The South Asian Diasporas

Organized by: Dr G. Oonk and Prof. Dr. H.G.C. Schulte Nordholt
Information: m.rozing@let.leidenuniv.nl

The South Asian diaspora has a long tradition and many Persons of Indian Origin have not visited India for more than three generations. Many of them have developed local networks,
including with South Asians and others. Nevertheless, India and the Indian diaspora does not necessarily play an important role in this. How, then, can the diaspora concept help us to understand changing attitudes towards India and the South Asian diaspora through generations? Peoples in diaspora are part of a global and a local history. Historians should emphasize the dynamic processes of changing attitudes towards the homeland; host land and diasporic community. A historical and comparative approach may help us to understand some of these dynamics.