ABSTRACT
The growth of, as well as the notion of, a large Indian diaspora is a phenomenon of the late twentieth century, and the very fact that it exists at all would be a source of bemused puzzlement to an observer from the previous century. Indian migration and settlement in foreign lands is longstanding, but a developed consciousness of a diasporic community with a shared cultural heritage, variously connected and inter-connected, is a recent phenomenon. The Indian diaspora it was said was ‘well situated to play a pivotal role in energising and augmenting bilateral trade, investment, transfer of technology and tourism with more countries’. An important part of the religious diversity in the Indian diaspora are the religious institutions of Dalits. In most places, remnants of Indian culture and traditions survive to varying degrees, and the interest in India of the Indian communities in the old diaspora is cultural and emotional rather than economic or political.
