Identity and Marginality in India: Settlement Experience of Afghan Migrants (Routledge Contemporary South Asia Series)

Decades of conflict and war have forced millions of men, women and children to flee from their homes and seek refuge in other parts of the country or in foreign lands - Afghanistan is one such country.This book is a study of the displaced Afghan migrant population in India, in particular the persecuted Sikhs and Hindus who are religious minorities in Afghanistan and make up a majority of Afghan migrants in India. It explores the relationship between acculturation and identity development. By focusing on the interactions between the Afghan immigrant population and the Indian society, the author analyses how the community negotiates identity and marginality in a country that does not recognize them as refugees. The author explains how the Afghan migrant population manages and negotiates various identities, bestowed upon them by the societies in their home and host countries in their day to day existence in India.An important study of acculturation and adaptation issues of migrant groups in the setting of a developing country, this book will be of interest to academics in the field of refugee and migration studies, ethnography of (ethnic) identity, and Middle East and South Asian Studies. Identity and Marginality in India 2 Settlement Experience of Afghan Migrants Anwesha Ghosh 4 Contents 8 List of figures 10 List of tables 12 Foreword 14 Acknowledgements 16 1 Why study the experiences of Afghan ‘refugees’ in India? 18 2 Considerations concerning the concepts of identity and acculturation with respect to Afghan ‘refugees’ in India 46 3 Stages of ‘refugee’ lives 85 4 The settlement experiences of the Afghan ‘refugees’ in India – expectation and reality 132 5 Conclusion 216 Index 238 Identity,and,Marginality,in,India 1. Introduction: Why study the experiences of Afghan 'Refugees' in India?2. Considerations Concerning the Concepts of Identity and Acculturation with respect to Afghan 'refugees' in India3. Stages of 'Refugee' Lives: A Community Perspective 4. The Settlement Experiences of the Afghan 'Refugees' in India- Expectation and Reality5. Conclusion: 'Lost Between Worlds': Afghans in India Longing to Belong