FIS Lecture on S. Asian Migration to East Africa

Houston: TSU presented the second India Studies program Lecture at the Texas Southern University on Nov. 2, 2023. The program was sponsored by the Foundation for India Studies (FIS).

.Dr. Laura Fair, Author and Prof. of Middle Eastern and African Studies in Columbia University flew from New York to present the Lecture in the School of Public Affairs auditorium. The lecture was followed by a lively Q&A session from a hall full of enthusiastic students.

Dr. Fair’s lecture was accompanied by a series of slides which depicted the history of South Asian migration to East Africa that traced back to the 19th century, driven by colonial endeavors and economic opportunities.

As Indians established themselves in countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, they brought with them their cultural practices, including a love for cinema. Early screenings of Indian films in makeshift theaters and community halls became a vital link to their roots, creating a sense of belonging and nostalgia.

Despite Swaheli being the local language, Indian films became more popular than even the Egyp- tian and Hollywood films and quickly found resonance within East African societies, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers.

Themes of love, family, and social justice depicted in Bollywood films struck a chord with diverse audiences. As East Africans of South Asian descent grappled with issues of identity, Indian cinema provided a cultural touchstone, reinforcing their sense of heritage.

Over the decades, South Asian cinema has evolved from a peripheral influence to a central force in the East African cultural landscape.

Dr. Fair said, “this transforma-

new York (IANS) – Four Indian American students have been selected from a pool of 840 applicants from 70 countries to join the ranks of Rhodes Scholars Class of 2024 at the University of Oxford.

Mrinalini S Wadhwa, Suhaas tion reflects the dynamic interplay between migration, globalization, and the power of storytelling through cinema.”.

Bhat, Nayantara K Arora and Aishani Aatresh are among 32 scholars who were selected via in-person interviews for the first time since Covid pandemic and will begin their graduate studies in October 2024.

Dr. Fair concluded that The growth of Indian film distribution in East Africa has not only contributed to cultural enrichment but also spurred economic activity. The film industry has created employment opportunities, from distributors and exhibitors to actors and technicians. Furthermore, it has fostered partnerships between local and international stakeholders, stimulating economic growth in the region.

Wadhwa of New York City is a senior at Columbia University where she majors in History and Mathematics. She co-founded a program providing a three-year English curriculum for low-income students in New Delhi. At Oxford, she will pursue an M Phil in Modern European History.

Bhat from Wisconsin is a senior at Harvard University majoring in Social Studies and Physics. He cofounded an organization at Harvard that provides peer-facilitated group psychotherapy to students. He will pursue an M Sc in Mathematical Modeling and Scientific Computing and an M Sc in International Health and Tropical Medicine.

Arora from Portland is a senior at the University of Oregon, Clark

Honors College, where she majors in Neuroscience, with minors in Global Health and Chemistry. She conducts research in two areas: global health biomarkers in Tunisia and the relationship between the vasculature and Alzheimer’s disease. Currently an intern with the State Department, Arora produces a podcast dedicated to uplifting immigrant youth stories, plays the violin, and loves learning new languages. She will pursue an M Sc in Modelling for Global Health.

Aatresh from California is a senior at Harvard College where she is majoring in complex biosocial systems. During the global pandemic, she worked with the New York City health and hospital system emergency response and then undertook studies to understand the dynamics of Covid-19 with the global Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. At Oxford, she plans an M Phil degree in Environmental Governance.

“They inspire us already with their accomplishments, but even more by their values-based leadership and selfless ambitions to improve their communities and the world,” said Ramona L Doyle, American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust.

wasHington DC: The Open Doors 2023 report on international educational exchange, released today in Washington DC by the US department of state’s bureau of educational and cultural affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE), an educational not for profit organisation; reveals that India continues to be the second leading country of origin of students to the US, reaching an all-time high of 268,923 students in 2022-23, an increase of 35% year-over-year.

China remained the top-sending country in 2022-23, with 289,526 students studying in the US, but with a negative growth rate (-0.2% year-over-year).

Overall, the United States hosted more than one million (1,057,188) international students during the 2022-2023 academic year, a 12% increase compared to the previous academic year, the Open Doors report says.

“International students from India increased by 35%, reaching an all-time high of 268,923 students.

The number of Indian graduate students increased by a robust 63%, and there was a 16% uptake in undergraduates. India continued to be the Number 1 place of origin of students on OPT [optional practical training, which supports students to gain practical work experiences after they complete their academic studies] with 69,062 students,” Dr Mirka Martel, head of research, evaluation & learning at IIE, said at a press briefing while releasing the report.

The big increase in the number of Indian students in the US was largely due to graduate student numbers increasing to 165,936, by 63%, over the previous year. Undergraduate student numbers grew 16% to 31,954 and OPT at 1.3% to 69,062. The most popular fields of study for Indian students in the US remain STEM subjects, especially maths and computer.

In reply to a question from the Times of India on whether the Open Doors report has looked into the trend of widespread job cuts by the big tech companies in the US and lower job opportunities and the impact on the number of Indian students choosing to remain in the US on OPT after they finished their courses; Dr Martel said: “Our data is continuing to indicate that we have robust growth, and robust interest from Indian students to continue their study here in the US. In fact, we are seeing OPT numbers increase. And perhaps the Fall 2023 snapshot [which presents international student enrolment patterns for the current 2023-24 academic year] is the largest indicator we have thus far of many of these increases, particularly for international graduate students, translating into higher rates of OPT.”

She added that a 17% increase is seen overall in international students on OPT in the Fall 2023 snapshot. “That’s a double-digit increase in OPT numbers as of Fall 2023-24. Again this is building on the eight per cent growth we already reported in Open Doors. So, we’re going to see robust growth over two years, or we’re seeing that already in optional practical training. Which means more places are opening up.”

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For the first time in three years, the total number of international students on OPT grew by 8% to 198,793 students, according to the Open Doors report. This was driven by the strong rebound of international graduates last year now pursuing post-study work opportunities. “As incoming classes of international students, particularly graduates, continue to grow postpandemic, the number of students on OPT will likely continue to grow,” the report says.

FounDer: Dr. k.L. sinDwani

PubLisHer: JawaHar MaLHotra eDitor: PraMoD kuLkarni

CorresPonDent: sanCHaLi basu

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