ABSTRACT
This chapter will attempt to theorize the notion of a ‘diaspora subjectivity’ within the context of the Indian diaspora. In order to do so, the chapter will first engage with theoretical paradigms that deal with the nature of diasporic experiences and processes of identity formation which occur when migration takes place. The chapter will draw from definitions offered by theorists like Butler (2001), Safran (2004), Cho (2007), Agnew (2008), and Cohen (2008), in order to collate shared characteristics as put forth by these scholars. Admittedly, there are multiple diversities in composition of the migrant communities from the Indian subcontinent in terms of region, caste, class, and gender and we must be careful not to generalize about a singular Indian diasporic experience. And yet there are also similar experiences which occur during processes of migration which impact upon the formation of what can be termed as a ‘diasporic subjectivity’, leading to a particular state of mind and sense of identity. Drawing from a review of literature from diverse disciplinary sources, the chapter will examine how the notion of the diasporic subjectivity is bound to evolve in the context of the contemporary phenomenon of transnationalism.
