Dynamics of 'DIASPORA' Economics

12 Jan, 2003

The Chinese have the most affluent ethnic diaspora spread across South East Asia (Singapore, Taiwan, HongKong, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia). The Indian imperialism was largely B.C. into Sri Lanka and as far away as in Bali or Kampuchea. During British colonialism, they provided the skilled and semi-skilled work force for the plantations in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana and the West Indies. The Irish took the cake in this context, to escape from the potato famine during the 19th century. They went in droves to many parts of the U.S. and the Irish connections are now coming good in terms of strong technology and trade flows into Ireland.

The huge capital flows into China are being compared to that from the NRIs. Similarly, there are more Lebanese living outside than within Lebanon i.e. in Brazil, parts of Africa and in the U.S. Their strong overseas and professional sectors such as in the financial services and the media, have helped to draw in money and attention into Lebanon; quite disproportionate to the country's size in the global economy and polity. It would not be long before overseas Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi and Filipino diaspora(s) and their home country governments begin to exert every effort, to tap into the pool of capital and experience garnered by the communities.

The English and the Scots can also trace back their ancestry to different parts of the world whether it is the U.S., Canada etc. The ethnic appeal is subtle and has reinforced the Anglo-American relationship and the Anglo-Saxon domination of the English speaking world.

NRI is a clumsy term with a tax origin. Overseas or International Indian sounds better. Similarly, 'diaspora' was coined to describe the Jews exiled by the Babylonians. It is in this context that the grand "reunion" of the people of Indian origin (PIOs) and NRIs held in New Delhi, last week, has been dubbed as 'chaos' by V.S. Naipaul, the Nobel Prize winning author. A leading NRI called it a Himalayan Blunder. The 'Pravasiya Bharatiya Diwas' (PBD) petered out to be a political grandstanding by the BJP; as it excluded the opposition parties and many high profile Indians stayed out, as they were allergic to 'government jamborees'. One of the two prominent trade bodies (FICCI) sponsored it along with certain commercial sponsorships to fund the cost of some AED 10 million. It soon became a highly "polarized" event.

If the PBD had been declared an "International Indian Day" by the Indian Parliament or the President and held under the joint auspices of the Central and the State Governments under say the National Integration Council / an "International Indian Integration Council" and creation of Indian Centres in different parts of the country along with celebrations, the event would have had overwhelming cross-party support at the Central and State levels. Ultimately, most matters including education etc. are anyway done at the State level.

The other comment that drew cynical derision came from the Prime Minister, when he said that "he did not want the riches of the overseas Indian community but wanted the richness of their experience". Either this was the speech-writer's fault or the Prime Minister's own poetic musings! Either way it sounded highly patronising and hypocritical. But then, in the world of 'geriatric' politics in India, when 70 year olds wish to rule the roost, there can hardly be any dynamism or strong leadership. The PM lapses into Hindutva history and heritage during his Goan and Kerala sojourns in total contradiction of what a modern resurgent India would wish to project itself to the international Indians.

It was a disaster to co-mingle NRIs and PIOs of the East and West. Those with foreign passports / and are citizens of another country for atleast one generation, may have some emotional linkage. If they have achieved fame and fortune and wish to contribute the benefit of their knowledge to shape policies in India, they should be welcomed. But it is wrong to give ten awards at a ceremony exclusively to PIOs chosen to include minorities and one woman. In a sense, it is disservice to the NRIs, that hold Indian passports and who have distinguished themselves in different parts of the world and whose investments and linkages in India are much greater and tangible than Non-Indian PIOs.

It would appear that the Diaspora Committee and the Democracy in India are enamoured by Western accomplishments and titled persona i.e. the Lords, the Sirs, the Prime Ministers and the Ministers of Indian origin, who have achieved commercial or literary success by renouncing Indian citizenship.

There is nothing wrong in awarding them dual citizenship and honours but the stark exclusion of the NRIs, is effectively, 'reverse racialism'.

NRI and PIOs are two distinct segments and need to be dealt with separately. Bringing them together, may have been a good 'networking' idea. Whenever the Indian Government organises such events, it feels obliged to announce 'sops'. The selective dual citizenship, the Welfare Fund, compulsory insurance etc. need not have waited for a gathering of this nature. They are not tantalisingly attractive and reservation of seats at educational institutions is also a symptom of the old mentality. A better proposal would have been to allow NRIs to set up their own educational institutions. Many in the Gulf have excelled in the field.

Ultimately, cynicism is almost inescapable as many will see this as an annual ritual where after speeches, a lot of expense and effort, it is sordid business as usual.

A few 'dos' and 'donts' come to mind. First, 'do not raise unnecessary expectations'. Indian politicians are said to address some 150 conferences every day of the year. So, a second dictum is stop talking, but walk the talk. A third must is that when you choose to celebrate global Indianness, do not pander only to the rich and famous or ignore others. They are not second-class citizens but through blood, toil, sweat and tears, contribute to the exchequer / foreign exchange reserves. Another important point, "be upfront and say no more sops". People will respect honesty and forthrightness. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Such conferences start as a method of synergizing and celebrating Indianness, but end up with bickering, patronising and pontificating.

(The author (sureshk@emiratesbank.ae) is a General Manager in Emirates Bank Group. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily shared by the Bank.)

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