The South Asian Diaspora numbers just under 30 million people worldwide, and it is recognized as the most widely dispersed diaspora. It is, moreover, one which of late has seen phenomenal growth, both due to natural increase and the result of a continued movement of professionals and labourers in the late 20th and early 21st century from the subcontinent to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Singapore.

This book uses the concept of transnational networks as a means to understand the South Asian diaspora. Taking into account diverse aspects of formation and development, the concept breaks down the artificial boundaries that have been dominating the literature between the 'old' and the 'new' era of migration. Thereby the continued connectedness of most historic South Asian settlements is shown, and the fluid nature of South Asian identities is explored.

Offering a unique and original insight into the South Asian diaspora, this book will be of interest to academics working in the field of South Asian Studies, Diaspora and Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Transnationalism and Globalisation.

About the Author

Rajesh Rai is Assistant Professor at the South Asian Studies Programme, National University of Singapore. His research interests are in the fields of diaspora studies and transnational identities, nationalism and the post-colonial history and politics of South Asia. He is assistant editor of The Encyclopedia of the Indian Diaspora (2006), and has published several articles on various aspects of the South Asian Diaspora particularly in Southeast Asia.

Peter Reeves, Emeritus Professor of South Asian History at Curtin University (Perth, Western Australia), was Visiting Professor and Head of the South Asian Studies Programme (SASP) at the National University of Singapore from 1999 to 2006. His research interests include the history of the South Asian diaspora, the history of fisheries in colonial South Asia and the maritime history of the Indian Ocean since 1800. He was executive editor of The Encyclopedia of the Indian Diaspora (2006).

Reviews

"The diversity of the South Asian diaspora allows for it to be studied from many different perspectives and this volume reflects a variety of interests." - William Crawley, Asian Affairs, 2010

"This wide-ranging volume on the South Asian diaspora makes an important contribution to the historical sociology of transnational migration...This collection takes us beyond the commonplace in its detailed and contextualized analysis of transnational networks...The collection also stands out for its emphasis on Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, which have been neglected amid the larger body of literature on the South Asian diaspora in Europe and North America." - Kaveri Harriss, Pacific Affairs: Volume 82, No. 4 - Winter 2009/2010

"[T]his volume edited by Rajesh Rai and Peter Reeves is a welcome addition to the study of ethnography in general and the diaspora in particular. Scholarly works of this nature will be immensely invaluable in the coming years as the transnational movement of people contributes to change in both the host lands and the countries of origin." - Mohammed Badrul Alam, Jamia Millia Islamia University, India; Contemporary South Asia, Vol. 19, No. 1, March 2011

Book Information
ISBN 9780415596169
Author Rajesh Rai
Format Paperback
Page Count 230
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 430g