India Abroad: The Diasporic Dividend

In a globalized and interconnected world, diasporic communities have become increasingly important actors in international relations and therefore an added dimension to the soft power of a country. Depending on their economic and political influence within the centers of global power, diasporas can be a vital strategic instrument and channel of communication to further foreign policy goals and gains (Rana, 2009). As Varadarajan has argued, diasporic relationships reflect globalized neoliberal economics as well as the changing notions of territoriality. She conceptualizes this as what she called the “domestic abroad,” suggesting that “the production of the domestic abroad rests on the constitution of diasporas as subjects of an expanded, territorially diffused nation” (Varadarajan, 2010: 6). This diffused community of people of Indian origin, scattered around the globe but connected through digital technologies has emerged in recent years as a vocal and valuable voice in the global arena. Its most articulate and effective manifestation is the growing presence of members of the Indian diaspora in top universities, international media, and multilateral organizations, as well as in transnational corporations. In this chapter, an attempt is made to examine the diasporic dimension of India’s growing global profile, investigating this within a historical context and focusing on the more prominent segments of Indians abroad, whose contribution to India’s soft power is increasingly being recognized by both Indian government and business.