India’s Diaspora Policy in Africa

Abstract

Introduction'The Indian diaspora is an important force to reckon with in many countries of the world and should be given pride of place in our own cultural and economic policies and in diplomacy,' says L. M. Singhvi, Member of Parliament, Chairperson of the High Level Committee (HLC).The Indian Diaspora in Africa began as a result of British Indentured system though there are some traders that preceded the indentured system. However in the post-decolonization period of Indian Origin (PIOs) have been instrumental in converting the nascent African economy into vibrancy. This paper will make an attempt to look into India's Diaspora policy in Francophone Africa in the context of broader policy of India towards the people of Indian origin in Africa. It argues that Indian government's diaspora policy does not cater to the needs of the PIOs in Francophone Africa except Mauritius (Mauritius has the distinction of being a Commonwealth Country). Though it covers wide ranging issues in the economic and cultural spheres yet there is no single component that talks about the aspirations of PIOs in Francophone Africa.The paper is divided into two sections. The first section attempts to trace the evolution of Indian diaspora policy in Africa and analyze it in the context in PIOs in Francophone Africa.The second section deals specifically on Indian Diaspora in Francophone Africa with case studies of the PIOs in Madagascar and Reunion Island. The case studies are taken up to understand as to how Indian diaspora policy is ineffective and unsuitable to the Francophone Africa and suggest some remedial measures. This measures if incorporated by the policy makers will enliven the hope and aspiration of PIOs in Francophone Africa.Indian Diaspora Policy in AfricaFrancophone Africa is said to have at least one million PIOs. The bulk of them are in Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion Island and Seychelles. Other countries in Francophone Africa having smaller member of PIOs are Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Chad, Senegal, Mali, Djibouti and Algeria (Dubey, 2009). However, a close perusal of the Government of India's diaspora policy lacks a coordinated and balanced approach. The 'dollar' diaspora tends to dominate because of the influence of its members in their adopted lands and their access to capital for investment and their influence on the host countries (Singh, 2003).They also have a strong lobby group particularly in United States and United Kingdom. Hence the cultural aspect of the diaspora policy is lost sight of and blinds them from identifying the potential PIOs in Francophone Africa who could be an important asset in its bilateral relations with France.Therefore, India needs a multi-layered diaspora policy to cater to all groups in order to help build an emotional bond linking people of Indian origin (PIO) around the world.Need for Concrete Policy InitiativesThe Indian Government's initial attitude towards taking up concerns of Indian communities in Africa with governments of the host countries was one of utmost caution. At the time of India's Independence, Indian government was busy with its nation building process and was not that vociferous in the international arena, more so in tune with the Non-alignment policy of Nehru. As such Government of India feared that such advocacy of pro-active diaspora policy might provoke a backlash upon the Indian community. The advice Nehru officially proclaimed to overseas Indians was loyalty to the host country and identify with them (Dubey, 2003). By the mid-1950s, India's stature had begun to decline and 1962 was a low point in India's international prestige. With Indira Gandhi, India re-emerged on the South- Asian strategic stage in the 1970s. India revealed its ability and willingness to grasp the opportunities of power politics in a regional context and in a way which distanced India from Nehru's globalism and faith in the friendship of neighbours and great powers. …