Multiple Homemaking: The Ethnic Condition in Indian Diaspora Societies , by Ruben Gowricharn

What is it about?

‘Homemaking’ is a significant concept in the field of migration and diaspora studies. It is understood as a process of transformation in the economic, social, psychological, political, and cultural spheres to create a ‘new home’, away from home, involving memories, perceptions, identities, and a sense of belonging to the society of origin. However, the concept has been evolving over the years and expanding to include nuances of space, time, and context. The book ‘Multiple Homemaking: The Ethnic Condition in Indian Diaspora’ by Ruben Gowricharn is a valuable addition in this regard. The book presents a theoretical perspective on ‘homemaking’ and argues that ‘homemaking’ is a multiple phenomenon, as every ethnic group has its own form of homemaking at different points in time extending to the different generations. It considers ‘ethnicity’ as fundamental, having primordial bonding for ‘homemaking’; however, it is also a dynamic concept and adjusts to a new environment. Structurally, the book carries eight chapters, placed chronologically, dealing with different kinds of homemaking. It draws on empirical case studies of two overseas Indian groups and their relations to their homeland, namely the Surinami Hindustanis and the Dutch Hindustanis, to explain the concept of ‘multiple homemaking’.

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