International Conference on Indian Diaspora from North East and other parts of the Country: Comparative Journeys, Identity and Challenges of India Connect. It is being jointly organised by NERRRC, Miranda House, University of Delhi & Organisation for Diaspora Initiatives, India (ODI India) on 24-25 October 2024 via dual mode. Offline at India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi and Online Via Zoom Platform.
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International Web-Symposium Series

Celebrating 75 Years of India’s Independence

on

Contributions of Indian Diaspora (PIO) in Freedom Struggles of India

organised by

Diaspora and International Migration Programme (DIMP), CAS-School of International Studies,

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi

in Collaboration with

Organisation for Diaspora Initiatives (ODI India),

on

2 October 2021

from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM (Indian Standard Time)

 

Registration LINK: http://surl.li/ahbgc

(Registration closes on 1 October 2021, by 5:00 PM Indian Standard Time)

 

ODI Series Coordinators: Dr. Sushmita Rajwar, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi &

Ms. Aarshi Dua, Doctoral Fellow, CAS-School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Media Coordinators: Mr. Samir Bhattacharya, CAS-School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University & Ms. Sarita Nandmehar, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Documentation & Certification Support: Ms. Ivy Handique, Doctoral Fellow, CAS-School of International Studies, JNU &

  Ms. Chandani Tiwari, Doctoral Fellow, CAS-School of International Studies, JNU

 

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

 

 

INAUGURAL SESSION

 

4:00 PM to 4:10 PM

(10 Mins)

Moderator

Prof. Ajay Dubey,

Professor, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, & President ODI India

 

4:10 PM to 4:15 PM

(5Mins)

Theme Introduction

 

Dr. Sushmita Rajwar

ODI Webinar Series Coordinator & Faculty Pol. Sc., Delhi University.

4:15 PM to 4:25 PM

(10 Mins)

Distinguished Speaker

Prof. M Jagadesh Kumar

Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University

4: 25 PM to 4:40 PM

(15 Mins)

Key-note Address

Shri Shyam Panrande

Secretary-General, Antar Rashtriya Sahyog Parishad, ARSP, (Indian Council for International Cooperation), New Delhi

4:40 PM to 4:55 PM

(15 Mins)

 

Chief Guest (Inaugural Address)

Shri (Dr) Rajkumar Ranjan Singh

Hon'ble Minister of State, for External Affairs & Education, Government of India

4:55 PM to 5:00 PM

(5 Mins)

Vote of Thanks

Prof. Aparajita Biswas

Former Professor, University of Mumbai

 

 

 

ACADEMIC SESSION- 1

Chair: Prof Kavita Sharma

Immediate Past President, South Asian University & Chairperson, ODI International

5:00 PM to 5:05 PM

(5 Mins)

 

 

5:05 PM to 5:15PM

(10 Mins)

 

Speaker

(Singapore)

Professor A. Mani

 National University of Singapore

5:15PM to 5:25 PM

(10 Mins)

 

Speaker

(India)

 

Prof Amarjiva Lochan

Faculty Delhi University, Dy. Dean, International Relations & Foreign Students Advisor, Delhi University

5:25 PM to 5:35 PM

(10 Mins)

 

Speaker

(Mauritius)

 

Mr Satyendra Peerthum

Historian, Researcher and Author, Mauritius

5:35 PM to 5:45 PM

(10 Mins)

 

Speaker

(South Africa)

Prof. Anand Singh

University of KwaZulu Natal, Howard College Campus, Durban, South Africa

5:45 PM to 5:55 PM

(10 Mins)

 

Speaker

(Malaysia)

Mr. Prabhakaran Nair

Social Scientist, Archivist and Research Consultant. Founder Member of India-Malaysia Heritage Group, Malaysia

5:55 PM to 6:05 PM

(10 Mins)

 

Speaker

(Malaysia)

 

 

Dr. Azharudin Bin Mohamed Dali

Department of History

Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of Malaya

Malaysia

6:05 PM to 6:10 PM

(5 Mins)

 

Discussant

(India)

Dr. Ajaya Sahoo

Associate Professor,

Centre for the Study of Indian Diaspora, University of Hyderabad

6:10 PM to 6:15 PM

(5 Mins)

 

Discussant

(India)

Dr. Bashabi Gupta

Miranda House College, Delhi University

 

ACADEMIC SESSION- 2

 

Chair: Prof. Santishree Pandit

Department of Politics & Public-Administration, Savitribai Phule, Pune University

6:15 PM to 6:20 PM

(5 Mins)

 

6:20 PM to 6:30 PM

(10 Mins)

 

Speaker

(Indonesia)

Dr. Amelia Joan Liwe

Department Chair, Master of International Relations Study Program, Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH), Indonesia.

