The Minority-Minority: Assimilation of Punjabi Communities in Northern Germany

The Minority-Minority: Assimilation of Punjabi Communities in Northern Germany Public Deposited

Last Modified

Creator

Grover, Esha
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Political Science

Abstract

The Indian presence in Germany has been significant, though small, since the second World War. Political turmoil in Punjab in 1984 brought many Punjabi men to Germany for work. Though few of them were granted asylum, many remained as economic migrants. In the recent years, these immigrants have brought more of their extended family from India, as well as having children in Germany who are now reaching adolescence. In addition, immigrants in Germany are receiving more political and academic attention as the need to address integration issues becomes clear. Aside from a brief right-wing campaign against bringing in immigrants to work ICT jobs (Kinder Statt Inder), Indian immigrants have received next to no attention from political systems or academia. In this thesis I have recorded and analyzed my findings after conducting twenty interviews with Punjabi immigrants in Bremen as well as attending weekly temple services there. I strive to place them in both the context of immigrants in Germany and Punjabi immigrant communities around the world.

Date of publication