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The word ‘diaspora’ comes from the Greek diasperien meaning ‘to sow or scatter seeds’, indicative of dispersal. It was originally applied to the condition of the Jewish people living outside Palestine. However, the term is now also being applied to displaced communities of people who have been dislocated from their homeland because of international migrations due to wars and territorial conflicts as refugees and voluntary migrations in search of better economic opportunities, life styles or to be on the forefront of knowledge. In the twenty-first century Diaspora implies a dislocation from one’s own country to relocation in some other country or nation. Diaspora’s relation to its country of origin, and its host country and culture, is one of the most relevant questions debated by scholars of diaspora. Findings of scholars from different disciplines like literature, sociology, anthropology, film studies, cultural studies point to a close link between the diaspora and the country of origin. It is imperative to study the contribution of the diaspora in the formation of a nation (as in the case of Israel), or making substantial contribution to the intellectual, social or economic life of the country of origin as in the case of India. The contribution of the Indian Diaspora at a micro-level; how it has substantially contributed to the upliftment of people’s life at the village level to its contribution to Nation’s economy, and the nation’s sphere of influence at the international level deserves attention and in depth research.
The Indian diaspora is a formidable political, economic, intellectual, and technological force in the host countries, which has the potential to influence the decisions of the host countries in India’s favour. According to the 2000 census the USA has 1.7 million people of Indian origin or 0.6% of the population, the fourth largest immigrant community. In England this number is 1.5 million, a sizeable 1.8% of the population. Such statistics prove the global power of the Indian diaspora. The power wielded by the Indian diaspora in the context of the globalized, multicultural world has to be properly analysed keeping in mind the questions of modernity, social mobility, market economy, dislocation and relocation, acculturation and assimilation etc. Diaspora therefore, being a very complex phenomenon, ever changing and evolving, requires to be studied at the regional, national and global levels.
It is a well-known fact that the Gujarati Diaspora forms an important part of the great Indian Diaspora. The Non-resident Gujaratis are now spread all around the globe and are settled in various countries like USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Australia and the Gulf. Being an important component of the host societies, providing services in sectors as diverse as retailing, hospitality industry (hotels and motels), medicine, drug stores, engineering and information technology, they are now making a great contribution to their socio-economic, cultural and political life of the host countries. Lord Dholakia, Lord Meghnad Desai, Lord Bhiku Parekh and others testify to the great success of Gujarati Diaspora. Formation of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and Federation of Gujarati Associations in North America (FOGANA) with membership in USA and Canada is a proof of dynamism of the vibrant Gujarati diaspora.
The Gujarati Diaspora has maintained its emotional, cultural and economic relations with the motherland in a very special way. It is manifest in their desire to make emotional and economic investment in Gujarat by establishing hospitals, schools and colleges. Their prompt response in coming forward to the aid of Gujarat during the terrible earthquake in 2001 was remarkable. They have successfully lobbied in their host countries for foreign investment in boosting and developing industries in Gujarat. Their role in getting the latest technology and their contribution to the enrichment of religious and cultural life cannot be exaggerated. For instance, the Swaminarayan sect has built up many temples in the West as well as in the home country.
North Gujarat has witnessed a large scale migration of the various castes and communities to the many countries of Europe, Africa, Australia, North America and the Gulf. In the case of North Gujarat a large number of Patels, Chaudharies, Jains, Prajapatis and Vohras have migrated from Patan, Palanpur, Mehsana, Visnagar, Kadi, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha. Most of them are settled in USA, UK, South Africa, Australia, Canada and even in the Gulf countries. Most of the Gujarati Diaspora migrated from North Gujarat are flourishing in Computers, Information Technology, Medicine, Hoteling & Moteling, retailing business, diamond business and leather goods. For instance, India’s diamond industry handled 80 percent of the global polished diamond market and earned 8 billion dollars last year. The global polished diamond market is entirely controlled by Jains from Palanpur, a small town in North Gujarat. They went to the Belgian city of Antwerp in 1970s and 80s where 90 percent of the world’s diamond trade is concentrated. The Jews have controlled this diamond trade for the last 500 years. But now the Jains from North Gujarat control 65 percent of this diamond trade of Antwerp undoing the monopoly of the Jews within twenty years. In fact, seven of top ten Diamond merchants of Antwerp, are from North Gujarat, breaking the 500-year old monopoly of the Jews.
It is only one instance of the numerous success stories of the diaspora from North Gujarat. Vohras from Siddhpur, Palanpur and Patan are well settled in many countries in East Africa and South Africa and have a monopoly over the retail businesses and leather industry there. Similarly, many Patels from Mehsana, Kadi, Patan, Visnagar in North Gujarat have securely established themselves in the field of Plastic, leather, and chemical industries in addition to the hospitality industry in many countries. Many of them have become powerful members of the African National Congress and also sent remittances for the freedom movement of India. The Chaudharis from various districts of North Gujarat like Patan, Mehsana, Banaskantha and Sabarkantha have migrated to distant places like USA and UK and have taken a foothold over professional jobs in medicine, engineering and even modern agriculture. Many of these Diasporic Chaudharis have remitted foreign exchange so that educational institutions could be established in their far-flung villages in North Gujarat.
Many Patels from North Gujarat who are successful today in the west migrated there under hard and trying circumstances. Their success curve and the work and struggle that has gone into making them leaders in hospitality industry deserves to be studied closely. Similar is the case with Prajapatis from Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha who are chiefly in the service sector of various countries. Many of these migrants have gradually and steadily carved out a niche for themselves in their host countries.
No attempt has so far been made to study the globally influential diaspora from North Gujarat. Though some efforts have been made to study the Patels from Central Gujarat, but the substantial contributions of the Patels, Chaudharies, Voharas, Jains and others who have migrated from North Gujarat has not been studied at all, nor has any attempt been made to study the contributions of the various castes and communities which migrated from various districts of North Gujarat. The Centre for Indian Diaspora and Cultural Studies intends to undertake serious research projects for studying the nature and dimensions of socio-cultural, religious and economic development witnessed in the region on account of the contribution made by the Gujarati Diaspora migrated from North Gujarat.
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