Background
Preferred Citation
Arrangement
Scope and Contents
Conditions Governing Use
Conditions Governing Access
Processing Information
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: South Asian Organizations in North America Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2004.05.01
Physical Description:
1 Box
(1.25 linear ft.)
Date (inclusive): 1967-2004
Abstract: The South Asian Organizations in North America Collection documents South Asian political and cultural organizations in North
America and abroad from 1967-2004.
Background
The nations of South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, have been a source of immigrant labor to the
United States since the eighteenth century. While all people of Asian origin were summarily banned from immigrating to the
United States from 1913-1946, and were limited by per-country quotas for several years more, the Immigration and Naturalization
Service Act of 1965 transformed the circumstances of American immigration for South Asians. This new act based immigration
decisions on the professional experience and education of individuals regardless of national origin, resulting in a flood
of South Asian, particularly Indian immigrants in the late 1970s and during the technology boom of 1995-2000. South Asian
immigrants, also referred to colloquially as desis, meaning "countrymen," often maintain close ties to their countries of
origin and have established tightly knit immigrant communities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. These
communities continue to follow the social and political happenings in their homelands, and numerous organizations, foundations,
and networks have been founded to maintain these ties.
When the colony of India gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, it was partitioned into two countries: the
Republic of India and Pakistan. Shortly after independence, rioting broke out between the two nations based on religious and
cultural conflicts between Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims, resulting in thousands of deaths and the eventual migration of millions
across the newly drawn borders. In the years to come, several military conflicts would take place between the two nations,
including Pakistan's invasion of Kashmir in 1965, and India's assistance to the Bangladeshi territory during its fight for
independence in 1971. Based on the British parliamentary system, the new Indian government was led by a Prime Minister, the
leader of the party with the majority of members in Parliament. Although this system was based upon the popular vote, many
Indians at home and abroad were unhappy with the new government's policies and actions. There were numerous allegations of
human rights violations and detainment of political prisoners, especially during the State of Emergency declared by the once
popular Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Amid allegations of corruption and numerous protests demanding her resignation,
Gandhi declared a State of Emergency, suspending civil rights and granting the government extensive powers. These conflicts,
coupled with problems of poverty, labor struggles, and overpopulation, resulted in unrest from South Asians worldwide. The
community and student organizations they founded released newsletters, held discussions, and organized protests to bring attention
to the problems of their countries both within the immigrant community and to the international public.
Preferred Citation
South Asian Orgnaizations in North America Collection, MSS-2004-05-01, San Jose State University Library, Special Collections
& Archives.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series: I. South Asian Organizations, 1971-2004 (bulk 1971-1977); and II. South Asian
Politics, 1967-1999.
Scope and Contents
The South Asian Collection documents South Asian political and cultural organizations in North America and abroad, particularly
in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1967-2004. The collection consists of pamphlets, press releases, and open letters that
related to the cultural and political activities of several South Asian organizations. There is a pre-dominant focus on India
and general South Asia.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions
also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Processing Information
Encoded by Sjuli Senn van Basel Wagemans. Revised by Veronica Cabrera. Collection reprocessed and finding aid revised by Rita
Wang in 2017.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
South Asia -- Politics and government
India -- History -- 20th century
Associations, institutions, etc. -- South Asia