Indians in America: One Stream Two Waves Three Generations

Contribtuted papers presented at the Tenth Annual EDIC National Seminar on "Entrepreneurship in Education: Challenges, and Strategies" organized by Technical Teachers' Training Institute in Nov. 1999.

Chapter 1 Indian Diaspora

Major Trends Indians have discovered America in their own way. They have realized the American dream since around 1970. However, America owes its discovery to India. In the fifteenth century, India's world famous delicate muslins and silks, splendid jewelry, ceramics, and spices attracted the European adventurers to discover it by sea route. And in a state of excitement blended with ignorance, Columbus discovered America - one of history's most valued discoveries by mistake. However, when five centuries after, Indians came to America, it was a journey and migration consciously undertaken to discover a better tomorrow. The history of their immigration to America was to be checkered and halting before drawing an ascending curve of security and development. In the first half of the twentieth century, the Indians were having a sort of Robinson Crusoe syndrome. Since 1965, their endeavors reminded the New Frontiership trend. Twenty-five years later it has come to realize the proverbial American dream, and coursing close to the American mainstream without merging into it. A diaspora with a difference Indian diaspora is spread over many countries, from Australia to America, from Fiji to East Africa, from Guyana to England. They have significant concentration in Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad, Tobago, Guyana, Malaysia, Kenya, Tanzania, Middle East, England and America. Among these Indian diasporic settlements, though comparatively in the recent period, the Indians in America -- Indian Americans are educationally, professionally and economically most advanced and prosperous................

From a pre-1946 stream of few Indians they have surged into a few hundred thousands during the first wave (1965-1980). In the second wave thereafter, they have crossed seven-digit figures. They are estimated to have reached 1.4 million plus figure. But more than statistics, it is the nature and profile of Indian diasporic groups who, during the two waves, have changed in terms of quality and performance; in terms of moods and images; in terms of the American image of these Indians; in terms of orientations to their roots. And more importantly, in terms of self-esteem and confidence to surge ahead in their field, explore new areas of action and enterprise; in dealing with the system of various levels. In addition, charting their course of interaction with the American mainstream. A community as a whole, it is close to realizing the American dream.