Roots and routes april 2012
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The third meeting of GRFDT was held on February 12, 2012 at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. Prof. Brij Maharaj from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa attended as a guest and provided feedback to scholars working on various issues related to diaspora and transnationalism. Some of the key research topics discussed included the human rights perspective on the Indian diaspora in Malaysia, religion and diaspora through a study of the Hindu diaspora in the USA, and forms of caste relations among the Indian diaspora. Prof. Maharaj emphasized the importance of high-quality research and argumentation. The GRFDT will continue
Roots and routes april 2012
- 2. 2 GRFDT Meet with Resource Persons 4 GRFDT NEWS: 3rd meeting of GRFDT with Prof. Brij Maharaj 9 Global Update MOUs for Welfare of Indian Emigrants Overseas Citizenship of India Cards, Home Connection: KIP for 600 Diaspora Youths so far © GRFDT, Roots and Routes is Printed, designed & circulated by GRFDT Editor: Sadananda Sahoo Editorial Board: Divya Balan, Kshipra, Mahalingam M, Monika Bisht, Rakesh Ranjan, Smita Tiwari, Vinod Kr. Choudhary, Vinod Sartape Design and Production: Prachee Naik, Rakesh Ranjan Roots and Routes Dear Friends, Diaspora and transnationalism represents the human face of globalization. There has been significant scholarship on the subject both at empirical and theoretical levels. More recently, there has also been an emerging interest in the associated policy implications amongst various institutions, governments and development or- ganizations. However, there have been very few attempts to synergise, con- nect and interlink these diaspora studies with contemporary and emerging challenges so as to further enrich comparative research and draw lessons for policy making. Today Diasporic communities are interacting with increasingly complex and volatile global socioeconomic and political systems. This poses major challenges to the existing theoretical frameworks and methodologies to understand, explain and analyse diasporic issues. Moreover, disciplinary, institutional and national boundaries have often limited our endeavour to develop a holistic understanding of such complex issues. Our continued interaction with global experts on Diaspora encouraged us to create an international platform to facilitate, cooperate, collaborate and engage with scholars, diasporic communities, development organizations, businesses and governments worldwide. This is why the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT) was conceived and for- mally established in 2012. Though launched and based in India, GRFDT’s vision, objective and activities are global in nature. GRFDT is a platform to synergise and make use of the existing global intellectual and cultural ex- pertise. In addition, the emphasis is on bridging the limitations posed by the so called boundaries. GRFDT has started ‘Roots and Routes’ in order to reach out to the research- ers and policy makers. This is a monthly Newsletter that engages with re- searchers and policy makers working on the issues of diaspora and transna- tionalism. The inaugural issue of ‘Roots and Routes’ focuses on research and development to promote a knowledge platform to advance scholarship and policy engagement. We sincerely thank Hon’ble Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) Shri Vayalar Ravi for his kind encouragement and support for this initiative. We also thank Prof. Ravindra K. Jain, Ambassador J.C. Sharma, Dr. Armen Baibourtian, Prof. Brij Maharaj, Jwala Rambaran, Latefa N. Guemar, et.al. for their association, encouragement and guidance in making this forum ‚a reality‛. I deeply appreciate the spirit of the voluntary work that my team of young passionate scholars have contributed in the last few months in establishing GRFDT and bringing out the inaugural issue of ‘Roots and Routes ‘. (Sadananda Sahoo) Editor’s Note GRFDT National Seminar at CSSS, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 20122 GRFDT News 04 GRFDT Seminar 05 Book Review 07 GRFDT Interview 08 Globe Update 09 Books (New Arrival) 09 Awards 10 CONTENTS
- 3. 3 Roots and Routes GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 2012 3
- 4. 4 The third Meeting of GRFDT was held on 12 February 2012 at 2: 30 p.m in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Prof. Brij Maharaj, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa was invited for an interactive session with the scholars working on various issues on diaspora and transnationalism. During interactions, Prof. A Kundu (JNU) shared his ideas on research ethics and challenges in academics. He expressed his disappointment on the quality of academics despite increased salaries and attention on higher studies. He also added that the dismayal situation of academics is due to political interference and overall erosion of academic ethics. Dr. Sadananda Sahoo briefed about GRFDT and diaspora scholars also discussed their respective research topics with Prof. Maharaj who gave his criti- cal inputs in return. Few points on the subjects like need for publications were discussed. Prof. Maharaj quoted a thinker from South Africa who said, ‚Don’t raise your voice, raise the quality of your argument‛. Some of the key themes were: Mahalingam M, ‚Human Right Perspective on Indian Dias- pora in Malaysia‛. Ravinder Singh, ‚Pilgrimage and Diaspora- A