The twentieth century could be called as the “age of immigration”. Population growth and change in the social milieu in the United States and other countries benefited greatly from the influx of immigrants.(1) By the 1980s and 1990s , immigration had asserted itself as the dominant force in terms of population change in the United States. At present, almost all developed nations receive immigrants from a host of under-developed countries and thus it has become an important instrument in changing the social and economic compositions of both the sending and the receiving societies.(2)
The source of migrants for any receiving country depends on a variety of factors: geography, colonial history, trade and politics. Generally speaking, developed countries are likely to receive immigrants from third world nations which are economically weak, geographically close, trading partners, political allies or former colonies.(3)
Although international migration is very commonly viewed as an economic process, the economic foundations of immigration are frequently misunderstood and are based on two misconceptions viz. 1) the wage differentials between the sending and the receiving countries and 2) the urge for immigration stems from lack of proper economic development in the sending nations. Although a large wage differential is clearly an impetus to immigration it is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition. Economic scenario in developing countries is often more volatile and families have to face many hardships from various sources like natural disasters, political upheavals, economic recession etc. Research by Greenwood indicates that within the US labor demand or the availability of jobs is far more important in attracting immigrants than higher wages.
India and the United States share some common characteristics which foster an environment for flowering of religious faith and devotion. Both are considered to be the world’s largest democracies where religious freedom is part of basic civil rights. Both countries incorporate a large number of ethnic, social and religious groups. Citizens of both the countries share a high level of religiosity e.g. self-identification with religious groups, participation in individual and group religious activities and affirmations of belief in God. The Indian subcontinent is a mother of religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism etc. By changes made in immigration laws in1965 the United States has been firmly linked with the Indian subcontinent. In the emotional aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy U.S. set a non-discriminatory quota for immigrants from all countries. Consequently, the number of immigrants also started to surge considerably.
South Asian immigrants in the 1970s were among the best educated, most professionally advanced and most successful immigrant group. In the 1980 census, the income of Asian Indians ranked second highest among all the ethnic groups in the country. Immigration from India rose by 815,447 or 125.6 % between 1980 and 1990.
The most salient fact about the new immigration is that it continues unabated. When asked about what their major contribution to America might be immigrants from India and Pakistan reply, ‘our close family ties’.
International migration affects economic activities both in the sending and the receiving countries. The short-term effects of migration may differ from the long-term impacts on economic growth.(4) The occupational composition of Indian immigrants in the United States was much more professionally and technically oriented than the US labor force as a whole. Over 80% of the Indian immigrant labor force in 1981 was engaged in professional, technical and management categories of employment as against 27% for the nation as a whole (US Department of Commerce, 1984). Data on age characteristics of Indian immigrants reveal that almost three-fourths of the Indian immigrants to the United States during 1964 to 1981 were in the age group of 20 to 49 compared with 68% of all immigrants. In recent years, this proportion has been declining for Indians falling from 81.6% in 1971 to 66.2% in 1981 but it still remains higher than the proportion (55.2%) for all immigrants.
The decision to immigrate may be conceptualized of consisting of three steps. First, the would-be immigrant collects information about employment prospects with his or her skills and education in the chosen country of immigration as well as about potential salary structure, living costs, legal restrictions and other relevant data. Next he tries to assess direct monetary benefits and costs to him/her and his/her family members. Thirdly, the prospective immigrant either uses his/her family resources or strives to obtain financial support from an institution or individual in the chosen country of immigration.
Wage differentials that exist between India and a foreign country seem to exert the greatest pull towards immigration. Many foreign trained scientists and physicians wanted to immigrate to avoid professional isolation-loss of contact with colleagues through inability to travel, to receive visitors and to have access to journals and other specialized professional materials (UNESCO, 1984: 428).
Immigration can help to control and reduce the population growth of a country in the short-term and the long-term. Since it withdraws population of reproductive age, it could help to reduce the birth rate over a time. Productivity growth in the economy is also affected by immigration. The short-term and the long-term effects vary depending upon many factors. Existence of a high level of unemployment among technically qualified persons in India is the result of faulty manpower planning.
Previously, although the community of Indians and their children had proved to be useful, self-sustaining and law-abiding they were hemmed in and isolated by legal restrictions. At that time they faced difficulties in commercial transactions also(5). But things have undergone a sea-change since the amendment of the US immigration laws in 1965.
The Asian Indians in the US are a distinct ethnic group as they are distinguished by their religious beliefs and practices, their language, their physical characteristics, their customs and culture and their historical experiences. However, the majority of Asian Indians who migrated to the US were from the Sikh community(6).
References :-
1. Spatial Distribution and Redistribution of Immigrants in the Metropolitan United Sates, 1980 and 1990. By K.Bruce Newbold
2. The social and economic origins of immigration. By Douglas S. Massey. ANNALS, AAPPS, 510, July 1990
3. Asian Indian and Pakistani Religions in the United States. By Raymond Brady Williams ANNALS, AAPSS, 558, July 1998
4. Indian Emigrants : Numbers, Characteristics and Economic Impact. By M.C. Madhavan Population and Development Review 11 No.3 (September, 1985)
5. The Indian community in the United States. By S. Chandrasekhar Far Eastern Survey, June 6, 1945
6. Asian Indian Immigration Patterns : The origins of the Sikh community in California. By Juan S. Gonzales Jr. International Migration Review, Vol 20 No.1 (Spring, 1986)
CITATIONS:
1. Spatial Distribution and Redistribution of Immigrants in the Metropolitan United Sates, 1980 and 1990. By K.Bruce Newbold www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/144577?uid=3738256&uid=2&uid=4&sid=47698957969707
2. The social and economic origins of immigration. By Douglas S. Massey. ANNALS, AAPPS, 510, July 1990 www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1046794?uid=3738256&uid=2&uid=4&sid=47698957969707
3. Asian Indian and Pakistani Religions in the United States. By Raymond Brady Williams ANNALS, AAPSS, 558, July 1998 http://ann.sagepub.com/content/558/1/178
4. Indian Emigrants : Numbers, Characteristics and Economic Impact. By M.C. Madhavan Population and Development Review 11 No.3 (September, 1985)
www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1973248?uid=3738256&uid=2&uid=4&sid=47698957969707
5. The Indian community in the United States. By S. Chandrasekhar Far Eastern Survey, June 6, 1945
www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3022963?uid=3738256&uid=2&uid=4&sid=47698957969707
6. Asian Indian Immigration Patterns : The origins of the Sikh community in California. By Juan S. Gonzales Jr. International Migration Review, Vol 20 No.1 (Spring, 1986)
www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2545683?uid=3738256&uid=2&uid=4&sid=47698957969707
