This interdisciplinary volume examines the multifaceted dynamics of the Punjabi diaspora, moving beyond conventional frameworks to explore the diverse cultural, linguistic, religious, and regional identities of Punjabis across the globe. The book addresses contemporary issues affecting Punjab and its diaspora, including migration patterns, identity formation, gender dynamics, economic contributions, political participation, and cultural representation from colonial migration to present-day transnationalism. Drawing on primary research, interviews, and case studies across four thematic sections, the collection features contributions from scholars in Canada, the UK, France, and Europe, offering comparative perspectives on varied Punjabi diasporic experiences in different geopolitical contexts. The volume explores how diaspora communities maintain homeland connections while examining economic impact through remittances, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. Some of the key themes explored include preservation and transformation of cultural practices, hybrid identities, media representations, political transnational networks, and issues of diversity, marginality, and inclusion within diasporic communities.

This volume serves as essential reading for researchers and students in migration studies, diaspora studies, South Asian studies, sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, literature, sociology, political science, international studies, global studies, gender studies, media studies, and interdisciplinary studies.

Atinder Pal Kaur is Assistant Professor in sociology in the Department of Economics and Sociology at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. She did her PhD in sociology in Panjab University Chandigarh. She has published papers on Punjabi migration and left-behind families in Scopus-indexed journals. In addition, she has presented her work on Punjabi migration, remittance relations, and Covid impact on migrant families at international and national conferences.

Sajaudeen Nijamodeen Chapparban is Assistant Professor of diaspora studies at the Central University of Gujarat, India. He was also Visiting Fellow at the University of Illinois; Brandeis University; University of Religions and Denominations, Iran; the University of Connecticut; the University of Wyoming; and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem. His research focuses on diaspora, migration, refugees, culture, identity, languages, and literature of the diaspora. His recent publications include Literature of Girmitya: History, Culture, and Identity (2023), coedited with Neha Singh, and a research article, “Transnational Subalternity: A Sub Theory within Subaltern Studies and the Post Migration Experience” (2024).

S. Irudaya Rajan is Chair of the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD), Kerala, India, and Chair of the KNOMAD (the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development) thematic working group on internal migration and urbanisation, World Bank. He is one of the expert committee members to advise the Government of Kerala on Covid-19. Before this, he was Professor at the Centre for Development Studies. Dr Rajan is Founding Editor in Chief of Migration and Development (Sage) and the editor of two Routledge series – India Migration Report and South Asia Migration Report. He was also awarded the Visiting Fellowship (2019) by the British Academy in association with Northumbria University and the Scholars of Excellence Award (2022) by the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. He has also been appointed as Co-chairperson of the Working Group on NORKA (2017–2022) for the State Planning Board, Kerala. He is currently leading the Kerala Migration Survey 2023, funded by the Government of Kerala.