Kerala Gulf boom
Encyclopedia
The Kerala Gulf diaspora refers to the people of Kerala
living in the Middle eastern Arab states of the Persian Gulf
. They number more than 2.5 million as of 2008.
n state of Kerala
to the Gulf Countries from 1972 to 1983. Though migration of Malayalis, the people of Kerala to the Gulf Countries continue to the present day, this initial wave of migration is usually referred to as the Kerala Gulf Boom. As of 2008, the Gulf countries altogether have a Keralite population of more than 2.5 million, who send home annually a sum of USD 6.81 billion, which is more than 15.13% of the total Remittance to India in 2008.
reserves were discovered in the Arabian Peninsula
and the Gulf in the 1930s, and commercial extraction began in the early 1950s. Soon, these countries became the major Oil exporting countries of the world, and amassed huge riches within a short span of years, a feat that perhaps have no historical rival. However, these nations were handicapped by small population and thin labor force with low level of skills. Thus, they had to open the doors wide to non national manpower at all skill levels, to meet the challenge. India
who was teeming with unemployment
rallied in the race to grab the opportunity, with Kerala
in the forefront. Historical ties and religious identity of certain sections of the population helped to forge a bond with Gulf Countries.
. Gulf migrants, most of whom were from the working and the lower middle classes had gradually been gaining social status. A myth was in the making- myth of the 'Gulf man'. Gulf migrants were highly sought after as bridegrooms. Their attractive earnings, irrespective of their shortcomings, enabled them to marry into wealthy and respected families.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
living in the Middle eastern Arab states of the Persian Gulf
Arab states of the Persian Gulf
"Arab states of the Persian Gulf" or "Arab Persian Gulf states" or "Persian Gulf Arab states" or "Arabic Persian Gulf states" or "Arab States of The Gulf", are terms that refer to the six Arab states of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, bordering the Persian Gulf....
. They number more than 2.5 million as of 2008.
The Gulf Boom
It refers to the mass migration of a large number of people from the IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
to the Gulf Countries from 1972 to 1983. Though migration of Malayalis, the people of Kerala to the Gulf Countries continue to the present day, this initial wave of migration is usually referred to as the Kerala Gulf Boom. As of 2008, the Gulf countries altogether have a Keralite population of more than 2.5 million, who send home annually a sum of USD 6.81 billion, which is more than 15.13% of the total Remittance to India in 2008.
Background
Huge OilOil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
reserves were discovered in the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
and the Gulf in the 1930s, and commercial extraction began in the early 1950s. Soon, these countries became the major Oil exporting countries of the world, and amassed huge riches within a short span of years, a feat that perhaps have no historical rival. However, these nations were handicapped by small population and thin labor force with low level of skills. Thus, they had to open the doors wide to non national manpower at all skill levels, to meet the challenge. India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
who was teeming with unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
rallied in the race to grab the opportunity, with Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in the forefront. Historical ties and religious identity of certain sections of the population helped to forge a bond with Gulf Countries.
Effect of migrations in Kerala
As Migrants began to send money back home, it rapidly penetrated into all walks of life. This contributed to a substantial rise in the standard of living of the people of KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. Gulf migrants, most of whom were from the working and the lower middle classes had gradually been gaining social status. A myth was in the making- myth of the 'Gulf man'. Gulf migrants were highly sought after as bridegrooms. Their attractive earnings, irrespective of their shortcomings, enabled them to marry into wealthy and respected families.
External links
- Chapter 4: Middle Eastern Migration From Kerala, Prema Kurien, Kaleidoscopic ethnicity: international migration and the reconstruction of community identities in India,Rutgers University Press, 2002
- A Socio-Cultural Perspective on Migration and Economic Development: Middle Eastern Migration from Kerala, India ,Prema A. Kurien ,Syracuse University
- Chapter 9,“I am Gulf”: The production of cosmopolitanism among the Koyas of Kozhikode, Kerala, Filippo Osella, University of Sussex & Caroline Osella, SOAS, University of London