Garima Bhandari, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India: If People Don’t, Why Would Devta Stay? The Culture of Migration in Western Himalayan Communities
Rural communities in the Global South are significantly impacted by the process of migration, which has altered village dynamics and sparked discussions among social scientists examining migration’s relationship to development and social change. While villages in several parts of South Asia experience circular or semi-permanent movement involving repeated and cyclical movements and altering village culture, many villages of the western Himalayan region are witnessing the contrasting trend towards permanent migration, resulting in the formation of thousands of Abandoned Villages or popularly known as Ghost Villages. This phenomenon has brought significant changes in the socio-political, economic and cultural spheres of these rural areas, which has rarely been figured as an explicit object of research. This study uses the Social transformation lens to analyse the changes and transformations brought about by out-migration in the peripheral depopulating villages. Drawing on a qualitative approach, this study delves into the Culture of migration in a hilly village in Uttarakhand and how it has evolved over time, resulting in the disintegration of the village structure as a whole.
The study focuses on understanding how migration influences and shapes the various dimensions of rural areas, ultimately leading to major shifts in dominant political, economic, agricultural and socio-cultural relationships. Furthermore, it discusses the role of the state in perpetuating migration from rural areas towards urban areas, forming two opposite poles that are unlikely to be bridged. It concludes that in order to prevent villages from becoming abandoned, there should be an effort to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges faced by the mountainous communities.
Chisoka Simões, University of Minho: Braga, Portugal: Two Millennia of Migrations and Cultural Transfers
Mobility and migration are intrinsic human traits that have shaped the world. Recently, the discourse surrounding migration has shifted, often portraying it as a threat due to the rise of ethnonationalism in Europe. Grounded in Critical Heritage Studies, with theories of transnationalism and cultural memory, this research analyses migration as a normative behaviour in Braga, highlighting its continuous role in shaping the city’s 2000-year history. Using historical registries, toponymy, and other cultural practices of Braga, a Portuguese northwestern town, this research traces the impact of migrants on the city’s development and history. Since the city’s foundation in 16 B.C. by the Romans, it saw the rule of different tribes and groups, including Suebis or Arabs. Afterwards, with the country’s establishment, the 12th century to the present, immigrants—including priests, bishops, archbishops, scholars, navigators, explorers, architects and entrepreneurs from regions such as modern-day Belgium, Italy, Spain, and France—have shaped Braga, as we know it. Additionally, the study explores the forced migration and probable influence of formerly enslaved people in the city during the Portuguese slave trade period and the few possible biographical aspects after their manumission. It also examines emigration from Braga, mainly to Brazil, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and to Africa, specifically under Salazar’s dictatorship (1933-1974). Nowadays, the city faces a wave of Brazilian migrants, creating neologisms such as Bragasil, but also becoming attractive to migrants from new origins, such as southwest Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, adding new layers to this neverending mobility.
Saroj Koirala, University of Jyväskylä: Seeking Greener Pastures: conceptualizing rahar and badhyata in Nepali culture of migration
Drawing upon the data from ethnographic study on aspiring labour migrants and international students, this study exposes the culture of migration in Nepali society, conceptualizing the role of rahar (desire) and badhyata (compulsion) in shaping migration choices. The study argues that both cohorts, despite having heterogeneous backgrounds, share common elements of rahar and badhyata in their migration choices. Economic adversities, absence of desired opportunities, scepticism about better future and a general lack of hope inside the country produce elements of badhyata to migrate from Nepal. People’s elevated life aspiration influenced by media depiction, success stories of migrant ‘role models’ and perceived social status, on the other hand produce elements of rahar fostering migration in Nepal. Rahar and badhyata together contribute to the formation of distinct culture of migration, where going abroad in any possible way is viewed as a normative step towards securing a better future and achieving upward mobility in Nepal.
