Indian Diaspora
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"I am neither here nor there, I am this in-between space, this third thing" -Jhumpa Lahiri. Explain the quote.
The quote "I am neither here nor there, I am this in-between space, this third thing" is from Jhumpa Lahiri's essay "In Other Words" (2011). The quote is a reflection on the author's own experience of identity and belonging as a first-generation American of Indian descent. Lahiri is suggesting thatRead more
The quote “I am neither here nor there, I am this in-between space, this third thing” is from Jhumpa Lahiri’s essay “In Other Words” (2011). The quote is a reflection on the author’s own experience of identity and belonging as a first-generation American of Indian descent.
Lahiri is suggesting that she does not feel fully connected to either her Indian heritage or her American upbringing. She is caught between two cultures, unable to fully inhabit either one. This sense of liminality, or being in a transitional state, is a common experience for many people with mixed cultural backgrounds.
The “in-between space” refers to the ambiguous territory where Lahiri finds herself, torn between her parents’ culture and her own American upbringing. This space is neither one nor the other, but rather a hybridized identity that defies categorization.
The phrase “this third thing” is particularly significant, as it implies that Lahiri has created a new identity for herself, one that is unique and distinct from either her Indian or American heritage. This “third thing” represents a fusion of cultures, languages, and experiences that cannot be reduced to a single category.
Lahiri’s quote can be seen as a reflection on the complexities of identity, belonging, and cultural hybridity. It highlights the difficulties of navigating multiple cultural identities and the search for a sense of belonging in a world where cultural boundaries are often blurry and constantly shifting.
In this sense, the quote can be seen as an exploration of the human experience, where individuals often find themselves situated between different cultures, languages, and identities. The quote encourages readers to question their own notions of identity and belonging, and to consider the complexities of being “in-between” in today’s globalized world.
The Indian diaspora plays a decisive role in leveraging India's economic interests and shaping its foreign policy. In this context, discuss the major challenges faced by the Indian diaspora and steps taken by India to enhance engagement with them.
Answer: India has one of the largest diaspora in the world with over 31 million people including over 13 million NRIs and 18 million Persons of Indian origin (PIOs) spread across the globe. The diaspora is one of the major sources of trade investment in India and a contributor to inflows of remittanRead more
Answer: India has one of the largest diaspora in the world with over 31 million people including over 13 million NRIs and 18 million Persons of Indian origin (PIOs) spread across the globe. The diaspora is one of the major sources of trade investment in India and a contributor to inflows of remittances, which helps in the balance of India’s current account. Moreover, they play a vital role in India’s soft diplomacy. For instance, the Indian diaspora played a critical role in the success of the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2008. Major challenges faced by the Indian diaspora are the following:
Steps taken by India to enhance engagement with the diaspora population include:
The Indian government should leverage the bond by enhancing cultural, economic, and political engagement with the diaspora. Further, the need of the hour is to bring out a policy document on the diaspora to serve as a guiding principle for deeper and wider engagement with the diaspora community.
See lessDiscuss the role that the Indian diaspora can play in the making of "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India). Also, mention the challenges in this regard.
Answer: India has one of the largest diaspora populations in the world, with over 30 million, including Non Resident Indians (NRI's) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO's). Championing India's cause on international issues and making a mark on the global stage economically, they are one of the most viRead more
Answer: India has one of the largest diaspora populations in the world, with over 30 million, including Non Resident Indians (NRI’s) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO’s). Championing India’s cause on international issues and making a mark on the global stage economically, they are one of the most vital components of India’s soft power. India’s diaspora can contribute significantly to each of the five pillars identified under our vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat i.e. economy, infrastructure, demography, democracy and supply chains. This is owing to the following:
India wants to leverage its diaspora to build greater domestic capacity and enhance its contribution to the world. However, there remain certain challenges existing in this regard:
The Indian government has taken various initiatives such as OCI Card Scheme, Ease of doing business, Know India program and Study India Program and Launch of informative projects etc. to facilitate greater interaction with our diaspora. However, there is a need for further incentivising and accommodating their expectations, if India wants to achieve the target of becoming a $5 trillion economy.
See lessThe Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is a moment to reconnect and re-imagine new possibilities and a network to drive change, discover new ties, and develop new ideas. Comment.
Answer: The Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is a celebratory day observed on 9th January (which commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai) to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community towards the development of India. Its 2023 theme 'Diaspora: Reliable partners for InRead more
Answer: The Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is a celebratory day observed on 9th January (which commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai) to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community towards the development of India. Its 2023 theme ‘Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal’ reflects how the Indian diaspora is acting as a soft power/ ‘rashtradoot’ for India. It is held that the event can create new possibilities and ideas and can act as a network to drive change and discover new ties in the following ways:
However, several challenges need to be addressed to encourage this partnership, such as:
- Less attractive to youth diaspora: Young diaspora who are born in the US and grew up there find the Indian lifestyle challenging and are less likely to return to India to start businesses.
- Limited capital resources: The profile of the Indian diaspora varies from the blue-collar workers in the Gulf to professionals in Silicon Valley. Even in the US, the diaspora does not contribute substantially in terms of capital resources to India’s development.
- Perceived bias in approach: Conventions such as the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan’ appear to be leaving out low/semi-skilled and blue-collar workers who may not find a place or feel. comfortable to participate in the said celebration as the general profile of the participants is seen to be that of achievers in distinct fields.
- Skill demand and supply match: There are changing demand patterns related to the kind of skills and professional qualifications that different countries will need over the next decade. India has to enable the dispora to learn these skills. In this regard, the government of India has taken several initiatives like the Know India Programme, GIAN (Global Initiative for Academic Network), VAJRA Faculty Scheme, Mission Shodh GANGA (Global Alliance for New Generation Acceleration), etc. to harness the energy and ideas of our diaspora.
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