Module overview
There are over 35 million people of Indian origin who form the global Indian diaspora. This vast number of people are part of deeply entrenched and influential communities in countries like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, Jamaica, Kenya and South Africa. This two-part special subject module explores the history, politics, and culture of Indian migration from the 18th century to the present. It examines key drivers of migration in Indian history, including indentured servitude, which brought individuals to the Caribbean and East Africa in the 19th century, as well as the aftermath of the Partition of India, which led to significant migration to the UK in the 20th century.
In the second part of this module, we will examine 20th-century migration, with a particular focus on the British South Asian diaspora. This semester, our approach will broaden to encompass South Asian migration as a whole, rather than focusing solely on India. We will explore key events that prompted migration from South Asia, including the Partition of India, the 1971 Bangladesh War, the displacement of East African Indians in the 1960s and 1970s, and the Sri Lankan Civil War from the 1970s to the early 2000s. These migration waves have contributed to the formation of a multi-layered South Asian community in Britain, which draws on diverse histories to shape a collective British South Asian identity in contemporary UK society. We will also delve into questions of gender, class, sexuality, and representation, focusing on how this community articulates its identity through literature, drama, cinema, and music.