South Asians in Boston

Abstract

Boston has a rich and diverse history of immigrants. Right from the arrival of the Puritans in 1628-30 who established the earliest immigrant settlements in Boston, this region has attracted immigrants from different parts of the world. Boston's strategic coastal location, its flourishing industries and the growing economy provided a hope of opportunities for the immigrants who came with a dream- the famine-struck Irish, the Italians, the Eastern European Jews wanting to escape religious and socio-political tensions, the Blacks wanting to escape slavery, the Chinese seeking better economic opportunities and more recently, the Asian Indians seeking better education and work opportunities. The economy of Massachusetts underwent transformation in the 20*h century with the rise of the high technology sector. The emergence of Route 128 around Boston and subsequently, 1-495 corridor in the 20th century led to the formation of a high technology cluster that attracted extremely skilled immigrants. South Asians, especially the Asian Indians constitute an integral part of this immigrant population that gravitated to this region not because of famines or wars, but the transformation in Massachusetts' economy. Their numbers grew rapidly through the 20* century and the story of their growth is remarkable. From the days of insignificant presence, South Asians have grown into a young, fast-growing ethnic community in Boston. A majority of the South Asian population today is young, educated, highly skilled and employed in the high technology sector but there are others employed in the low-skilled, working class and service occupations across the state. What happened in each of the waves of South Asian immigration to Massachusetts? Do the immigration patterns of Asian Indians differ from other South Asians? Who are these immigrants who undertook this long journey from the Indian sub-continent to the United States? This thesis is an attempt to trace the origins and growth of the South Asian immigrant community in Massachusetts, which is one of the youngest and fastest growing groups of immigrants in the state. The presence of South Asians in Massachusetts has come a long way from being negligible and invisible in the post-World War II period to being a prominent presence in its high technology nucleus of Greater Boston. Keywords: South Asians, Asian Indians, Indian Americans, Asian Indian immigrants, Boston, Immigrants in Boston, Immigrants in Massachusetts, high-skilled immigrants, skilled migrants