publications

From White to Brown Aryans: The Story of Indian Migration

Joseph K V

Abstract

The United States of America (USA) is a land of immigrants. However, for a long
period only white populations were permitted to immigrate and settle down there. Attempts to
migrate by a few Indian youths from Punjab were frustrated by the hostility of the
predominant white population. At the time of India’s independence in 1947, there were
reportedly only 2405 Indians living in the United States. It was only after 1946, the USA
started to admit non-whites though on a nominal scale. Such a policy change was precipitated
by the Second World War which elevated America as the leader of the free world. She had to
abandon the exclusionist policy to placate the interests of the non-white nations which
became her allies. However, large scale migration was allowed from 1965 onwards. In turn,
immigration took an upward trend and, the size of Indian population which was only 12,300
in 1960 swelled to a phenomenal figure of 5.4 million by 2024. In this process, persons
belonging to all linguistic groups and religious denominations have become partners.
Though they engaged in various occupations, there was a tilt in favour of IT related works.
Since the bulk of the migrants were well educated and highly qualified, they could command
better rates of remuneration in the United States, than in their native countries. Many of them
could reach dizzy heights in political, economic and social arena of life. However, they
formed only a tiny minority of about 1.5 per cent of the population of the USA. Enlightened
self-interest rather than egalitarian norms rule the roost in the whole process by luring the
best brains to the USA from other parts of the world. Nevertheless, the immigrants could give
expression to their inborn talents in the congenial environment of USA.

Keywords: Immigration, Second World War, brain drain