of the population is located in California, New Jersey and Texas. New York is considered to be the metropolis but it is also the hub of the activity and resident-ship of the Indians in US, followed by Chicago and San Jose, CA. Indian Diaspora in United States is highly organized and represented in countless number in the associations and organisations formed across the United States. All of these groups are well funded and professionally connected. Many Indians have well established links and connection with India in terms of economic, social and cultural engagement. Government of India also values the importance and positivity of Indians abroad and their role in Indian foreign policy. For this purpose, the Government of India has created many programs and a specific ministry for the same. Indian Diaspora has the potential and acts as a tool to contribute towards the economic development, growth and prosperity. This paper would try to look towards Indian Diaspora in United States, their role and contribution in US as well as India.
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CONTRIBUTION OF INDIAN DIASPORA IN MOZAMBIQUE
Ms. Neha Sinha, Research Scholar, School of International Studies,Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi,India
Diaspora is defined as the movement, migration or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland” or “people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location”, or “people settled far from their ancestral homelands. Out of the twenty five million people of Indian origin across the globe, there are three million of them in the African continent. The PIOs of Mozambique are remarkably successful not only in economic field but also in the social and political sphere. The PIOs of Mozambique are educated and actively participate in the public and political sphere barring a few. Despite the presence of Indians in Mozambique for several centuries and the adverse circumstances that they had to face during Portuguese rule, they have retained their culture, tradition, attire and also their Indian lifestyle. Not only this there relation with their host countries also plays a significant role.
Diaspora plays a very important role in the economic development of their home country. The Indian Diaspora other than sending remittances to India, also promote trade and FDI, create businesses and encourage entrepreneurship and transfer of new knowledge and skills. Diasporas have been important participants in any strategy made to engage diaspora at international level.
The Government of India wants to engage with its diaspora as actively as possible. There are a number of programmes launched by the Indian government especially for its diaspora population under the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs which was launched specially to this effect. On the other hand the number of programmes has also been launched by the mozambiqan government to establish a good relation with people of India.
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ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN AND MAURITIAN TAMIL DIASPORA IN HOMELAND AND HOSTLAND: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE
Ms Jayanthi Ramasamy, Research Scholar, School of International Studies,Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
In the universal phrase, the study of the dissemination of populations and cultures across many geographic regions and spheres has augmented and so the Diaspora studies have came out as a vivacious area of research amidst rapidly increasing globalization. Therefore, migration is measured to be one constructive step in that direction. In other way, the nuclear statement in migration is that the human beings has all the capabilities and potentialities of leading a high–quality life, but, it is the atmosphere, the social-system around him, that made opportunities and his efforts to reach the high goals of life through migration. The study of Tamil migration has been of immense interest exact from the most primordial days especially during the Cholas regime and its expansion. Tamil migration is considered to be a foremost influence on the social-authenticity they were scrutinizing. In recent years there has been a developing body of work dealing with issues of Diaspora and hybridists, both within cultural geography and international Studies.
Tamil Diaspora is thedemographic group of Tamil people of Indian origin who have settled in other parts of the world. The study examine about the comparative analysis of the Indian Tamils with a regional specialization in South Africa and Mauritius and its connection with India and also their contribution and role towards host countries. This paper tries to find out and understand the causes and consequences of various manifestations of Indian Tamil Diaspora and to explore the relationship between South Africa, Mauritius and India. It focuses upon the role and contribution of Tamils in main themes such as historical connections, socio-cultural connections, economic connections and political connections with India and also their host countries of both South Africa and Mauritius with the contrast and estimation. This paper will also study about the mutual benefits, cooperation and their contribution towards success of each other.
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STATUS AND ROLE OF THE INDIAN DIASPORA IN UGANDA IN COMPARISON TO THE INDIAN DIASPORA IN TANZANIA
Ms. Debjani Naskar, Research Scholar, School of International Studies,Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi,India
East Africa has been a favorite destination for Indian immigrants since centuries. Indians in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania share a history in which cultural encounters and collaboration became the backbone of the India-Africa relations.During the 19th century, the British were expanding their empire in Africa, and this period a large number of People of Indian Origin (PIO) were taken to African countries in different capacities as indentured worker, railway worker, artisans, and slaves.
A large number of Indians entered Uganda as indentured labour for the construction Uganda railway lines. After the completion of the railway line many returned back to India, but a large number of them preferred to stay back. People of Indian Origin were one of the most elite and prosperous class in Uganda. However, this community never assimilated with the locals. Racial divide existed openly. This racial divide and rapid Africanisation after Independence created disharmony in the country. Finally this led to the infamous exodus of 1971, by the then President and a dictator Idi-Amin. After the domestic turmoil in Uganda, which left Uganda in shattered state, Museveni government changed the picture of Uganda internationally. Economic revival began with the swearing of Yoweri Museveni as the country’s president. Museveni also realised the prominence and significance of Indian diaspora and their contribution to the economy of Uganda. President Musseveni offered series of incentives to the expelled Indians, enticing them to return back with their investment capital, and their business skill.
