ABSTRACT

This book introduces readers to the many dimensions of historical and contemporary Indian transnationalism and the experiences of migrants and workers to reveal the structures of transnationalism and the ways in which Indian origin groups are affected.

The concept of crossing borders emerges as an important theme, along with the interweaving of life in geographic and web spaces. The authors draw from a variety of archives and intellectual perspectives in order to map the narratives of Indian transnationalism and analyse the interplay of culture and structures within transnational contexts. The topics covered range from the history of transnational networks, activism, identity, gender, politics, labour, policy, performance, literature and more. This collection presents a wide array of issues and debates which will reinvigorate discussions about Indian transnationalism.

This handbook will be an invaluable resource for academics, researchers, and students interested in studying South Asia in general and the Indian diaspora in particular.

chapter |18 pages

Introduction

Indian transnationalism

part I|48 pages

Migrants’/workers’ lives

chapter 1|10 pages

Globality in exceptional spaces

Service workers in India’s transnational economy 1

chapter 2|11 pages

Skill gap and brain drain for United States

Impact of Trump executive order on H1B and India

chapter 3|12 pages

From students to spouses

Gender and labor in Indian transnationalism

part II|64 pages

On culture and identities

chapter 5|9 pages

Translocal puja

The relevance of gift exchange and locality in transnational Guyanese Hindu communities

chapter 8|15 pages

Revealing the messiness of transnational identities

Second-generation South Asians in Canada

part III|40 pages

Political engagement in transnational spaces

chapter 12|13 pages

Facing strong head winds

Dalit transnational activism today

part IV|67 pages

Gender and Indian transnationalism

chapter 13|18 pages

Experiences of empowerment and constraint

Narratives of transnational Indian women entrepreneurs

chapter 14|10 pages

Indian origin women

Organising against apartheid

chapter 15|11 pages

Workers, families, and households

Towards a gendered, raced, and classed understanding of Indian transnationalism in Canada

chapter 16|15 pages

Is migration a ticket to freedom?

Exploring sense of freedom among Indian women in Toronto

part V|40 pages

On historic and contemporary networks in transnational spaces