Center for diasporic studies coming up at IGNOU: Media Release
The Indira Gandhi National Open University's (IGNOU) Vice Chancellor, Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai inaugurated a two-day International Conference on 'Diaspora and Development: Prospects and Implications for Nation States' and announced that the university is in the process of setting up a Centre for Diasporic Studies in its campus. "I am confident that this conference will provide an opportunity to share thoughts on how India can benefit by mutual interactions," he said.
"The connotations of the term Diaspora have gone far beyond forced exile and desire for homeland. Today, Diaspora is a generic concept of a trans-national population, and India represents this concept in a major way. In many ways, IGNOU is like the Diaspora. In most countries, Diaspora is quite a small community, but it punches far beyond its weight. IGNOU is doing the same in many ways" said Dr. A. Didar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), who was the chief guest during the inauguration held at IGNOU's Convention Centre.
Jointly organised by the School of Extension and Development Studies (SOEDS) and the School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies (SOITS) of the university, the conference broadly addressed the socio-economic, political, cultural and gender issues to provide holistic perspectives in understanding the interlinkages in diaspora and development.
The conference saw the participation of diaspora experts from over 25 countries, who deliberated upon various themes such as Diaspora and Development Dynamics: Issues, Strategies and Practices; Diaspora Finance and Socio-Economic Development; Human Development; Politics of Inclusion and Exclusion; Diasporic Writings; Gender in the Diaspora; and Films & Theatre.
"There have been three major waves of economic migration in India till now -- the indentured labour migration during colonial times; the movement from South Asia to the Gulf in the post Independence period; and the movement of professional/skilled workers to the West. However, the most unique wave is the return migration, wherein these professionals are coming back to India in large numbers," he added.
Prof. Mizan R. Miah, Director, School of Social Work, Southern Illinois University, USA, delivered the Key Note Address on ‘The Global Community of Diaspora: Contributions, Challenges and Prospects.'
While throwing light on the various themes of the conference, Prof. Miah urged, "Diasporians of the world should unite by contributing towards making the world a better, safer place for peaceful co-existence by the level of our talents, passion and productive contribution towards all kinds of development - social, cultural, political and economic. For the people of Diaspora, development should lead to the reduction of poverty and poverty reduction should lead to the reduction of illiteracy, intolerance and hostility, which in turn should usher in a new era of world peace."
While delivering the Welcome Address, Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Latha Pillai said, "Diaspora and Development have been areas of academic discussion and research since the beginning of civilisation. This topic is more relevant today because of the changes that have taken place due to the migration patterns and advances in ICT. Diasporic studies and literature are seen as meaningful change agents."
Date: 9th September, 2011