6:30 PM to 6:40 PM

(10 Mins)

 

Speaker

(Thailand)

Prof. Sophana Srichampa

Chair, Centre for Bharat Studies, Mahidol University, Thailand

6:40 PM to 6:55 PM

(15 Mins)

 

Speakers

(Thailand)

 

 

Prof. Sawitree Charoenpong

Associate Prof. Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

&

Dr. Simmee Oupra

Chair, Western Languages Program, Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Thailand

6:55 PM to 7:05 PM

(10 Mins)

 

Speaker

(Indonesia)

 

 

 Mr. Abhiram Singh Yadav

International Relations Analysist & Researcher,

Indonesia

7:05 PM to 7:10 PM

(5 Mins)

 

Discussant

 

 

 

Dr. N Surjit Kumar

Faculty member, Department of Political Science, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus, Manipur, India

7:10 PM to 7:15 PM

(5 Mins)

 

Discussant

Dr. Rajneesh Gupta

Assistant Professor,

Centre for Diaspora Studies, Central University of Gujarat & Founding Treasurer, ODI India

 

Moderator: Prof Ajay Dubey

Q & A Discussion

7:15 PM to 7:25 PM

(10 Mins)

 

7:25 PM to 7:30 PM

(5 Mins)

 

Vote of Thanks

 

Ms. Aarshi Dua

ODI Series Coordinator and Doctoral Scholar, CAS-SIS JNU 

 

 

 

Concept Note

Contributions of Indian Diaspora (PIO) in Freedom Struggles of India

 

The Indian Nationalist Movement has a long history of Indians struggling for their rights from the oppressive policies of the colonial ruler. The Nationalist Movement gained momentum with the help of great reformers and leaders in India who gained exposure from many other countries. These leaders were the driving force behind taking the Indian Nationalist Movement forward and spreading the objectives of these movements among the international community. Many important leaders like Mahatma Gandhi started their political journey in other colonised countries. The methods and principles adopted by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa came to be used commonly in Indian National Movement too. There were many others like Dadabhai Naoroji,  Shrinivas Shastri, KM Munshi, B. R. Ambedkar, Shyam ji Krishna Varma,  who went to other countries and became influential figures of the Indian National Movement.

The Indian Diaspora abroad contributed to the Indian freedom struggles in several ways. There was a large number of Indian Diaspora in the British colonies who had travelled under different capacities like that of indentured labourers or passenger Indians or traders. There was also a substantial number among them who had done well in various businesses and were economically empowered. The Indian Diaspora in countries of Africa and Latin America also looked upto the Indian leadership. The Indian leaders in the 20th century started travelling to British colonies as part of asserting India to know about Indian Diaspora and also to seek support in developed countries for Indian national movements. Lala Lajpat Rai went to seek support and assistance from Indians in Canada. Lala Har Dayal, the publisher of Vande Mataram was a great influencer for students of California University to join the Indian National Movement. He led the Indian community in America to join hands in the Indian liberation struggle. Subhash Chandra Bose also went abroad and spread awareness about the Indian situation and his legendry mobilisation of Indians against the British through INA from Singapore is a well-known diaspora contribution. Similarly, there were many other Indian leaders who worked hard to create awareness amongst the Indian community abroad and  joined the Indian National Movement. Mahatma Gandhi’s principles like Ahimsa, Non-violence and Satyagraha were used for the first time in South Africa against the colonial government but later used in Indian freedom struggles. These leaders also worked with the help of some organisations which helped them build their base and support around the world. The support , sympathy and contributory role of Indian Diaspora differed between those who were under colonies and those who were in developed North American and European countries. These two segments of Indian diaspora had two different domestic situations, constraints and opportunities to contribute to Indian freedom struggles and they need to be understood in this diverse context.

With this background, this web-symposium seeks to address the contributions of the Indian Diaspora in the Indian freedom struggles at different periods of time and through the help of various associations and leaders. The first of the proposed Webinar Series would deliberate on the neighbouring countries around Indian Ocean on issues, though not confining to:

  1. How despite being under colonial rule, PIO expressed their support to Indian freedom struggles.
  2. Who were the leaders and which were political or social formations that sided and supported the Indian freedom struggle.
  3. How Indian diaspora responded to visits and inspection of their conditions undertaken by Indian nationalist to their adopted countries regarding freedom struggles going on India.
  4. How colonial authorities and local population responded to Indian diaspora support to Indian freedom struggles.
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