What is Diaspora?
- Conventional definition: Diaspora refers to people migrating and settling outside their homeland (international migration).
- Internal diaspora: People who migrate within the same country across linguistic, cultural, or regional boundaries.
- Example: A Tamilian worker in Surat, a Punjabi trader in Bengaluru.
- They may sometimes feel like “videshi” (foreigner) due to cultural and linguistic differences, despite being in India.
Relevance : GS 1(Society)
Size & Scale of India’s Internal Diaspora
- Overseas diaspora:
- High-Level Committee Report on Indian Diaspora (2001) → 20 million Indians abroad.
- Today → over 30 million overseas Indians.
- Internal diaspora:
- Much larger — estimated at 100+ million people (10%+ of India’s population).
- Linguistic groups with highest internal diasporas (2010 data, Census & academic estimates):
- Punjabi: 4.3 million
- Malayalam: 4.6 million
- Tamil: 7.9 million
- Telugu: 6.9 million
- Gujarati: 4.9 million
- Hindi (incl. Bhojpuri, Marwari): 39.1 million
- Marathi: 5.5 million
- Kannada: 2.9 million
- Bengali: 3.6 million
- Most dispersed: Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil.
- Least dispersed: Marathi, Kannada, Bengali.
Drivers of Internal Diaspora
- Economic migration: Movement for jobs, construction, industries, IT hubs.
- Business & trade: Gujarati, Marwari, Sindhi, Telugu traders established across regions.
- Education & urbanisation: Movement towards metro cities and educational hubs.
- Historical patterns:
- “Old” diasporas → e.g., Gujarati traders in Tamil Nadu (centuries-old).
- “New” diasporas → e.g., IT professionals in Bengaluru/Hyderabad since 1990s.
Socio-Cultural Dynamics
- Language & identity: Migrants may face difficulties in communication and integration.
- Community associations: Migrants preserve culture through organisations (e.g., Gujarati Samaj, Telugu Sangham).
- Festivals & religion: Adaptation of regional festivals (Durga Puja in Mumbai, Onam in Delhi).
- Generational differences:
- 1st generation → Strong attachment to native culture, limited assimilation.
- 2nd generation → Greater integration, bilingual/multicultural identity.
Issues & Challenges
- Cultural alienation: Some migrants feel treated as “outsiders”.
- Language barriers: Can affect access to services, education, employment.
- Urban tensions: High inflows into cities → housing shortages, social frictions.
- Balancing identities: Preserving cultural roots vs. integrating into local society.
Comparative Lens
- Similarities with international diaspora:
- Preservation of culture.
- Creation of associations.
- Challenges in assimilation.
- Differences:
- Internal diaspora less studied than NRI/PIOs.
- Internal migration does not involve legal/visa restrictions.
- Global parallel: Telugu diaspora in the U.S. resembles internal Telugu migration (e.g., Andhra → Karnataka).
Implications for India
- Democracy & diversity: Internal diasporas highlight India’s pluralism and cultural coexistence.
- Federalism: Necessitates accommodative policies for inter-state migrants.
- Urbanisation: Migrant inflows reshape demographics of metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru).
- National identity: Internal migration fosters both regional pride and pan-Indian identity.
Way Forward
- Policy recognition: Acknowledge and study internal diasporas alongside international diaspora.
- Inclusive governance: Ensure equitable access to housing, healthcare, education, and language support.
- Inter-state cooperation: Create mechanisms for better management of migrant populations.
- Cultural sensitisation: Encourage mutual respect between locals and migrants.
- Research & academia: Expand diaspora studies to include internal migration for informed policymaking.
