GLOBALISATION, DIASPORA AND BELONGING: Exploring Transnationalism and Gujarati Identity

The term ‘identity’ has become fashionable, both inside and outside the sphere of academia. It has evolved so that it incorporates both a means of talking about individuality, community and cohesion, as well as a way to comprehend the interaction between one’s experiences of the world and the cultural and historical spheres in which those perceptions are formed. The notion of ‘belonging’ is complex in nature and the need to belong is a necessity for individuals in society. The creation of a sense of belonging is a multifaceted dynamic process that does not require an individual to select one solitary group to which they may belong. It is through the processes associated with achieving a sense of belonging that individuals shape their identities. This collection focuses upon the experiences of the Gujaratis, highlighting the unique ways that globalisation, migration, language, culture and ‘othering’ shape perceptions of belonging. To capture some of the complexities that characterise Gujarati identities, this volume is categorised thematically into three sections: (1) Globalisation and Migration; (2) Language and Culture; and (3) Inclusion/Exclusion. Each chapter is richly illustrated with excerpts from interviews and narratives from Gujaratis who are attempting to belong and find acceptance in a variety of settings, including Australia, Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Zanzibar. An insightful perspective into the Gujaratis, Globalisation, Diaspora and Belonging provides readers with a comprehensive overview of historical and contemporary issues surrounding notions of Gujarati identity.

Sharmina Mawani is a Lecturer in the Department of Graduate Studies at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. She holds a PhD in Religious Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Her research interests include ethno-religious identities, Gujarati Muslims in Britain and Canada, processes of acculturation, religious commodification, and South Asian devotional literature. Sharmina is the co-founder of the Gujarat Studies Association and currently serves on its Executive Board. She has co-edited two volumes on the Gujaratis: Gujaratis in the West: Evolving Identities in Contemporary Society (2007) and Gujarati Communities Across the Globe: Memory, Identity and Continuity (2012).

Anjoom Mukadam is a Lecturer in the Department of Graduate Studies at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. She received her doctorate in Sociolinguistics from the University of Reading. Anjoom brings an interdisciplinary perspective to her research and teaching. Her main research interests are in the arena of ethno-linguistic and religious identities of British Muslim youth of Gujarati ancestry. She co-founded the Gujarat Studies Association and is its current President. Her publications include a co-edited volume entitled Gujaratis in the West: Evolving Identities in Contemporary Society and several book chapters and journal articles. Her most recent publication is a co-edited volume entitled Gujarati Communities Across the Globe: Memory, Identity and Continuity.