HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 23: Model Answer

Question: ‘Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries’. Comment with examples.

Answer: 

Introduction

• The Indian Diaspora has evolved over three phases in firstly Indian people were taken by colonial powers to work as plantation workers (like in Sri Lanka, Caribbean islands, Fiji, etc.), secondly, in search of better economic opportunities, many Indian went to countries like the US and many European countries and thirdly to gulf countries as skilled and semi-skilled laborers.
• Today, the Indian diaspora is both agent and the instrument of India’s soft power and in developed countries, it acts as an effective player in impacting the dynamics of these countries.
• Data – According to a Ministry of External Affairs report, there are 32 million NRIs and OCIs residing outside India and overseas Indians comprise the world’s largest overseas diaspora. Every year 2.5 million (25 lakhs) Indians migrate overseas, which is the highest annual number of migrants in the world.

Body

• Rich Minority Group: Indian diaspora is one of the richest minorities in many developed countries, this helped them to lobby for favourable terms regarding India’s interests. For example, at 2.8 million, Indians may number just 1% of the U.S. population but they are the most educated and richest minority, according to a 2013 Pew survey.
• Considerable Vote Bank
• Indian Diaspora in Political Position
• Influencing Foreign Policy Decision
• Indian Identity

Conclusion

• Today, the Indian diaspora is more prosperous than before and its involvement in India’s development is increasing. In this context, India should craft fully conduct diaspora diplomacy so as to turn diaspora potential into diaspora dividend.