|
It is almost amazing how the Sikh-Punjabi villagers decided to migrate to a continent farthest from Punjab and about which very little was known. The number of immigrants is small, and many are totally assimilated with marriages to local spouses. In the last two to three decades, Sikhs have built Gurdwaras in several countries which is helping re-energize their linkage with Punjab and Sikhi. The preferred target countries were Argentina, a relatively prosperous country in the early 20th century.
The choice of other two countries was also understandable - Panama because of the Canal construction and Mexico because of its land border with USA providing an opportunity to cross over. The first migration was in the late 19th century, but the majority migration was during the first three decades of the 20th century. The Bolivian experiment in the 1980s of setting up large-scale farming conglomerates, though well-conceived, could not succeed. The setting up of the so-called Khalistan HQ in Ecuador in 1985 was more a myth than a reality.
The ex-Chief Justice of Belize was the son of a Sikh immigrant. The book is based on the author's travels to eight countries. The history of migration, social and cultural scenes, broad economic parameters, and the recent forays by illegals have been discussed. A large majority of Punjabi immigrants are Sikhs, whereby the study is titled Punjabi-Sikh Migration.
Background - A Study of Sikh Global Village
In his spare time, the author wanted to contribute to the field of Punjabi - Sikh Diaspora. He wanted to do something out of the routine which could be more original and contribute to the hitherto not-so-well known. A study of Sikhs in Northern America, UK, S.E.A., and Australasia was ruled out as a lot has been written about the Sikh presence in these areas. Furthermore, it was thought that focus on "success" stories alone would not be a true and total representation of Sikhs settled overseas. So, to complete the MAP OF SIKH MIGRATION from Punjab and to fill in the gaps in Diaspora knowledge, the following geographical areas were prioritized:
- Latin America
- Pacific Islands
- CWE (Continental Western Europe)
|