Sociological Study of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu‛. Arvind Rana, ‚Indian Student Migration and Settlement‛ in Australlia. Kshipra Uke, ‚Religion and Diaspora: A Study of Hindu Diaspora in U.S.A‛. Shivam, ‚Theoretical understanding of Diaspora‛. Vinod Sartape, ‚Forms of Reproducing and Subverting Caste Relations: Dalits within the Indian Diaspora‛. Dr. Samson S Chiru, ‚South Asian Diaspora : Indo US Per- spective‛. The Forum will have regular seminars, conferences, workshops and training programmes at different locations in India and sub- sequently at the global level. GRFDT Launched Formally In the backdrop of increas- ing demand for research, policy analysis, infor- mation and resources in diaspora studies, a new global forum has been launched in New Delhi, India. This Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT) has been formally initiated on 10th March, 2012 in New Delhi to provide re- search and policy inputs on global diaspora. Scholars from various national and international Universities such as JNU, DU, IIT, IGNOU, Jamia Millia Islamia and Monash University, Australia, shared their ideas to bring together all stakeholders and engage in diaspora and transnationalism, to engage in a mean- ingful and sustainable manner. The fo- rum has identified several key issues that will guide future research, policy analysis and consulting activities. This was followed by two research proposal presentations. Monika Bisht presented on ‚Tibetan Diaspora in Delhi: A Study on Social Networking and Livelihoods‛ and Rakesh Ranjan on ‚Cultural Em- beddedness and Diasporic Entrepre- neurship: A Comparative Study on Eth- nic Markets of Malaysia and Mauri- tius‛. The presentations were followed by a lively discus- sion and scholars provided useful comments for further improvisation of the proposals. The GRFDT has decided to bring out a monthly news- letter that will be circulated globally. GRFDT- Resource Persons Meet Roots and Routes GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 20124 Interaction with Prof. Brij Maharaj Members of GRFDT
- 5. 5 GRFDT Monthly Seminar Series at JNU on 7th April 2012 National Seminar Indian Diaspora: Mobility and Identity Indian Diaspora is recognised to have emerged as an influ- ential player in policy making both the countries of host and home. How ever to understand the evolution of Indian Diaspora, the issues of their mobility and identity are ex- tremely important. This entire process can be explored when studies within their respective contexts with the help of a critical historical approach. Keeping this in mind Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT), a leading international think tank, organised an all India Seminar on ‚Indian Dias- pora: Mobility and Identity‛ on 7 April, 2012 at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. This event was orga- nized at Centre for the Study of Social Systems (CSSS) of JNU. The seminar was chaired by Prof. Ravindra K Jain, Tagore National Fellow for Cultural Research, India. Kamala Kan- ta Dash from Monash University was the discussant for the seminar. The session was started with paper presentations on various issues and challenges relating to migration and Diaspora. There were five papers. The first paper of Muneer Illath of University of Allahabad was on ‚Failure of Cultural confidence and Closure of de- velopment horizons: Narrating the case of Return Emi- grants among Mappila Muslims of Kerala‛. The study is about the failure and unexpected results of the return emi- grants of Mappila Muslims of Kerala who migrated to Gulf countries. The paper critically observed the most acclaimed formation of a ‚new middle class‛ among the Mappila Muslims of Malabar, Northern Kerala and its ramification for the ‚development models‛ seeking for Muslims else- where in India. The majority of the unskilled labour among Mappilas in the Gulf countries has returned home without much economic, cultural and political support back at home. The study attempts to demonstrate the ‚new devel- opment deficits‛ of a community which had benefited heav- ily from the Gulf migration as an ‚economic lifeboat‛, but failed to sustain its development resources and opportuni- ties. The paper clarified some key issues related to the difference between Mappila and other Muslim communities in Gulf countries, the women migration of this community, the contribution of new generation in diaspora and the con- dition of this community in Gulf countries etc. The second paper was by Dr M. Mahalingam was ‚Tamil Diaspora: A Case Study of Contemporary of Contemporary Mobilization in Malaysia‛. The paper is an analytical study of the Tamil Diaspora in Malaysia and seeks to examine how the Malaysian Indians are being mobilized for social, economic and political advancement. The Malaysian Indian community is the third largest ethnic group in Malaysia and is generally considered to be the most deprived and mar- ginalized of the three ethnic groups. Basically, the Malaysi- an Indian Diaspora is a heterogeneous group. The central argument of the study is that the Malaysian In- dian community over the years has become a settled group but there are innumerable problems faced by the communi- ty such as, issues related to citizenship, cultural and reli- gious identity and economic and educational upward mo- bility. Thus, the focus of the study is on Diasporic mobiliza- tion in the form of an Indian civil society group called Hin- du Rights Action Force (HINDRAF). Welcome Divya Balan, Member, Editorial Board, GRFDT About GRFDT Dr. Sadananda Sahoo, Faculty, SOITS, IGNOU, India. Chairperson Prof. Ravindra K. Jain , Tagore National Fellow for Cultural Research, India. Discussant Kamala Kanta Dash, Monash University, Australia. Rapporteur Rakesh Ranjan and Monika Bisht, SOITS, IGNOU, India. Vote of Thanks Dr. G Srinivas, Faculty, CSSS, JNU, India. Roots and Routes GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 2012 5 Prof. R K Jain
