Narratives of migration why do Punjabis want to emigrate

Abstract

This study analyzes the process of shaping of the aspirations of the Punjabi youth for emigration. It seeks to go beyond the conventional economistic framework of push and pull theory of emigration by looking at an alternative theoretical framework which might help explain better the existing crazeand#8223; for emigration amongst the Punjabi youth. It is in this context that the present study seeks to test the applicability of the framework of culture of migrationand#8223; in Punjab. Broadly, this research revolves around two major questions: one, to what extent is the framework of culture of migrationand#8223; helpful in explaining the process of migration from Punjab; and two, what role do social factors play in the shaping of such aspirations for migration? The narratives of the young men reveal that emigration has become a learned social behavior in the context of Punjab. The second largest category of emigrants from Punjab comprises of the young women. The dominant trend of emigration among the younger Punjabi women in the present era is one of independent emigration. There are two major reasons behind it: one, the existence of constricting patriarchal values in the Punjabi society; and two, the spectacular impact of NRIand#8223;s social status on the minds of the younger women. . These narratives of NRIs suggest that there are two categories of NRIs: one, those who have emigrated much earlier like thirty to forty years ago; and two, those who emigrated just about ten to twenty years ago newline