Now available from Ashgate Publishing…
South Asian Christian Diaspora
Invisible Diaspora in Europe and North America
Edited by Knut A. Jacobsen, University of Bergen, Norway and
Selva J. Raj, formerly Albion College, USA
‘The need for this book on South Asian Christians in the diaspora is long overdue. This is a very valuable
source of information for anyone who wishes to draw some general conclusions about Indian Christians in
the diaspora.’ – Paul Younger, McMaster University, Canada
‘The editors have produced a landmark study on a neglected but important subject. A new trend has been
set on the basis of impressive scholarship that will create deeper understanding of social, religious and
cultural diasporic identity.’ – Julius Lipner, University of Cambridge, UK
The South Asian Christian diaspora is largely invisible in the literature
Christians in Germany, Urmila Goel; Seeking the blessing of the
about religion and migration. This is the first comprehensive study
consolatrix afflictorum: the annual pilgrimage of Sri Lankan Tamils to
of South Asian Christians living in Europe and North America,
the Madonna in Kevelaer (Germany), Brigitte Luchesi; Perpetuating
presenting the main features of these diasporas, their community
religious and social concepts in the extended motherland: Tamil
histories and their religious practices. The authors present a great
Christians in Berne (Switzerland), Damaris Lüthi; Creating Sri Lankan
variety of Christian traditions.The South Asian Christian diaspora is
Tamil Catholic space in the South Asian diaspora in Norway, Knut
pluralistic both in terms of religious adherence, cultural tradition and
A. Jacobsen; Goans and Damanians in Portugal: an overview of a
geographical areas of origin. This book gives justice to this pluralism
singular diaspora, Helena Maria Mauricio C. Sant’ana; Surinamese
and presents a multiplicity of cultures and traditions typical of the
East Indian Christians in the Netherlands, Freek L. Bakker. Part 2
South Asian Christian diaspora. Issues such as the institutionalization
North America: The culture of Asian Indian Catholicism in North
of the religious traditions in new countries, identity, the paradox
America, Elizabeth Cameron Galbraith; New land, new challenges:
ofbelonging both to a minority immigrant group and a majority
the role of religion in the acculturation of Syro-Malabar Catholics
religion, the social functions of rituals, attitudes to language,
in Chicago, Selva J. Raj; Indian Christians and marriage patterns,
generational transfer, and marriage and family life, are all discussed.
Farha Terniker; Doing friendship, making contacts, and building
trust: Christian Indian responses to religious diversity, Nori Henk;
From Hinduism to Christianity, from India to New York: bondage
Contents: Preface; Introduction: making an invisible diaspora
and exodus experiences in the lives of Indian Dalit Christians in the
visible, Knut A. Jacobsen and Selva J. Raj; Part 1 Europe: South Asian
diaspora, Rachel Fell McDermott; Conclusion: South Asian Christians
Christians in the UK, Eleanor Nesbitt; Religion as an arena for the
in the West, Raymond Brady Williams; Index.
expression of identity. Roman Catholic Pondicherrians in France,
Brigitte Sébastia; The 70th anniversary of ‘John Matthew’: on ‘Indian
Includes 14 b&w illustrations
Sample pages for published titles are available to view online at: www.ashgate.com
To order, please visit: www.ashgate.com
All online orders receive a discount
Alternatively, contact our distributor:
Bookpoint Ltd, Ashgate Publishing Direct Sales,
130 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4SB, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1235 827730 Fax: +44 (0)1235 400454
Email: ashgate@bookpoint.co.uk
December 2008
284 pages
Hardback
978-0-7546-6261-7
£55.00
This Title is also available
as an EBook,
ISBN 978-0-7546-9254-6