- 6. 6 The HINDRAF movement took place in 2007 and the thesis is based on social movement approach and target the role of HINDRAF movement for the cultural development of Malay- sian Indian. There were various critical arguments has been raised by different participant related to the study. The issues for instance, essence of belonging- ness in the Diaspora, the political movement influence the condition of Malaysia, the impact of Indian govt. inter- vention regarding the rights of Malaysian Indian, how can one trace the Tamil and Sri Lankan Hindus. The third paper of Vinod Sartape from JNU was on ‚Forms of Reproduction and Subversion of Caste Re- lations: Dalits within the Indian Diaspora‛. The focus of the study is the ‚Dalit Diaspora‛ which is an emerging phenome- non in Diaspora studies. Discrimination of Dalits based on caste has been recently recognized even though the caste has existed since the beginning in the Indian Diaspora. The caste system is predominantly a feature of the Indian sub- continent; it has crossed the geographical boundaries now. Caste therefore no longer is a phenomenon associated with Hindu religion rather its ideological and doctrinal basis per- meates other religious communities. In this context, the paper focussed on the feature of caste relations that is present across the world through the different patterns of South Asian emi- gration. Prof R K Jain commented that instead of looking at caste in a disaggregated manner, one must see it in multidi- mensional manner. Kamala Dash, the discussant mentioned that there is no single religious text and interpretation of caste rather caste is understood differently in various texts. The fourth paper of Mr Shivam of JNU was on ‚Understanding Diaspora as a Social Process: The Conceptual Scheme‛. The paper discusses the theories and concepts of diaspora especially how they are treated in the subject disci- plines of social sciences. It analyses a set of interrelated defi- nitions and relationships that shape the concepts and under- standing of the diaspora. Like any other concepts, diaspora has evolved over the period encompassing many interrelated variables. The paper discusses how the term evolved and un- derstood by scholars over the period. Prof. R.K. Jain commented that questions of identity should be raised by social scientist in under- standing diaspora studies. The fifth paper by Mr. Jee- tendra D. Soni was on ‚Labour migration to West Asia from Sikar, Churu and Jhun- jhunu Districts: Problems and Prospects‛. Basically, most of the workers migrated to gulf countries for harnessing better financial opportunities to support their families. The paper argues that the flow of remittances from the diasporic com- munity especially from the Gulf region contributes to the for- eign currency reserves and largely determines India’s finan- cial and fiscal policies. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the Indian emigrants, there is a need for making effective policies for responsive role of Indian state towards migrants and their family members keeping in mind their diversities. The study found that their remittances are used mainly for consumption purposes rather than its productive utilization. The survey Mr. Soni conducted has demonstrated the story of misery of Indian migration. Prof. R.K. Jain appreciated the problems and prospects of labour dispora as raised by Mr. Soni. Discussant Mr. K.K. Dash highlighted the issues of mobility and identity and how they intersect with global politics and policy making. While acknowledging the already existing rich inter-disciplinary nature of the subject, he stressed on strengthening the use of International Relations and Public Policy in the studies of Diaspora and trans-nationalism to develop critical academic and policy insights to the present developments. Prof Jain invited participants to send critical feedback on the papers and on the overall session to improve the papers and publish a monograph. Dr Gurram Srinivas of JNU thanked Prof R.K. Jain, Mr. K.K. Dash and the five paper presenters for an intellectually stim- ulating session. Ms. Divya Balan of JNU thanked the GRFDT, CSSS JNU and participants for a fruitful discussion on an important issue in diaspora studies. Monika Bisht and Rakesh Ranjan, SOITS, IGNOU, India Email: [email protected], [email protected] National Seminar at JNU, Delhi Participants in the Seminar Roots and Routes GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 20126
