People of Indian Origin (PIOs) migrated from India during the colonial era. They were taken largely as replacement for slave workers under the indentured system of contract labour. Though they were semi-skilled workers suitable for agricultural work only, they were treated very badly by the local colonial authorities and confined to the lowest socio-economic strata in their new home countries and territories. Simultaneously, some 'free passengers' from India, who went as traders, merchants, small businessmen and construction workers, also migrated. They took Indian entrepreneurship and traditional business skill with them. During post independence phase a large number of Indians went to the West and North America as high skilled top notch professionals and at the same time a good number of them went t the Persian Gulf region as semi skilled and low skilled workers The mother country for indentured workers, India, was under colonial rule at that time, so no assistance could be expected from that quarter. Literally pushed with their backs against the wall in order to survive, they decided to give the best of their abilities to their new, adopted home countries. For them, the bridge to go back to India was burnt; they struggled, grew in stature, and moved up the socio-economic ladder in most of these countries. Indian were the most benign, supportive, and amicable group of immigrants in their new home countries, where they contributed to the economic, cultural and political life. Their growth stories were also the stories of their contribution to, and peaceful integration into these societies, Today, they have emerged as an affluent diaspora across the world, occupying significant positions in various fields, their contributors to the societies and countries which they have nurtured like their own and made their new home often not been appreciated. Their past image as servants of the colonial empire, who barely managed to survive, cast them in a role of people who had very little to contribute. The story of their exploitation, their trials and tribulations, and their relentless struggle to move forward in life is well documented. What has not been aired and put into the public domain are their new home countries, despite them experiencing the most adverse and disabling conditions. The book is an attempt to highlight the economic, political social and cultural contributions of People of Indian Origin to their new home countries. It also tries to capture their unique contributions to promote bilateral relations between their new home countries and their country of origin, India.
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