Orient v/s The West

Are Sikh migration settlements in the Orient and the West (now sometimes termed The East) different? It is worth examining if there are indeed differences in Sikh migration to the Orient as against the western countries. This comparison cannot be complete unless migration to all English-speaking countries is included which is regrettably not a part of this paper. However, some preliminary observations can be made. From almost total assimilation of the Sikhs into local society in South America thereby losing touch with their inheritance to retaining strong Sikh identity and professing religious practices in East Asian countries especially Southeast Asian countries, provides an interesting contrast. One thing is clear - numbers in a country become important for retaining identity. Sikh migration to Europe, which is more recent falls in a different category where the new settlers are still finding their bearings. Will the future generations get assimilated, and the Sikh identity just fades away? There is no doubt that there would be tremendous pressures. As the experience of South America indicates, initial changes take place soon after arrival but these become more significant in the second generation. The third generation tends to have less linkage with India and more with their country of residence. How much of Sikh population is of first, second and third generation or even fourth in some cases in a country determines the overall profile. While the Western countries are increasingly accepting Sikhs with their turbans in various professions including the Army and Police, there are still many restrictions and reservations. Prejudices both at Governmental and societal levels do exist. Issues such as admission of children in public schools in France and getting passports and Driving Licences with photos wearing turban are problematic not only in many countries of Europe but even in South America. Any Sikh visiting Ecuador needs a visa even if citizens of their country are exempt from this requirement. Keeping the Sikh identity does mean relatively stronger alignment with Indian roots. The unfortunate changes taking place in Punjab with regard to Sikh identity are having an impact on Sikhs globally. Illegal migration which is basically to western countries invariably necessitates removing the turban. Numbers involved are large (Myrvold and Jacobsen estimate this to be about 20,000 annually citing data from UN Office on Drugs and Crime report of 2009). This development has created an impression among the Sikh youth that going abroad is synonymous with compromising identity. Prior to decolonisation of countries in SEA, migration was popular both to the Orient and the West. Over the last few decades and presently the majority migration of Sikhs is to the West. There is a general attractiveness and preference to migrate to the later countries because of higher wage structure and better standard of living promising better prospects for their siblings. Presently new migration to the Orient is not significant. It is becoming evident that the Sikhs in the West will play increasingly dominant role in the global Sikh diaspora in future. Cultural and social acceptance of the Sikhs is better in the Orient. In the earlier days, there was the common emotional factor of being ruled by the European powers. Was there a cultural divide of 'us', the colonised v/s 'them', the colonisers which resulted in empathy for Indians settled in these countries? The Indian cultural, social and religious practices had similarities with Oriental practices, but which were different from those of the West. Many in the East are followers of Buddhism and in a few places Hinduism which helps provide an important emotional and cultural linkage with India. Travelling amongst the Indian and Sikh Diasporas in various countries one gets the feel that Indians seem more settled, contended and socially better accepted, and integrated in Asia. They feel less strange in their new setting in Asia. It is hoped that scholars will debate this issue in more detail. For most immigrants whether in Asia, Europe or South America, their El Dorado is still North America. One may still hear (faintly) in India the slogan though much less frequently - "Yankee go home" but now they add "But take my son along!"

Conclusions

An attempt, challenging though it is, has been made to summarise in the form of a Chart, the significant characteristics of Sikh migration to the three continents which have been discussed in this paper.