- 7. 7 Book Review Parmatma Saran, The Asian Indian Experience in The United States, Cambridge Mass, Schenkman Publishing, 1985, 131 p., ISBN 0706927508, `193.00. An insider’s account, the book titled ‚The Asian Indian Experi- ence in The United States‛ by Paramatma Saran documents the socio-psychological experiences of the Asian immigrants in an urban multicultural society of United States of America. Based on both secondary as well as primary sources, the book touches upon variety of issues such as identity, culture, survival strategy, generational experiences of the immigrant Asians. The book con- tains six chapters. The first chapter talks about the history of eth- nicity in America and also locates Indian Diaspora in United States. More specifically the chapter brings out variety of cultural and sociological issues and economic life, their activities, habits, preferences, family, religion, education, food and language etc. The chapter also brings out intergenerational continuity and change in a very interesting manner. The experience of pluralism is not new to the people in some of the Asian countries, especially to Indians. However, the journey to USA is quite different. Since 1607, millions of people from every corner of the world have migrated to the United States which resulted in creating an incredible diversity of people (ethnicities), languages, cultures, and values. The post 1965 im- migration legislation brought the new wave of immigration and changed the structure and composition of the population. The legislation provided scope for selective migration of only English speaking and highly qualified people. The underlying intention was to promote assimilation to the process of Americanization as well as economic growth without challenging the cultural fabric of USA. Against the backdrop of prevailing attitude of the intelligentsia in USA and the public policy response to it, this study by Para- matma Saran throws interesting light on the issue of immigrants’ settlement. The popular intelligentsia pronounced that the demo- graphic composition of people from non-American culture may pose danger to the cultural, political and social fabric of the na- tion. This perception was largely supported by the policy makers resulting in the USA’s enactment of uniform education policy promoting Americanization and assimilation . This Americaniza- tion or acceptance of Anglo-Saxon values and way of life has been adopted across the country. What Horace M. Kallen calls ‚melting pot’ and ‘cultural pluralism’, Ruby Jo Reeves Kennedy uses the term, ‚multiple melting pot’ Policy of assimilation often poses challenges to the identity of a community for the new settlers. The author critically examines the strategies followed by the Asian communities to cope with the challenges of cultural assimilation. In the context of Asian immigrants, the author observed that marriage out of the com- munity were be very limited. The social pressure within the com- munity and family operates strongly against marriage outside the community. To maintain the strong bond with the communi- ty and maintain their identity, different practices were encour- aged. Regular visits to India are prized by the community. How- ever, there are generational gap in the way they maintain identi- ty. Those who are permanent citizens, the intention to return back to the home land became less feasible with each passing year and for the second generation who were born and brought up there, return to the mother country become only a remote possibility. The author argues that America is a nation of immigrants. Along with legal immigrants he also talkes about illegal immigrants, those came to the USA by various means as cheap labour. The main focus of Saran here is to study and examine the social and psychological behaviour of Asian Indians who immigrated to the USA post 1980s. Under the title ‚Asian Indians: Demographic, Behavioural and attitudinal Profile‛, Saran brings out interesting data with regards to social status, family ties and other behav- ioural and attitudinal profile. He quotes Nathan Glazer- ‚Asian Indian is a new and rapidly growing ethnic group fed by immi- gration, with high levels of education, by concentration in the professions by a strong commitment to maintaining family con- nections, both here in the United States and in India‛. This shows the strong sense of identity prevalent among Asians and how they build strategies to maintain the same. To corroborate the arguments, the book also contains ten in- depth interviews. However, all interviewees are from high caste and from big towns of India. They came to America to study and eventually received permanent citizenship in that country. All are highly qualified (M.A or PhD), and married to Indians from the homeland or from the USA. The selection of people were made on the basis of duration of stay and earning capability i.e. who have spent at least 8-10 years maximum and are earning quite a good money. The time frame of his in-depth interviews are nearly a year. He has not talked much about immigrants fam- ily backgrounds in India. Though the study identified several strategies by the Asian com- munities to maintain their strong identity at social level, there are new assimilative forces in certain areas. Hindus were quite ad- justable with beef and American food, though they try to cook Indian dinner at home. Maximum families are nuclear and feel tense about perceived changes in their children‘s values while exposed to the American culture. Parents are always trying to continue their attachment with their homeland, by pujas, news from India, telephone, letters, visit to friends and hometown in India. With both empirical and secondary data, the book provides very insightful ideas and throws light on the socio-psychological ex- periences of the settlement communities in the host land. Though the book is written in 1985, given its analytical and methodologi- cal rigour in explaining Diasporic experience. The book contin- ues to be one of the key texts in the interdisciplinary studies. Vinod Kumar, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Email: [email protected] Roots and Routes GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 2012 7
