THE STUDY OF INDIAN DIASPORA N. Jayaram

The Study of Indian Diaspora brings together fourteen scholarly essays by  N. Jayaram that explore the diverse dimensions of the Indian diaspora, with particular emphasis on the experience of Indo-Trinidadians. Drawing on sociology, history, anthropology, cultural studies, and diaspora studies, the volume offers a comprehensive examination of migration, identity, ethnicity, culture, and community formation in transnational contexts.
The essays in the first part provide a conceptual and analytical framework for understanding the Indian diaspora.
They discuss the scope and methodology of diaspora studies, review major scholarly literature, examine the idea of diaspora as de- and re-territorialised communities, analyse the relationship between India and its overseas populations, theorise the girmitiya diaspora, and introduce key themes in the study of the Indian diaspora in Canada.
The second part presents an in-depth case study of the Indo-Trinidadian community as a girmitiya diaspora. The essays trace the historical evolution of Indo-Trinidadian identity and explore issues relating to religion, caste, language, ethnicity, cultural revival, social relations, and literary representation. Together, they illuminate the complex processes through which migrant communities negotiate continuity and change while sustaining connections with their ancestral heritage.
Combining theoretical insight with rich empirical analysis, this volume is an important resource for scholars, researchers, and students interested in diaspora studies, migration, ethnicity, and contemporary Indian communities across the globe.