Religion and the South Asian diaspora

Abstract

In the expansive manner in which 'diaspora' has come to be employed, the centrality of religion in the 'classical' understanding of the concept has been subsumed under categories such as 'ethnicity' and 'culture'. Yet even as religious practices and beliefs undergo transformation in the diaspora, studies of South Asian emigrant groups show that religion remains a key marker of community identity - its pivotal role invigorated by the contemporary precipitation in global connections. By scrutinising the specific experiences, practices and contentions of a wide-array of diasporic communities, the articles in this Special Issue reveal the renewed power of religion in the South Asian diaspora. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.