How Indians Took Over the World: The Untold Story of a 35-Million-Strong Diaspora | Vantage - video Dailymotion

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From indentured labourers under British colonial rule to CEOs, presidents, and global changemakers- this is the extraordinary journey of the Indian diaspora. Today, over 35 million people of Indian origin live across the world, making it the largest diaspora globally. But how did this massive movement begin? Why were Indians sent to faraway lands like Fiji, the Caribbean, or Africa? And how did they go from surviving to thriving and shaping global tech, politics, and diplomacy? This report traces the historic roots, struggles, triumphs, and global impact of Indians abroad.  ---  Indian Diaspora | Fiji | Caribbean | Firstpost | World News | News Live | Vantage | Palki Sharma | News  #indiandiaspora #fiji #caribbean #firstpost #vantageonfirstpost #palkisharma #worldnews  Vantage is a ground-breaking news, opinions, and current affairs show from Firstpost. Catering to a global audience, Vantage covers the biggest news stories from a 360-degree perspective, giving viewers a chance to assess the impact of world events through a uniquely Indian lens.   The show is anchored by Palki Sharma, Managing Editor, Firstpost.  By breaking stereotypes, Vantage aims to challenge conventional wisdom and present an alternative view on global affairs, defying the norm and opening the door to new perspectives. The show goes beyond the headlines to uncover the hidden stories – making Vantage a destination for thought-provoking ideas.   Vantage airs Monday to Friday at 9 PM IST on Firstpost across all leading platforms.  Subscribe to Firstpost channel and press the bell icon to get notified when we go live.    https://www.youtube.com/@Firstpost  Follow Firstpost on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstpost/   Follow Firstpost on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firstpostin/   Follow Firstpost on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/firstpost  Follow Firstpost on WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va6zOIrEQIamseyg762V  # news #breaking #24x7

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00:00India's story was never meant to stay within its borders.

00:03For centuries, its people have journeyed across oceans,

00:06chasing opportunity, braving hardship,

00:09carrying with them a piece of home.

00:12This is the story of India's roots that stretched far

00:15and a diaspora that rose to shape the world.

00:30One country, then another, and another one after that.

00:48The British colonial greed was unending.

00:52Their rule rapidly spread across the world,

00:55and with it, the Indian diaspora.

00:57A diaspora is the dispersion of people from their homeland.

01:01And in India, this was a legacy of colonial rule.

01:05As the British Empire expanded,

01:07Indians found themselves in all corners of the world.

01:10And this happened for different reasons.

01:12In countries like Fiji and Mauritius,

01:14Indians were mostly sent as contract labourers.

01:18But in countries like Australia and Canada,

01:20people travelled looking for better opportunities.

01:23Whatever the reason,

01:24from the North Atlantic to the South Pacific,

01:26Indians were everywhere.

01:29In some places, they were openly accepted,

01:31and treated mostly fairly, like New Zealand.

01:33When India became independent in 1947,

01:36there were about 1,200 Indians in New Zealand,

01:38and they enjoyed what the government at the time called

01:41complete equality.

01:44But in several other countries,

01:45Indians were openly discriminated against.

01:48Australia had about 4,500 Indians at the time.

01:51All of them had citizenship rights.

01:52They could vote.

01:54But they were legally discriminated against.

01:56They did not have equal pension or accommodation rights.

02:00Or take the Caribbean, for instance.

02:02They had a sizeable Indian population,

02:04about 170,000 Indians in Trinidad,

02:07and a similar number in British Guayana.

02:09They were offered full citizenship rights.

02:12But Hindus were not allowed to cremate their dead.

02:16So just two months after attaining independence,

02:18India decided to change this.

02:21To not just look after the Indians at home,

02:24but also those abroad.

02:26The Constituent Assembly held several meetings about this.

02:29They came up with an action plan, case by case.

02:33And one month later, New Delhi quietly spurred change.

02:38High Commissions engaged with local authorities.

02:40They highlighted the prejudice in Commonwealth countries.

02:44India spoke up, and slowly things began to change.

02:48Cut to today, almost eight decades later.

02:51The Indian diaspora is not just an asset to the world,

02:53it is a force to reckon with.

02:56Globally, the Indian origin community stands at 35 million.

03:01This is the world's largest diaspora.

03:04Out of this, more than 15 million people are NRIs,

03:07non-resident Indians.

03:10NRIs are Indian citizens who reside outside India.

03:15This could be for work, education, or any other reason.

03:17NRIs retain their Indian passports.

03:20They are considered Indian nationals.

03:23So why are they part of the overseas diaspora?

03:27That's because of the duration of their stay outside India.

03:29In one financial year, if you live outside India for at least 182 days,

03:35you're considered an NRI, a non-resident Indian.

03:38Then we have a second category.

03:41Earlier, it was called PIO, persons of Indian origin,

03:45meaning people of Indian descent who have foreign citizenship.

03:49This applied to everyone except nationals of Pakistan,

03:52Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and a few other countries.

03:54In 2015, this category was merged with OCI, overseas citizens of India.

04:01These are foreign citizens eligible for Indian citizenship on or after January 26, 1950.

04:09Or a descendant of someone who fits in this category.

04:12Now, initially, PIO was applicable for 15 years.

04:15But with an OCI card, you get a lifetime validity.

