Challenges of Indian Diaspora in Canada Indo-Canadians are among the largest and most important diaspora in Canada. However, they do not have the influence of their American East Indian counterparts. As noted above, the majority of Indian immigrants in Canada are Sikhs. Although early Indian immigrants to North America were largely all Sikh peasants from Punjab, there is a distinct difference of position between Canada and the United States. The Sikh population profiles in the US diverged rapidly because Sikhs in the US frequently married local Mexican American women (Leonard, 165-180), unlike those in Canada who neither married women of European descent nor could bring wives with them from India. Yet Sikhs now constitute the majority of the East Indian population in Canada, while in the US, Hindus are now the most numerous. Conclusion Indo-Canadian community is fairly diverse in terms of their ethnic, linguistic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, despite this heterogeneity, the Indian diaspora in Canada has many commonalities across its sub-ethnic groups (Maharaj, 48-65). For instance, they all indicate the value of family, the preservation of sharply defined family roles, and a priority of family interests (Jain, 1993). They also share common traditions of decoration, cooking, clothing, etc. Indo-Canadians provide an important node in a global network of Indian diasporas. They have social and economic links with their home country as well as Canada. This attribute demonstrates the significant role that Indio-Canadian can play at political, social, cultural and economic level nationally and internationally. To sum up, Diaspora has changed according to the needs of the time. Because of extraordinary diversity and geographical policy. To conclude, the communication and transportation revolution and the global reach of media are creating a major change in the nature of relationship between the Diasporas and their country of origin. India must follow a flexible policy in order to benefit the strengths of Diaspora and minimize the possibilities of any negative fall out. Diaspora can play and important role in India’s quest to be a knowledge power and a developed country .
Towards Excellence: An Indexed, Refereed & Peer Reviewed Journal of Higher Education / Mr. Mihir H Trivedi
/ Page 120-127