- 8. 8 The Indian government has launched a special pension and life insurance scheme that would benefit over 5 million unskilled and semi-skilled workers employed overseas mostly in Gulf countries on temporary contract visas. The government has created a special fund called Pen- sion and Life Insurance Fund which will be used to partly contribute to a pension and insur- ance cover to the low-paid workers. The policy was prepared through the recommendation of a project ‚Return and Retirement Scheme ‚ headed by Dr. Kavim V Bhatnagar. He shared his ideas about this scheme with Dr. Sadananda Sahoo, Editor, GRFDT. Tell us about the Retirement Scheme The scheme is called as ‘Pension and Life Insurance Fund for Overseas Indian Workers’. The Government of India has approved on 4th January 2012, the proposal of Pension and Life Insurance Fund (PLIF) for overseas Indian workers hav- ing an Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) stamp on their passport and migrating to 17 such countries where they need emigration clearance. How does it benefit the diaspora? The PLIF scheme aims to encourage, enable and assist overseas Indian migrant workers having Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) passports and who have emigrated overseas or are in the process of emigrating overseas on a valid tem- porary employment/ contract visa to voluntarily (a) save for their return and resettlement, (b) save for their old age pen- sion (c) obtain a Life Insurance cover against natural death. To the eligible diaspora it provides the following benefits: A co-contribution of `1000 per financial year by MOIA on the lines of Swavalamban for all eligible PLIF subscribers who save between `1000 and `12000 per financial year in the PFRDA regulated NPS-Lite scheme; A special additional co-contribution of `1000 per financial year by MOIA for all overseas Indian women workers who join the PLIF and save between `1000 and `12,000 per financial year in the PFRDA regulated NPS-Lite scheme; and A special co-contribution of up to `1000 by MOIA towards return and resettlement (R&R) for all overseas Indian workers who join the PLIF and save `4000 per financial year towards their return and resettlement. Is there any such policies introduced by any other countries before? If yes in what way this pol- icy is different from them? No, as of now no other country has introduced such scheme in the knowledge of the author targeting low income infor- mal sector migrant workers with special emphasis on women workers. How does it address the issue of gender and most vulnerable section? The scheme provides for ‘A special additional co-contribution of `1000 per financial year by MOIA for all overseas Indian women workers’ who join the PLIF and save between `1000 and `000 per financial year in the PFRDA regulated NPS-Lite scheme. This would not only provide them an incentive to save for return and rehabilitation but would also provide them a social security and income in their old age. Do you perceive there is any implementation problems involved in the policies? Yes. There are many implementation challenges / issues involved in the scheme. The challenges may range from low literacy and lower financial and pension literacy to providing a secure sustainable institutional architecture of seamless flow of contributions from members to the fund manager. Enrollments at the offices of POE in India and Indian Mission abroad would require political and administrative will and support from Indian diaspora including civil societies etc. working for Indian migrant workers. Support from overseas employers and Governments towards facilitating remittanc- es and investments are also few challenges that have to be met with care. Dr. Kavim V Bhatnagar is a unique combination of a researcher, a pension economist, a micro pension lobbyist, designer and practic- ing professional and a Civil Servant (Madhya Pradesh Finance Service, 1991) by profession holding more than twenty years of varied experience in area of Social Protection in general and pension sector in particular. Expertise includes articulating social security schemes of Government and NGOs including designing and implementing micro pensions and co contributory pensions in India. He is currently working as a ‘Pension Specialist’ in the World Bank project on ‘Strengthening Public Expenditure Management Pro- gram’ (SPEMP) in Bangladesh. [email protected]. GRFDT Interview Roots and Routes GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 20128
