ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the region of South Asia, more specifically, India, and even more specifically, the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and its diaspora. It also focuses on identity, more specifically with respect to South Asia and India as well as the Indian diaspora. The Indian diaspora has become the largest diaspora in the world. Many Indians who migrate to the US maintain transnational connections to India. They become part of a larger community of Indians living abroad as expats, or those who give up their original citizenship to become citizens in another country. While South Indian Karnatak music has its origins in India, there is a strong presence of this music in the US and Canada. Identity has many meanings and is often understood or researched through qualitative human geographical fieldwork. Tamil Nadu has a very strong regional identity in that many people identify as Tamil culturally and linguistically.
