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ADAPA, Satynarayana
Visiting Research Fellow
Area Studies I
Social and Economic History of Modern Asia
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I am presently working on the nature and pattern of south Indian labour migrations on Southeast Asian Countries in the 19-20th centuries. My study primarily deals with the process of historical formation of immigrant labouring communities and classes in the non-organized and unregulated sectors of employment in these countries. The historical context of the western imperialist territorial and commercial expansion in the late nineteenth century created opportunities for large-scale emigration of south Indian labourers through push and pull factors. The growth of transport and communication facilities between Burma and Malaya and the east-coast of south India as well as the increasing demand for manual labour in the agrarian and urban economies of these countries had brought successive waves of south Indian immigrants. This study seeks to develop a comprehensive theory on migration and settlement patterns and a migration paradigm. provide a historical and sociological account of the immigrant labor communities from the southeastern coast of India in Burma and Malaysia and also to provide a systematic and comparative analysis of the actual causes and motivation for emigration. In the existing studies only a general description of the reasons for emigration is given in terms of “push” and “pull” or supply and demand factors. Most studies on emigration lack an analytical perspective and fail to link up specific events and specific groups of migrants as well as the areas of origin. provide a detailed description of the evolution of migratory process through various stages between 1871 and 1982 as well as to discusses the changing ethnic and racial relations and socio-cultural interaction between the south Indian Immigrants and native people of Burma and Malaysia. The plural societies of Southeast Asian countries did not remain static and unchanging throughout the period under study. Changing migration pattern and growth of competition led to intensive ethnic and inter-racial hostility and antagonism. The onset of world economic depression in the 1930’s witnessed great socio-political turmoil in Burma. Anti-Indian and Anti-Telugu (Coringhee) Riots broke out in Burma in the 1930’s and in Malaysia in the 1960’s. This study aims to provide a detailed account of the changing relations between the natives and immigrants.My study seeks to examine the socio-economic and caste-community background of the immigrant community through a detailed analysis of Census data and other relevant statistical material. The structure and function of Maistry/Kangany system, labor intermediaries, caste-clan networks in labor recruitment and employment, wages and working and living conditions of Telugu Immigrant laborers in Burma and Malaysia during the period under consideration will be discussed. The phenomenon of Maistry/ Kangany and other mediate forms of labor organization, recruitment etc., require specification and elaboration. In this study a comparative perspective would be offered with regard to the nature of labor intermediaries.My study also aims to analyse the process of identity formation among the immigrant communities in the Southeast Asian countries. The distinct south Indian/telugu identity in colonial Burma and Malaya was constructed and articulated through the discourses of various socio-cultural and religious organizations. They tended to foster cultural unity among the Telugu speaking communities cutting across caste and class distinction. Language, kinship bonds, caste-community affiliation and ancestral origin also became significant symbols for the construction of a separate Telugu ethnic identity and consciousness. Several telugu/south Indian associations were established mainly for the socio-cultural and intellectual development. They also facilitated the preservation of distinct culture and identity of the immigrants during the period under consideration.

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