Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book suggests that Human migration is one of the most ancient and global phenomena, as millions of human beings have moved from one place to another due to war, epidemic or other reasons over the centuries. The term Diaspora refers to the scattering of seeds as they are sown over a wide area. Thus, diaspora became a fashionable idea among the countries that had exported labour to the colonies in the past, and along with Jew and Armenian diasporas, Chinese and Indian diasporas began to be discussed by the middle of the 20th century. The book also shows how various relations, in particular, the confrontation between varying political projects and views of cultural identity within the Gurung community, lead to changes in cultural practices.