Comprehending India’s Domestic Diasporas

Conceptualizing Diaspora

The concept of ‘diaspora’ has gained prominence in policy and scholarly debates following the release of the High-Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora's report in 2001–02.

It is characterized by national boundaries and conjures images of expatriate groups — Punjabis in Canada, Tamils in Malaysia, Gujaratis in East Africa, and so on.

It was previously estimated at more than 20 million and is currently set at over 30 million.

In India, terms such as pravasi and videshi refer not just to global migrants but also to individuals relocating between states. Please provide the text you would like me to paraphrase.

Workers from Odisha employed in Surat frequently call their job location videsh, as they have entered a dramatically different cultural environment.

In Madurai, Tamil Nadu, more than 60,000 individuals converse in Gujarati, even though the Census indicates nearly no Gujarati immigrants, implying deep-rooted settlement and cultural preservation.

Magnitude of Internal Diasporas

A recent study indicates that over 100 million Indians reside in culturally unique regions within India — more than three times the number of India’s overseas diaspora (based on language Census data, excluding border areas).

Main Discoveries:

Most Spread-Out Groups: Punjabi, Malayalam, and Tamil speakers (more than 10% dispersed), with Telugu and Gujarati next.

Largest Group: Hindi speakers (which encompass Bhojpuri and Marwari) are predominant in numbers but are less spread out in comparison to their size.

Least Distributed: Marathi, Kannada, and Bengali language speakers.

Urban Expansion: One-third of the domestic diaspora is located in the ten largest cities of India.

Reasons to Acknowledge Internal Diasporas?

Cultural Preservation and Identity: Internal diasporas uphold unique languages, traditions, and celebrations despite generations of residing in new areas.

Community Development and Social Connections: Diasporic communities frequently establish organizations (such as Bengali Associations, Marathi Mandals, Gujarati Samaj) that promote unity, support for one another, and preservation of culture.

These networks can promote education, business creation, and community involvement.

Policy Importance: Identifying internal diasporas aids in customizing welfare programs, urban development, and language instruction policies.

Economic Contributions: Numerous internal diasporas stem from trade and business migration, aiding local economies (e.g., Odia laborers in Surat’s textile sector).

Cultural Integration through Diversity: Diasporas enhance host areas with culinary, artistic, and linguistic variety, promoting multicultural urban environments.

Issues Faced by Internal Diasporas

Cultural Disconnection: Migrants frequently experience isolation because of language and cultural obstacles.

Discrimination & Stereotypes: Local communities might exclude diasporic populations.

Political Ambiguity: In contrast to international diasporas, internal diasporas do not have official acknowledgment in policy.

Data Gaps: Census/PLFS records current migration but overlook long-established diasporic groups.

Identity Challenges: Younger generations encounter pressures to assimilate and may jeopardize their linguistic and cultural heritage.

Urban Stress: Significant diasporic groups in urban areas can increase demands on housing, infrastructure, and services.

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

India’s diasporic situation encompasses not only 30 million abroad but also includes over 100 million within its own borders.

Restricting diaspora to national borders neglects the cultural and economic significance of internal diasporas.

They influence India's cuisine, language, culture, and economy, enhancing both local communities and the national identity.

Policy should adopt a borderless perspective on diaspora, acknowledging that being videshi can involve transcending both state and international borders.