Hinduism in the diaspora

Abstract

For Indian immigrants in foreign lands, religion came to be identified with ethnicity and identity. Hinduisms avatars in the diaspora include both the priestly as well as folk varieties, and also, hybrid, syncretic forms that developed in some parts of the world such as the Caribbean. Though sectarianisms have been transplanted too, non-sectarian, universalisée strains, whose antecedents can be traced back to social reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Vivekananda and Ramakrishna, have been gaining ground. Ironically, though, by linking Indian community identity with Hindusim, other religious groups like Muslims have come to be alienated.