- 9. 9 Annual conference series on Indian Diaspora in Caribbean The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) will be hosting a series of conference in Carib- bean on Indian Diaspora by bringing together stake- holders from diverse background. The conference in Caribbean will discuss large array of issues related to conversion, resistance, discrimination, politics, history, family histories, migration, literature, gender, perfor- mance, art, sports, recreation, accommodation, survival, the media, etc. Each paper to be presented must focus on, or at least make reference to Indians in St Vincent. (GOPIO) Global Update Grenada Appointed International Diaspora Consultative Committee The Government of Grenada constituted an eight-member International Diaspora Consultative Committee (IDCC) adopted on the basis of Declaration at the Grenada Diaspo- ra Founding Conference in St George’s on August 3, 2011 under the theme ‚The Grenadian Diaspora: Partnering in Nation-Building‛. This is an initiative to harness the poten- tial of Grenada diaspora resources in sectors such as Agri- business, Tourism and Hospitality, Energy Development, Information Communications Technology and Health, Edu- cation, Tourism and Wellness Service. (IDCC) Books New Arrivals Claiming Diaspora: Music, Transnationalism, and Cultural Politics in Asian/Chinese America (2011), Su Zheng, Ox- ford University Press, USA . Communalism and Globalization in South Asia and its Diaspora (2010), Edited by Deana Heath, Chandana Mathur, Routledge Publication . Diversities in the Indian Diaspora: Nature, Implications, Responses(2011), N. Jayaram (Editor), Oxford University Press. On Diaspora: Christianity, Religion, and Secularity (2011), Daniel Colucciello Barber, Cascade Books . Exile as Challenge: The Tibetan Diaspora (2011), Hubertus Von Welck Dagmar Bernstorff, Orient Blackswan Migration, Diaspora and Information Technology in Global Societies (2011), Edited by Leopoldina Fortunati, Raul Pertierra, Jane Vincent, Routledge Publication Nation, Diaspora, Trans-nation: Reflections from India (2010), R. K. Jain, Routledge Publication . Diasporas, Cultures and Identities, Edited by Martin Bulmer (2011), John Solomos, Routledge Publication. Diaspora and Transnationalism: Concepts, Theories and Methods (2010), Edited by Rainer Baubock, Thomas Faist, Amsterdam University Press . Home Connection: KIP for 600 Diaspora Youths so far The 19th Know India Programme (KIP) held from 21.12.2011 to 10.01.2012, thirty seven overseas youths of Indian origin from 10 countries including Mauritius, Malaysia, South Afri- ca, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Israel and Australia patici- pated. Know India Progamme is organized with the objec- tive of familiarizing Indian Diaspora youth with the devel- opments made by the country and bringing them close to the land of their ancestors. The KIP is a highly successful programme run by the Ministry and it attracts a large num- ber of overseas youths to participate in it. Wide publicity is given to this programme through Indian Missions/Posts abroad as well as through the local media to enable overseas Indian youths to apply for the same. Nearly 600 overseas youths have participated in this programme so far. Overseas Citizenship of India Cards In a reply to the Lok Sabha Minister of Overseas Indian Affair, Shri Vayalar Ravi mentioned the number of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Card issued in last three years. The Ministry acknowledged that there is a delay in issue of the card due to non-submission of pho- tographs in the prescribed format by the applicants causing scanning problems. The problem is resolved as and when it comes to the notice of the Government. The OCI Server in a few Missions had faced some technical problems for some time in the recent past. The prob- lems have since been rectified. The average time taken to issue an OCI Card is 30 days. (MOIA) Roots and Routes GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 2012 9
- 10. 10 Conferences/Seminars/Announcements The ‘Diaspora Strategies’ of Mi- grant-Sending Countries: Migra- tion-as-Development Reinvent- ed? Date: Nov 05-06, 2012 Venue: Asia Research Institute Organizer: National University of Singapore Abstract Deadline: 20 April 2012 Full Paper: 20 September 2012 Web-link: http:// www.ari.nus.edu.sg/ events_categorydetails.asp? Echoes of Migrations: Memories and Representations of migrants (19-21th Century) Date: November, 08-09, 2012 Venue: Faculty of Social and Hu- man Sciences Organizer: Nova University of Lis- bon Abstract Deadline: May 15, 2012 Web-link:http:// echoesmigrations.blogspot.in/ Note: The list of information in this section is compiled from the web-sources and re- searchers are requested to contact the organizers and cross check the details before sending the abstract/paper and most importantly before registering. Cricket, Migration & Diasporic Communities around the World Conference Date: July 04, 2012 Venue: Headingly Campus Organizer: Leeds Metropolitan Uni- versity, UK Abstract Deadline: 20 April 2012 Web-link: http:// onlinestore.leedsmet.ac.uk/browse/ extra_info.asp? com- pid=1&modid=2&prodid=80&deptid= 4&catid=2 Senior/Junior Fellowships Last Date: 30th April, 2012. Ministry of Culture operates the Scheme for the Award of Senior/ Junior Fellowships for undertak- ing research oriented projects in the fields of Performing, Literary and Plastic Arts as also New Are- as www.indiaculture.nic.in M.Sc. Migration Studies The interdisciplinary MSc in Migra- tion Studies at Oxford University is jointly offered by the School of Anthro- pology and the Department of Interna- tional Development. http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/ postgraduate_courses/index.html M.Phil./Ph.D. in Diaspora Studies Intake– 15 Eligibility– post-graduate degree in any subject (Arts/Science/ Commerce). School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies , Central University of Gujarat www.cug.ac.in Congratulations Degree Awarded Smita Tiwari has completed PhD from South Asian Studies Division, School of Interna- tional