04:18Also, lifelong visa-free travel to India and unlimited stay without registration.

04:24Long story short, OCI's are very different from NRIs.

04:28NRIs have an Indian passport.

04:29They can vote in India.

04:30They can hold government jobs.

04:31OCI's cannot do any of that.

04:35Also, OCI is not dual citizenship.

04:36It is simply a privilege introduced as part of India's outreach to the diaspora.

04:42Today, about 20 million people are OCI cardholders.

04:46And together with Indian citizens living abroad, they make a 35 million strong diaspora.

04:52These are people who have shaped global diplomacy, economy and politics,

04:56and enhanced India's soft power.

04:58Today, Indians are contributing to the global workforce.

05:01They are powering entire industries.

05:04Look at the booming tech companies.

05:05You will find leaders of Indian origin.

05:07Indians are at the helm of massive corporations.

05:10They are also shaping policy.

05:12People of Indian origin have become leaders of more than 30 other countries.

05:16And this is astounding.

05:18Have you heard of the term Girmitia?

05:21This was an agreement made by the British.

05:23They transferred indentured laborers from India to other colonies.

05:28In the 19th century, the first group of Indians was taken to East Pacific countries and the Caribbean islands.

05:35They were taken to work on plantations.

05:37The term Girmitia came from the word agreement.

05:40The locals called an agreement a Girmit and those who signed it were Girmitias.

05:45It was a shrewd plan to benefit the colonizers.

05:48It led to many of these people settling there permanently.

05:55Generations later, countless families of Indian origin still call these countries home.

06:00But today, Indians are not relocating as part of someone else's clever scheme.

06:07They are not doing it out of desperation to survive.

06:11They are doing it with the determination to thrive.

06:14The US has the largest Indian population in the world.

06:17It stands at over 5 million.

06:19It's about 1.6% of the country's overall population.

06:22And Indian Americans have proven to be leaders, whether in education or household income.

06:27About 77% of them have a bachelor's degree or higher.

06:31They are also the top earners among all Asian groups in the US.

06:37Same with Europe.

06:38Indians rank as the top immigrant earners in Europe's largest economy, which is Germany.

06:43The Indian diaspora is known for well-educated, often well-paid workers, primarily in science,

06:49technology, engineering and maths, or STEM.

06:53And these are just two examples, the US and Germany.

06:56Indians abroad help in boosting the global economy.

06:58They are also contributing to the Indian economy.

07:02Take remittances, for instance.

07:05This is the money that members of the diaspora send home.

07:08India tops the world in remittances.

07:10And this year, the number hit a record high.

07:14The overseas Indian community transferred $135 billion to India.

07:19Plus, when Indians go abroad, they invite more foreign investment into the country.

07:23They engage with other nations.

07:24They foster relationships that help their home country.

07:28They maintain the Indian connect.

07:35And while there's so much to celebrate, the Indian diaspora also faces a range of issues.

07:39Many conflicts ail the world.

07:42And Indians who live and work abroad, especially as migrant labourers, are often caught in the crossfire.

07:49Thus, many governments have made migration harder, mostly in the West.

07:53And even though the Indian diaspora is generally regarded as law-abiding,

07:56progressive and extremely productive, racism persists.

08:00Time and again, we hear reports of Hindu temples being vandalised abroad,

08:04or Indian workers in countries like Ireland being attacked and asked to go back to where they came from.

08:12There are no easy fixes for this.

08:13And the government knows this.

08:15But over time, they have boosted preparedness.

08:17Welfare mechanisms and structured evacuation in times of crisis.

08:22From digital portals that address grievances to legal and social protection.

08:26There's an effort to shield the diaspora from fraud, land encroachment, and so on.

08:32There's a range of policies and tax benefits to encourage investment by overseas Indians.

08:37There are schemes to ease labour mobility of Indian origin workers.

08:41India has labour pacts with at least six countries.

08:45There are cultural and educational programmes, especially for the young,

08:48to help them stay connected to their roots.

08:52Since taking office in 2014,

08:53Prime Minister Modi has personally engaged with the diaspora in all parts of the world.

08:57Everywhere he travels, he meets people of the Indian community

09:01and invests in this relationship.

09:03The Indian diaspora is no longer seen as brain drain.

09:13They are seen as India's global ambassadors,

09:16who represent the values, culture and heritage of their home country on the world stage.

09:21So much so that we now have a day dedicated to them.

09:24The Pravasi Bharti Divas.

09:27This event was first held in 2003 to mark the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's return

09:32from South Africa in 1915.

09:34Since then, it is held every year for the ambassadors of the world

09:39to celebrate their contribution to the growth of India and the world.

09:42And most importantly, to form a community of people

09:46to help understand their challenges and to harness their collective power.

09:51And so the story of the Indian diaspora is not just about movement.

09:54It's about resilience.

09:56It's about rising beyond borders from indentured labourers on plantations

10:02to presidents, CEOs and changemakers.

10:04They have carried India with them in values, in culture and in spirit.

10:08And today, as they shape the world,

10:22And today as they shape the world, they continue to strengthen their bond with India, because

10:40no matter how far they go, they're never too far from home.

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How Indians Took Over the World: The Untold Story of a 35-Million-Strong Diaspora | Vantage

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