Emigration and Social Change: A Sociological Study of the Early Emigrants of Andamans

Book Details

• Author: Arvind K. Joshi

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Binding: Hardcover

• Release Date: 01-01-2005

• ISBN: 8170339294

• Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches

• Languages: English

• Pages: 214

About the Book

This book delves into the socio-economic and cultural patterns of the "locals" of the Andaman Islands, a community with distinct ethnic consciousness and cultural identity. The population of the Andaman Islands is largely a result of the British colonization, particularly the forced settlement of prisoners.

The book explores a qualitative comparison between the Andaman migrants and other Indian indentured laborers who migrated to British colonies. The indentured laborers, coming from specific cultural areas, carried a piece of their heritage and were able to recreate a cultural microcosm in their new environments. However, the migrants to the Andaman Islands came from various parts of India, lacking any concentrated linguistic or cultural regions. This diversity led to the formation of a unique community with a blend of cultural influences from across India, but without a clear connection to any specific cultural region.

The author examines how these migrants, who came from different castes, classes, and religious backgrounds, formed a new community that retained aspects of Indian social life but did not represent any single culture. Key issues addressed in the book include:

• The process of community formation in the Andaman Islands.

• The new social forms that emerged in this community.

• The similarities and differences between their culture and that of the mainland, particularly in relation to caste and joint family structures.

• How the locals responded to other migrant populations on the islands.

This book is valuable for those interested in the dynamics of cultural identity, community formation, and the socio-economic transformation of migrant communities.

Contents

• The socio-economic and cultural patterns of the Andaman Islands' locals

• The comparison with Indian indentured laborers in other British colonies

• The formation of a new community from various linguistic, caste, and religious backgrounds

• The differences in social structure, particularly caste and family life, compared to mainland India

About the Author

Arvind K. Joshi is a Reader in the Department of Sociology at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He has authored several articles published in leading national journals and has contributed to studies on social dynamics. He has also served as a visiting professor at Mahamakut Buddhist University in Bangkok.