Alike Uganda, in Tanzania to a large number of Indian entered as indenture labour. There were batches of Indian labourers engaged mainly for railway construction and later Gujarati traders followed. In Tanzania, Indian diaspora tended to be more careful and wiser, and participated in civil, economic and political development of the nation.Post-independence, the leadership of Julius Nyerere ensured peaceful transition and equal representation for all Tanzanian people, thus escaping the conflicted path taken by Kenya and Uganda. This Paper will discuss and compare the role and contribution of the diaspora in Uganda and Tanzania, and how they were recognized by the local government of both the nation.
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INDIAN WOMEN PRESERVING CULTURE AND IDENTITY IN THEIR HOST COUNTRIES AS REVEALED FROM CELEBRATING LITERATURE
Dr. Amrita Paresh Patel, Principal Uma Arts and Nathiba Commerce Mahila College, Sarva Vidyalaya Campus, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Women of Indian Diaspora have played a key role in carrying the Indian culture abroad and also striven hard to retain their identity of being Indian in their host countries. Their efforts have played a major role in creating an awareness of the importance of retaining traditional values of Indian society and various perspectives of ancient Indian cultural heritage.
The present paper intends to study the contribution of Indian female novelists of Diaspora, particularly, Bharti Mukherjee and Jhumpa Lahiri in preserving Indian culture and Identity in their host country, America. Bharti Mukherjee’s Desirable Daughters (2002) and Jhumpa Lahiri’s Namesake (2003) are chosen as exemplary novels which reflect the portrait of traditional Indian families. These two novels even depict contemporary American sagas of women who are compelled in many ways to break with their own tradition in the world of multi-culture and yet have remained tied to their native country.
It is intended to explore:
· Similarities of the experiences of these two authors in America.
· The aspirations, challenges and dilemmas of the first generation and subsequent generations of immigrants from India and their struggle for identity and belongingness.
· The utility of the literary genre of novel to express their striving by these two creative writers.
· The outcome of the depiction of their experiences as women of Indian Diaspora.
Keywords: Diaspora, Women of Indian Diaspora, Indian Cultural heritage, Creative writing.
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INDIAN WOMEN DIASPORA IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND BEARERS OF INDIAN CULTURE
Ms. Hema and Ms. Lalitha, M.Ed Students, Department of Education, Kadi Sarva Vishwavidhyala, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Indian women immigration increased since last few decades mainly due to the emergence of liberalization, privatization and globalization in all over the world which led economic growth and an invitation to foreign capital. Majority of them immigrate particularly for academic pursuit or economic gain either towards the European and western countries particularly the USA. The inhabitants of these countries reacted differently to the ways of immigrants. Despite the growing number of immigration of women in the United States of America, the incident of discrimination and cultural problems of Indian women has received little attention. Therefore, the paper aims to explore the concept of Diaspora and Indian Women Diaspora. Secondly, it presents a brief account on Indian migration to USA and list out few great personalities of the Indian Women Diaspora. Finally, the paper attempted to present review of few case studies of the Indian Women Diaspora in USA on the challenges and issue for preservation of culture and their survival. The findings indicates that in almost all the cases the emigrant face a close of contrasting cultures and feeling of alienation, which was then followed by the attempts to adjust and to become accustomed either from a separate identity as a racial group or be assimilated. In concluding the authors also suggests that regardless of the need and reasons behind the Indian women Diaspora, the Indian women should be the carriers of Indian culture, it should be nurtured and transformed to the subsequent generations and the Indian identity should be sustained in the homeland and in the host country.
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GENDER AND INDIAN DIASPORA: BEYOND ‘CARRIERS OF CULTURE’
Ms. Abhiruchi Ojha, Assistant Professor,Lady Sri Ram College for Women (LSR),University of Delhi, India
Indian Diaspora is dynamic based on religion, class, place of origin and other identities. Gender plays a crucial role in construction of Indian Diasporas where women are often constructed as carriers of culture. Over the years, women within Indian Diasporas have been able to actively engage with the issues of gender, identity, development and assert their agency. Scholarship on gender and Indian Diaspora suggests that unlike the common perception of ‘dependent migration’ among the women from India, many migrated as independent actors consciously taking the decision to move away from situation they faced in their homeland. However, reproduction of family and society in patriarchal terms has contributed to construction of Indian diasporic women and their development status in host countries. The paper aims at examining the gender dynamics of Indian Diaspora with special focus on South Africa. In doing so it looks at the ways in which women are positioned differently in society and vis-à-vis home and host countries. The politics of community identity in a radicalized society leads to overlooking of gender dynamics within the diasporic communities in overall development paradigm. The paper argues that it is important to locate the interactions of diasporas in all complexities in order to understand its contribution to development of home and the host.
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