Global South Asians: Introducing the modern Diaspora (New Approaches to Asian History, Series Number 1)

By the end of the twentieth century some nine million people of South Asian descent had left India, Bangladesh or Pakistan and settled in different parts of the world, forming a diverse and significant modern diaspora. In the early nineteenth century, many left reluctantly to seek economic opportunities which were lacking at home. This is the story of their often painful experiences in the diaspora, how they constructed new social communities overseas and how they maintained connections with the countries and the families they had left behind. It is a story compellingly told by one of the premier historians of modern South Asia, Judith Brown, whose particular knowledge of the diaspora in Britain and South Africa gives her insight as a commentator. This is a book which will have a broad appeal to general readers as well as to students of South Asian and colonial history, migration studies and sociology. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Illustrations......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Glossary......Page 11 Maps......Page 12 Introduction......Page 19 1 The subcontinent under British rule: the image of rural stability......Page 27 2 India and a larger imperial world......Page 32 3 The opportunities of a post-colonial world......Page 41 2 Making a modern diaspora......Page 47 Indentured labour......Page 48 Contract labour......Page 52 Free Indian movement......Page 53 2 Movement in an age of decolonisation and globalisation......Page 57 South Asian migration into the United Kingdom......Page 58 Second time migrations......Page 63 The lure of the Middle East......Page 68 The movement of the skilled......Page 70 3 Creating new homes and communities......Page 77 1 Finding a place in the host economy and creating an economic base......Page 78 Different economic trajectories......Page 80 2 Constructing social networks......Page 92 3 Constructing religious networks and institutions......Page 111 Re-establishing religious traditions in the diaspora......Page 115 Managing change......Page 125 Representing South Asian religion abroad......Page 128 4 Relating to the new homeland......Page 130 1 Ethnicity and national identity......Page 131 2 Citizenship and participation......Page 142 3 Religious pluralism......Page 155 4 Cultural interactions and contributions......Page 162 5 Relating to the old homeland......Page 167 Conclusion......Page 189 Bibliography......Page 199 Index......Page 211 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Illustrations 8 Acknowledgments 9 Glossary 11 Maps 12 Introduction 19 1 Traditions of stability and movement 27 1 The subcontinent under British rule: the image of rural stability 27 2 India and a larger imperial world 32 3 The opportunities of a post-colonial world 41 2 Making a modern diaspora 47 1 Movement in the age of empire 48 Indentured labour 48 Contract labour 52 Free Indian movement 53 2 Movement in an age of decolonisation and globalisation 57 South Asian migration into the United Kingdom 58 Second time migrations 63 The lure of the Middle East 68 The movement of the skilled 70 3 Creating new homes and communities 77 1 Finding a place in the host economy and creating an economic base 78 Different economic trajectories 80 2 Constructing social networks 92 3 Constructing religious networks and institutions 111 Re-establishing religious traditions in the diaspora 115 Managing change 125 Representing South Asian religion abroad 128 4 Relating to the new homeland 130 1 Ethnicity and national identity 131 2 Citizenship and participation 142 3 Religious pluralism 155 4 Cultural interactions and contributions 162 5 Relating to the old homeland 167 Conclusion 189 Bibliography 199 Index 211 By the end of the twentieth century some nine million people of South Asian descent had left India, Bangladesh or Pakistan and settled in different parts of the world, forming a diverse modern diaspora. This is the story of how they constructed new communities overseas and their often painful experiences Judith M. Brown. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 181-192) And Index.