Assimilation Theories with the Focus on Indian Immigrants
Indian immigration really only started after the Immigration Act of 1965. The wave of diverse immigration post-1965 called for a revision of assimilation theories. Much of this was also due to the different economic and social contexts. The economy during the time was an hourglass economy that had lots of high-skill and low-wage jobs. Furthermore, these immigrants faced more persistent racial discrimination, leading to residential segregation and the formation of ethnic encla
May 312 min read
The Issue of National Language in India
Almost every country in the world has a national language that is dominant in society. India might be one of the only exceptions to this due to its deep history and cultural diversity. One might assume it's Hindi, but that does not represent all of India. People do not think it is Enlgish due to its colonial associations, but its deep roots in Indian society make it almost impossible to remove. This begs the question: what language is spoken most in India, and should that not
May 173 min read
How Did Colonization Impact India’s Linguistic Diversity?
Pre-colonization, India had over 700 languages, seven language families, and thousands of dialects. This intense diversity created fluidity amongst languages depending on the region, situation, and purpose. This all changed with colonization, as a linguistic hierarchy was created that threatened the ease of switching between languages. Although Britain did not ban the use of Indian languages, they imposed bureaucratic and educational rules. These policies led to some languag
May 22 min read