Odia Diaspora

This interdisciplinary volume examines the transnational Odia-speaking community from the Indian state of Odisha, exploring their rich cultural heritage, identity formation, and global presence across multiple disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. As the first comprehensive academic treatment dedicated to the Odia diaspora, this edited collection addresses a significant gap in South Asian diaspora scholarship. The book provides interdisciplinary perspectives on Odia diaspora history, culture, literature, politics, and contemporary issues through contributions from leading scholars in India and internationally. Key themes include historical migration patterns from ancient maritime traditions to contemporary economic migration, cultural continuity and change in transnational contexts, gender dynamics and women's experiences, digital diasporas and transnational encounters, economic contributions and remittances, and the role of festivals and cultural practices in maintaining community identity. The volume addresses the community's significant yet understudied presence in countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and the UAE.
This essential resource serves researchers, postgraduate students, and academics in diaspora studies, South Asian studies, cultural anthropology, migration studies, sociology, area studies, history, media studies, colonial history, labor studies, postcolonial studies, gender studies, and interdisciplinary studies.

Madhulika Sahoo is Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology, Maa Manikeshwari University, India, and Director of Student Welfare and Placement. Her research focuses on forced migration, gender and health, tribal development, and cultural anthropology. She holds an MA in Refugee Studies from the University of East London and has received multiple awards including the Wenner-Gren fellowship and best researcher-publication award 2021.

Sajaudeen Chapparban is Assistant Professor at the Centre for Diaspora Studies, Central University of Gujarat, India, and Visiting Fellow at the University of Religion and Denomination, Iran. His research interests include international migration, diaspora studies, South Asian diaspora, citizenship, nationalism, and transnationalism. He has presented research internationally and received various fellowships including the Maulana Azad National Fellowship and Schusterman Center's Summer Institute fellowship.

Ajaya K. Sahoo is Head of the Centre for the Study of Indian Diaspora, University of Hyderabad, India. His research focuses on international migration, South Asian diaspora, transnationalism, and religion. He is the founder and editor of the journal South Asian Diaspora and has co-edited multiple Routledge Handbooks on diaspora and migration studies including the Routledge Handbook of the Indian Diaspora and Routledge Handbook of South Asian Migrations.