Engaging the Burmese Diaspora: A Case Study of the Bumese Community in India

Abstract

The Burmese Diaspora refers to all persons originating from Burma who reside, take shelter, work or pursue education/careers in various host countries. Burma is sandwiched between two of the world’s biggest nations, China and India, and shares a colonial past with the later. Similarly to its larger neighboring nations, Burma also has one of the biggest diasporic or refugee communities in the world. However, in comparison, the status of the Burmese diasporic community is far less known. This research will try to get insight about the living conditions and aspirations of the Burmese community living in India against the backdrop of current democratic political changes in Burma. The study will provide a detailed description concerning the origin of the Burmese diaspora, its current engagement in Burmese and local politics, and the hopes that are waiting ahead for them in the future. This research aims to contribute to the existing literature regarding the Burmese question in general by looking at the conditions of the Burmese diaspora in India, of which there are relatively few studies. Key Words: Burma/Myanmar, Diasporic Community, Indo-Burma Relations, Refugees, Media in Exile, Military Regime, Economic Sanctions, UNHCR.