Abstract
The Indian diaspora across the globe is one of the largest, 17.5 million (UN Report, 2019) and is undergoing major transformations. Indians, mostly skilled, are invited to fill gaps in the Danish labour market in the last decade, changing the demographics and dynamics of the Indian diaspora. A psychosocial perspective on the Indian diaspora, primarily in the Scandinavian country, Denmark along with a comparative perspective in the USA, is the focus of this presentation.
The theoretical frameworks includes diasporic subjective processes of dispersal, connectedness (Dufoix, 2008) and processes of multiple inclusion/exclusion and ambivalences in the notion of belonging (Kalra et al., 2005), along with life course perspective (Levy, 2005) Furthermore transnational linkages between India (desh) and the Indian diaspora abroad (videsh) through multiple means, including on-line technology are explored.
The first person voices of the diasporic illustrate the people-centered approach as a methodological orientation. The empirical cases (Singla, 2008, 2015, Sriram, 2014) are based on qualitative- in-depth interviews with families and young people and diasporic in exogamous marriages with Danish spouses (mixed couples).
The results show Indian diaspora transformations, such as changing paradigms in India, multiple belongings, differential engagement in the receiving society and India related to generational and couple formation patterns. There is a nuanced understanding of belongings and marginalities of Indian diasporics through double belongings involving ‘emotional citizenship’ concept, ongoing negotiations at diverse levels, virtual interconnections as well as exclusion from various groups in the country of origin and in the country of residence.
Finally, some suggestions for promoting interconnections, communication and linkages between the Indian diaspora and India are delineated.
Key words:
The Indian diaspora, interconnections, double belongings, inclusion/ exclusion, marginalities, promoting linkages
The theoretical frameworks includes diasporic subjective processes of dispersal, connectedness (Dufoix, 2008) and processes of multiple inclusion/exclusion and ambivalences in the notion of belonging (Kalra et al., 2005), along with life course perspective (Levy, 2005) Furthermore transnational linkages between India (desh) and the Indian diaspora abroad (videsh) through multiple means, including on-line technology are explored.
The first person voices of the diasporic illustrate the people-centered approach as a methodological orientation. The empirical cases (Singla, 2008, 2015, Sriram, 2014) are based on qualitative- in-depth interviews with families and young people and diasporic in exogamous marriages with Danish spouses (mixed couples).
The results show Indian diaspora transformations, such as changing paradigms in India, multiple belongings, differential engagement in the receiving society and India related to generational and couple formation patterns. There is a nuanced understanding of belongings and marginalities of Indian diasporics through double belongings involving ‘emotional citizenship’ concept, ongoing negotiations at diverse levels, virtual interconnections as well as exclusion from various groups in the country of origin and in the country of residence.
Finally, some suggestions for promoting interconnections, communication and linkages between the Indian diaspora and India are delineated.
Key words:
The Indian diaspora, interconnections, double belongings, inclusion/ exclusion, marginalities, promoting linkages
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 1 Dec 2019 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2019 |
| Event | 29th Annual Convention of National Academy of Psychology (NAOP): International Conference on “Making Psychology Deliverable to the Society - Pondicherry University, Pondicherry , India Duration: 20 Dec 2019 → 22 Jan 2020 Conference number: 29 http://www.naopindia.org/convention |
Conference
| Conference | 29th Annual Convention of National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) |
|---|---|
| Number | 29 |
| Location | Pondicherry University |
| Country/Territory | India |
| City | Pondicherry |
| Period | 20/12/2019 → 22/01/2020 |
| Internet address |