Christian Diaspora Experience

Dr. John K. Thomas*

A diaspora is a population that is scattered across regions which are separated from its geographic place of origin. Historically, the word was first used in reference to the dispersion of Greeks in the Hellenic world, and later Jews after their Babylonian exile. People scatter themselves from their homeland to places across the globe looking for better future, job opportunities, higher education, and in that shifting (exile) many spread their cultures to places where they get settled

The United States is the home to the highest number of immigrants in the world. An estimated 50.6 million people are immigrants from various countries around the globe, which amounts to little more than 15% of the native population. However, historically, it is a country of immigrants and the natives were American Indians. Number of immigrants, who came to the United States (US) from India especially Kerala dates back to almost 1950's, as we can recollect. Among Keralites, most of them were Christians who migrated to the US, primarily for higher education in the early 50's and 60's. In the latter years, lot of medical and paramedical professionals started to migrate to the US for a better future and to support a long list of family members whom they left in India.

Most recent accelerated process of migration especially to Middle Eastern countries, N. America and parts of Europe had an impact on every facet of Kerala's economy and society. It is estimated that at least one person from every household from Kerala – Christians and others included – migrated to Gulf countries, primarily, for job opportunities or for that matter anywhere in the world. The economy of Kerala is mainly based on the remittance sent by Kerala diaspora, contributing to a higher proportion of the State's income. Kerala settlers also moved to Malaysia and Singapore, and they were an affluent population in 60's through 80's.

In Middle East for example, things were different. People who moved into those countries with medical or paramedical qualifications were on a better lifestyle and living conditions, which were primarily due to better wages and other perks that they received. But semiskilled or unskilled workers which contribute to a majority of migrants including Christians from all parts of Kerala, struggled hard for a living because of poor salary and living conditions.

The large Indian immigrant community in the US, which includes a good number of Kerala Christians, has suddenly arrived at a major cross road. Having reached an extraordinarily high level of affluence and achievement, they find themselves as one of the most significant ethnic groups in the US. They are ruminating the question, should they assimilate into American mainstream culture or maintain a separate identity? Many would like to be part of the mainstream white society, but the fact of the matter is not very thrilling because the Asian Americans or Indian Americans as they are classified may find it tough enough to be totally accepted into the mainstream “American white community.” It is good and nice to see lot of Indian Americans are emerging out into the American politics and a few at least succeeded in becoming members of the Congress, and one at least reached to the position of surgeon General of the US; some have become commissioners of state governments. Unfortunately, not many

Kerala Christians are in the political arena or in the public positions. Most of the Kerala Christians, even when they are affluent, would like to remain attached to their families, looking after their own interests instead of getting into political fields. Only area they may be interested is in Church politics.

Most of the congregants from over 25 Indian churches in the New York area came from Kerala, a state nestled in the southern tip of India of which 18% are only Christians. These families speak Malayalam as their mother tongue and English as their second language, which most often turned their communicative language as Manglish which a combination of Malayalam and English. However, the second-generation from the Kerala Chrisitan families accepted English as their first language and are trying hard to assimilate into the native culture and community.

They are unique in their food habits, from back home, as well as their dressing style, which make Kerala Christians very culturespecific. Fortunately, many of them are church goers, who established small churches with denominations that followed same liturgical practices of Kerala. Many Kerala churches have their own priests and even Bishops from Kerala to cater for their religious needs. Unfortunately, their interests are in instilling rules, regulations, cultures and values of their ancestral churches in Kerala to the foreign parishes and they are not being able to cater for the needs of the second generation. This will cause a catastrophic gap and the present-day churches when the first generation fades away. Then the future of these churches may have a big survival problem. However, the religious veracity among the Kerala settlers is worth of our appreciation because wherever they are placed as diaspora communities, their interest in staying together as a worshipping community is unique.

Many of the first-generation Christian diaspora parents as well as pastors feel that the second-generation young people do not feel the kind of attachment to their own congregations and are hesitant to go their parents’ churches. They like to have pastors who can deal with their current needs, communicate to them in their tone which make it necessary to have English speaking churches with a new set of pastors and worship style, to cater for their needs.

In summary, it is time for the Kerala diaspora community to rethink and establish new avenues/churches to keep the secondgeneration together as a useful and purposeful Kerala community, primarily by catering their needs to worship in an atmosphere with English speaking pastors, a new worship style suitable to their needs, even when following the same liturgical practices from Kerala. Migration of Kerala settlers are still on the go, either as IT professionals, students, or as group of people joining on family visas. The cycle of events repeats with their struggles to settle themselves into a new culture, climate, and values. We can only wish good luck to all of the aspiring immigrants and non-immigrant (temporary-residents/expatriates) diaspora communities in the US and elsewhere.

*Dr. John K. Thomas holds, B. Sc. Hons, MS and Ph D in Allied Health Sciences. He is a member of Tabor Mar Thoma Church, New York. He is currently serving as Tabor MTC church secretary, and diocesan assembly member of the Diocese of North America and Europe of the Mar Thoma Church.