Indian diaspora’s presence in Pacific Ocean region is crucial given close economic & geopolitical relations between India & Pacific Ocean region, particularly Fiji.
FIJI
- Historically, Indians entered Fiji as indentured laborers during time of British colonial rule.
- Indians constitute almost 40% of FIJI’s population, (who initially provided labour for their agricultural and textile industry) have been smoothly absorbed into local fabric, with some of them owning sugarcane fields and big businesses.
- Fiji’s political history has been disturbed by regular coups by military.
- Indians have right to vote & contest elections since early 1960s.
- Indian diaspora in Fiji has functioned as a major deciding factor in its internal politics and building a positive image of Indians within their culture.
- Diaspora popularly referred to as Indo-Fijians is a mix of Gujarati, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Sindhi.
- Mahendra Chaudhry was Fiji’s first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister in 1999.
- Ethnic Fijian Nationalism has been a strong hindrance to assimilation of Indo-Fijians into FIJI’s national fabric.
- There has been a recent exodus of Indo-Fijians from Fiji creating fear of brain-drain with people moving to Australia, New Zealand, Canada & USA.
- The island is strategically important for India, as has been reflected in continuous dialogue & exchange, but if India wants to see complete fruition of its Indo-Pacific strategy. Ex- FIPIC, ISRO has an outreach centre at FiJi.
- India will have to continuously invoke historical bonds to keep Fiji into its strategic fold combined with economic aid and a sharply monitored naval presence in the region.
AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND
- Indian Australians are Australians of Indian descent or heritage.
- In 2017-18, India was largest source of new permanent annual migrants to Australia since 2016, and overall, third largest source nation of cumulative total migrant population behind England and China.
- Indians were highest educated migrant group in Australia with 54.6% of Indians in Australia having a bachelor’s or higher degree; more than three times Australia’s national average.
- India annually contributes largest number of migrants to both Australia and New Zealand.
