V. J. Varghese

Indian Punjabi skilled migrants in Britain: of brain drain and under‐employment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the careers of skilled migrants from Indian Punjab. This study complicates the normalization of skilled migration as a “win‐win” situation by examining the career trajectories of skilled migrants from the Indian Punjab who are trying to establish themselves in Britain.Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines 20 life history interviews undertaken with skilled migrants from the Indian Punjab to Britain, in IT, media, law and hospitality industries, health and welfare professionals, and student migrants.Findings – Skilled migrants were able to migrate on their own auspices through migration economies in Punjab. Once in Britain, however, they were directed to universities and labour markets in which they were not able to use their skills. They experienced under‐employment, devaluation of their qualifications and downward mobility, which forced them into ethnic and gendered markets within their home networks and created ambivalence about migrant success...

Migration, Transnationalism, and Ambivalence: The Punjab–United Kingdom Linkage

This chapter investigates developments in the Punjab–UK transnational space, a long-standing and extensive migration corridor. Within India’s diverse migration history, Punjab’s specificity is its particular historical connection with the UK, despite criss-crossing colonial and postcolonial migrations across the globe. We juxtapose field research in the UK and Punjab and show that transnationalism appears and works differently when viewed from either location—highlighting the differentially empowered nature of transnational space, as well as irresolvable ambivalences that are worked into transnational relationships. We reconsider the transnationalism paradigm through five interrelated arguments. We demonstrate the complexity of transnational space, which exceeds the binary sending–receiving country relationship that characterizes the literature. We find that transnationalism is not merely produced “from below” by the activities of migrants and diaspora, but is orchestrated and formalized by various arms of the Indian and British states. Moreover, illicit flows of people are also produced by the governance of migration. Transnational connectivity does not diminish individuals’ desire for a single, solid citizenship and nationality beyond the pragmatism attached with citizenship. Finally, we argue for historicizing of transnational networks and appreciation of the social relations of gender, generation, class, and caste by which they are cleaved.

Transnational World and Indian Punjab: Contemporary Issues

The Punjabi transnational experience injects a distinct flavour to Indian transnationalism. With a history of sustained migration for more than two centuries beginning primarily during colonial rule of India, the entry into transnational life from Punjab has been enormous. Though members of Punjabi diaspora share a common cultural, as well as linguistic, identity yet in terms of religion and socio-economic characteristics, this diaspora is sufficiently diverse. Originating in the Punjab region of undivided India that was bifurcated by the Radcliffe Line in 1947 into eastern and western parts to become the separate provinces in independent India and Pakistan respectively, this diaspora is spread across more than 75 countries of the world with major concentrations in United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), Canada, Australia, Southeast Asia and Middle East. The history, growth and size of the Punjabi diaspora are critical to the understanding of its role in the transnational sphere. In spite of an extensive presence across many parts of the world and global vibrancy in various fields such as trade, industry, agriculture, healthcare, politics, arts, culture, music, entertainment, spiritualism, charity, etc., precise information is not yet available on the numerical strengths of the Punjabi diaspora. There is a lack of reliable and comparable data on several aspects regarding the Punjabi communities abroad. This constraint, coupled with definitional limitations S. Irudaya Rajan Aswini Kumar Nanda

Migration, Mobility and Multiple Affiliations: Punjabis in a Transnational World

Call for Papers Migrations from Indian Punjab have a comparatively long history, resulting in greater visibility for the community in a transnational wor ld of exchange and circulation. The extent of Punjabi participation in migrations from India has been such that the inherent migratory proclivity attributed to the Punjabis has almost become a national folklore over years. However, far from a single and linear story, the migration from Punjab, starting from the colonial times and still continuing, has u ndergone significant transformation in terms of composition, destinations and dynamics. Th e migrations, along with the creation of a Punjabi diaspora, have transformed Punjabi soc iety and economy in varied ways as much as they have added to the multicultural fabric of the respective transit and destination countries. The economic and social remi ttances of the diaspora play a complex yet vital role in Punjab. Previously, the h omeland politics of the diaspora and emotional hurt felt about the developments back hom e resulted in the extension of economic and ideological support to separatist move ents. Continuing affinities are now manifested in investments for family, religion, pub lic institutions, recreation activities, philanthropy and rural infrastructure, which have b een heralded as constructive. Indeed, there has been increasing realisation of the import ance of diaspora as a strategic asset for the home country at the local, regional and nationa l levels. However, it has often been pointed out that a considerable amount of diaspora spending in Punjab is concerned with social prestige, seemingly indifferent to the effor ts of the state to channel diasporic resources into investments deemed to be more produc tive. The social practices and life course rituals among the diaspora continue to hold their ancestrality, but have new meanings attached. The long trajectory of migration s, with destinations and concerned social groups changing over time, has common-sensed a notion of mobility in Punjab. This has produced a powerful economy of emigrationrelated services, bolstered by a pervasive social compulsion to emigrate, including emigration through marriage. This conference will address the changing and multifacet ed phenomenon of migrations from Punjab, with their complex social, economic, politi cal and cultural ramifications.