Studies, JNU. She worked on ‚India’s Diasora Policy 1999- 2008: A Study of Evolution, Objec- tives and Principles‛ under the su- pervision of Prof. P Sahadevan. Presently she is working at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. M. Mahalingam completed his Ph.D. from Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He worked on ‚Tamil Dias- pora: A Case Study of Contempo- rary Mobilization in Malaysia‛ un- der the supervision of Dr. Renuka Singh and in consultation with Prof. R K Jain. Vinod Sartape has completed M.Phil from the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Ja- waharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. His M.Phil Dissertation was on "Caste and other aspects in Indian Diaspora: A Sociological Study", under the supervi- sion of Dr. Vivek Kumar. Currently he is working on his Ph.D, on the title, "Forms of Reproducing and Subverting Caste Relations: Dalits within the Indian Dias- pora". Roots and Routes GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 201210
- 11. 11 We invite Students, Researchers and Faculty Members to submit a small write up of their achievements and awards to the editor. It will provide the scholars a platform connect with peer groups working on themes related to Dias- pora and Transnationalism. For information re- lated to seminar/conferences/events can be sent to the Editor at: [email protected] For contribution/subscription of the Roots and Routes and advertisement, please con- tact: The Editor, Roots and Routes, A-45A, Upper Ground Floor, Indira Enclave, Neb Sarai, New Delhi– 110068, Email: [email protected], For details visit our website: www.grfdt.com, www.grfdt.org Proposed Subscription fee for Hard copy from next issue `30 per copy, One Year: `300, Two Years: `550 (Including postal Charge), Outside India: Hard copy $5 per copy, One year: $55, Two Years: $105 (including postal charge) Soft copy can be accessed from the GRFDT website. www.grfdt.org Message ... In my opinion GRFDT is a laudable and commendable adventure. This is because it will further create and disseminate use- ful knowledge regarding Diaspora and activities relating to it, which will foster linkage between home and resident coun- tries. This will further strengthen investment and development opportunities. - Dr Evans Osabuohien , Dept. of Economics & Development Studies, Covenant , University, Ota, Nigeria I am happy to learn that ‚Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism‛ is bringing out a monthly News- letter ‚Roots and Routes‛. Diaspora Studies is emerging as a major interdisciplinary programme in the academic field. According to the Institute of Migration Studies more than two hundred million migrant workers are presently in work- ing various countries of the world. This is an important aspect of Globalization which needs to be thoroughly studied. Diaspora has major socio- economic and socio- political implications both for sending and host societies. It has impact on Foreign Policy, Economic Development and National Security. All countries with sizeable overseas communities must thoroughly study this subject to develop a mutually beneficial relationship. The Newsletter will play a useful role in this regard. - Amb. J C Sharma, Former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, India I am pleased to know that you have organized such a consortium focusing on the issues of diaspora and globalization. I am happy to be part of it. Globalization is making the transfer of goods and their producers one of its distinctive features and it is high time that a forum like GRFDT takes root in India. India with its growing diaspora is well placed to launch such an enter- prise and I will be happy to do my bit to make it successful. - Dr. Annapurna Pandey, Anthropology, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA I am immensely delighted to learn that a forum-namely the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT) has now been established. It is going to be a consortium of academics dealing with the cutting-edge research on diaspora issues. Given the phenomenal growth of diaspora engagement across the globe, such a move is highly com- mendable. This will undoubtedly facilitate another platform that will bring together reputed experts and the emerging scholars in the field and contribute towards their enriched interaction. I congratulate the architects behind such a great move and am confident that their stupendous efforts to this end will pay-off all of us with good dividends. I wish this forum a staggering success. Congratulations on the establishment of the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism in India. Hopeful- ly, GRFDT will directly tackle the issues related to diaspora and transnationalism and seeks to identify policy options that might contribute to the development of broad and coherent strategies to better match demand for diaspora with supply in orderly ways. I do believe that GRFDT will be shaped as the largest such group focusing specifically on the issues related to diaspora and transnationalism in the near future. Prof. Guofu Liu, Law School, Beijing Institute of Technology, China Dr. Md. Salahuddin, Asst Professor, Southeast University, Bangladesh The link between diaspora and transnationalism and development now figures substantially on the international develop- ment cooperation agenda. Developing a newsletter program with a solid audience will, therefore, prove to be a very an im- portant ‘knowledge asset’ for GRFDT. I am sure Roots and Routes will deliver specific and current information that will help its members-readers with current advances in the field and generate future research issues. It will provide the unique experience of getting to know your fellow researchers, stakeholders, policy makers. - Prof. K M Baharul Islam, Chairman & CEO, South Asia Development Gateway Roots and Routes GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 2012 11
