Cultural Identity
Diaspora Studies in 2018 and Beyond
Migration
100
Establishing 'Cultural Identity' can be very difficult..What struggles do second generation members of the Indian diaspora face when trying to establish their own?
-Influenced by their parents (first generation members of the Indian diaspora) to practice traditional Indian culture and values;
-Growing up in the Western world, and influenced by friends, teachers, colleagues..etc
-Stuart Halls ideal of 'cultural identity', idea of "oneness" vs. transforming identity
100
In an increasingly globalized world where people flow freely, the Indian diaspora has managed to scatter worldwide. In doing so, ideas and cultural customs between the host nation and diaspora are exchanged. Is it likely then that the field of diaspora studies will not be as pertinent as the Indian diaspora (like other diasporas) grow more similar to the people in the host societies they find themselves? (previous generations that have gone abroad have brought back foreign customs to India or the proliferation of things like high-speed transportation and the internet have already made the world more homogeneous?)
Looking in context at the Indian diaspora the ruling BJP is a Hindu nationalist party that has affiliated itself with other Hindu nationalist organizations in India and abroad to spread Hindutva (Hindu ideology). The Indian diaspora is very diverse just in terms of religion. Additionally, this diaspora has left India in waves and ultimately some of the diaspora are third or fourth generation and do not have a diasporic consciousness while others maintain it and are adamant on supporting movements like Hindutva. Ultimately, it is unlikely that there ever will be a truly homogenous global culture, but as time goes on and people disperse and are exposed to other people it is expected that certain cultural elements will become shared.
100
Today, roughly 33% of the Indo-Canadian Diaspora identifies as Sikh.
What changes in Canadian migration policies in the past would have helped create this majority we see today?
- The Family Sponsorship Program
- What it did for Canada
- Sikh Identity in Canadian Culture
200
What are some Indian traditional events or values that the diaspora practice in the Western world, but may have adapted?
-Large Family Events;
-Typical Dress Style;
-Diwali;
-Bollywood Dance and Music.
200
What ways might diaspora rhetoric be used in dangerous ways? Should using it be avoided because of this danger?
It depends. In the case of India, the BJP has made efforts in the past few years to reach out to its diaspora in places like the USA to seek remittances, encourage foreign direct investment into India or encourage highly skilled workers to come back to India. At the same time though it can be used for political gain. The BJP actively supports Hindu nationalist groups and have in the past been under scrutiny in India for the disenfranchisement of non-Hindu groups (eg. remaining silent on Hindu lynchings of Muslims who are suspected of slaughtering cows). By extending the vote for the upcoming 2019 election to the over 25 million NRI in the world, some of which have already been courted by the BJP there are concerns that this could lead to more inequality among religious groups in India if it helps keep the BJP in power.
200
The Canadian Government in 2012 followed a western trend making it easier for international students to work and study in Canada.
What were some of the outcomes of following this trend?
- 5 times increase of International students
- Exploitation of new immigrants
- Uprise in the Indo-Canadian Diaspora community