ABSTRACT
Since the known history of the subcontinent, Indians, especially from the coastal regions, have been moving across the continents and the oceans. However, it was during the colonial period that sponsored migrations – sponsored by the government or the planters – in the form of labourers, officials and service providers, started to take place in large numbers, which later resulted in permanent settlements. As the Indians became permanent settlers and an integral part of the economic and political landscape of the receiving societies, their connectivity with India continued giving rise to what is termed as the diasporic consciousness. This chapter aims to analyze the colonial migration patterns in a critical manner and focus on how they resulted in the formation of an Indian diaspora.