- 12. 12 I am very happy that the newly formed GRFDT has launched its newsletter Roots and Routes. The twin words in its title re- mind us of the lives and works of two great Indians-- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi the centenary for whose Hind Swaraj we celebrated earlier in this millennium and Rabindranath Tagore whose 150th birth anniversary we are celebrating now. They are the fitting icons for youth in our era of extensive travel and transnationalism to which your research forum is dedicated. Please accept my choicest best wishes for your endeavor! -Prof. Ravindra K. Jain, Tagore National Fellow for Cultural Research, India. - Dr. Armen Baibourtian, Senior Adviser to the UN Resident Coordnator in Armenia. "I strongly encourage this initiative and hope that it will help to strengthen the capacity of the Diaspora-oriented, both academ- ics and policymakers at international level by providing with the essential knowledge and tools to develop practical policies to maximise the contribution of Diasporas to the development of their respective home countries. I am very proud to have been invited to join this new community of Diasporas scholars and policy-makers". - Professor Brij Maharaj, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Congratulations on the establishment of the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT). This is a very relevant, timely and appropriate platform for scholarly and intellectual engagement on the multidimensional facets of diaspora. Significantly, the GRFDT initiative is driven by a group of young scholars – the academic leaders of tomorrow. -Latefa Narrriman Guemar, Centre for Migration Policy Research, Swansea University, U.K . I heartily welcome the inaugural issue of the newsletter ‚Roots and Routes‛ and offer my wishes aspired to successfully achieve a global outreach for it. The publication of this newsletter is GRFDT’s absolutely timely endeavor. While the issues of Diaspora and Transnationalism gradually come under the spotlight of international politics and gain significance from all- encompassing perspective of development, the need for enhanced research in those areas translated into policy actions be- comes apparent. We, in the Caribbean, welcome the initiative taken by Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT). The Newsletter Roots and Routes will definitely promote synergy between knowledge and practice. Indeed, the Caribbean has created its very own large, highly educated diaspora pool that represents a potential source of engagement for economic de- velopment. This is particularly important because small, open economies in the Caribbean require additional resources to help accelerate economic growth, reduce poverty and meet other Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Inevitably, the Caribbean must consider appropriate modalities to engage its Diaspora, including innovative financing solutions, and "Brain Gain" programs. -Mr. Jwala Rambarran, Chairman, NIHERST, Trinidad and Tobago. GRFDT is a phenomenal initiative that explores concepts related to the Diaspora and transnationalism in modern academic and political discourses. Practitioners must move beyond traditional discourses on brain drain and brain gain to an active discussion on brain circulation as an effective tool to re-engage the Diaspora in meaningful ways. Through the newsletter ‚Roots and Routes‛ a reformulation of citizenship, migration, and development policies will be examined in the constructive engagement of the Diaspora. Dr. Anjali Sahay, Department of Political, Legal, and International Studies, Gannon University, Pennsylvania, USA Scientific diasporas should be recognised as agents for development and international cooperation. To boost their participa- tion in helping reducing the unequal disparities between the North and the South adequate policies should be informed by reliable research findings and supported by evidence based analysis. The creation of the GRFDT including both academic and policy voices promises to be an ideal exchange platform that will certainly contribute to leverage diasporas' knowledge for home country development. - Dr. Gabriela Tejada, Scientific Researcher, EPFL, Switzerland. The expansion of global knowledge systems has in recent years led to an increased sharing of knowledge through global cyber interconnectivity. Cross-border transmigration is one major route through which knowledge has spread. This bound- less international sharing of expertise and knowledge across nationalities needs to be properly channelled through proactive global policy frameworks and specific interventions and it is in this spirit that I heartily welcome the birth of ‚Routes and Roots‛ as it is poised to effectively suggest means through which this may be accomplished. -Dr. Francis Matambirofa, Director, African Languages Research Institute, University of Zimbabwe, Harare. Message ... Roots and Routes GRFDT NEWSLETTER VOL.1, No.1, APRIL 201212