India's link to Indians

Transnational organisations serve as a bridge through which Indian Americans can influence socioeconomic and political development in India. Their elite status enables them to transfer financial resources, ideas and practices to the homeland. This ability as well shapes their support and complicates their relationship with Indian partners and government. Although these efforts have been significant at the local and state levels, they have been less so at the national level.

Many transnational organisations tap diaspora wealth to raise funds for existing organisations in India. Indian university alumni organisations, for example, raise money among diaspora members to support their alma maters, using American university practices as a role model. The Indian government has supported these efforts by offering incentives for US-based professors and graduate students to teach in India.

Creating ‘world-class universities’ has now become a central component of India’s economic growth strategy. Professional associations (including physicians, entrepreneurs and hoteliers) are increasingly trying to form partnerships with institutions to transfer knowledge from the US to their home country. Government has tried to facilitate such business partnerships by supporting software technology parks and research and development centres.

From ‘Tapping the Indian Diaspora for Indian Development’, Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University