Guide to the South Asian Organizations in North America Collection MSS.2004.05.01
Processed and encoded by Sjuli Senn van Basel Wagemans. Revised by Veronica Cabrera. Collection reprocessed and finding aid
revised by Rita Wang in 2017.
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
2008
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
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
Series I. South Asian Organizations
1971-2004
Scope and Contents
This series contains documents on information and events related to various North American organizations focused on South
Asian countries including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by organization name.
Box 1, Folder 1
AIDS, Miscellaneous Orgs
1991-1992
Box 1, Folder 3
Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia
1994-2002
Box 1, Folder 4
Amnesty International
1976-1995
Box 1, Folder 5
ANDOLAN: Organizing South Asian Workers
2000
Box 1, Folder 6
ASHA for Education
1991-1992
Box 1, Folder 7
Bangladeshi, Miscellaneous Orgs
1977-1988
Box 1, Folder 8
Berkeley (UC), Miscellaneous Student Organizations
1975-1995
Box 1, Folder 9
BJP Government Watch
1998
Box 1, Folder 10
Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
2000
Box 1, Folder 11
Center for South Asia (University of Wisconsin)
1994
Box 1, Folder 12
Center for South Asian Studies (UC Berkeley)
1975-2001
Box 1, Folder 13
CERAS: South Asia Research and Resource Center
1994-1999
Box 1, Folder 14
Coalition Against Communalism (CAC)
1993-1995
Box 1, Folder 16
Committee Against Political Repression in India (CAPRI)
1977
Box 1, Folder 17
Committee of Concerned Indian Students (Berkeley)
1976-1977
Box 1, Folder 18
Committee for Freedom in India
1976
Box 1, Folder 19
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
2002
Box 1, Folder 20
Concerned South Asians Coalition
1993-1996
Box 1, Folder 21
Conferences, Miscellaneous
1977-1996
Box 1, Folder 22
Domestic Violence, Miscellaneous Orgs
1988-1994
Box 1, Folder 23
Forum of Indian Leftists (FOIL)
1999-2001
Box 1, Folder 24
Funds and Trusts, Miscellaneous
1992-2000
Box 1, Folder 25
Gadar Heritage Foundation
2003
Box 1, Folder 26
Gadar Memorial Center
1992-2000
Box 1, Folder 27
Group of Concerned South Asians (GOCSA)
1976
Box 1, Folder 28
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS)
1994
Box 1, Folder 29
Hindustani Ghadar Party: Org of Indian Marxist-Leninists Abroad
1971-1980
Box 1, Folder 31
India Awareness Group
2002
Box 1, Folder 32
India Development Service
1977-1994
Box 1, Folder 34
India Literacy Project
1992-1996
Box 1, Folder 35
India Progressive Action Group
1991-1993
Box 1, Folder 36
Indian People's Association in North America (IPANA)
1976-1990
Box 1, Folder 37
IPANA: New India Bulletin
1976
Box 1, Folder 38
IPANA: India Now
1978-1982
Box 1, Folder 40
Indian Progressive Study Group, Association of ((A)IPSG)
1976-1999
Box 1, Folder 41
Indian Students Association (UC Berkeley)
1971-1984
Box 1, Folder 42
Indian Students Association: Publications: The Bridge, India Student
1971-1976
Box 1, Folder 43
Indian Worker's Movement
1976-1977
Box 1, Folder 44
Indians for Collective Action
1991-1993
Box 1, Folder 45
Indians for Democracy
1976-1977
Box 1, Folder 46
Indians for Democracy National Convention
1975-1977
Box 1, Folder 47
Indians for a New Democracy in India Association (INDIA)
1976
Box 1, Folder 48
Indo-American Political Foundation (IAPF)
2002
Box 1, Folder 49
International South Asia Forum (INSAF)
1999-2002
Box 1, Folder 51
Kashmiri Overseas Association
1992
Box 1, Folder 52
Movement in India for Nuclear Disarmament
1999
Box 1, Folder 53
Narmada Bachao Andolan
1994-1996
Box 1, Folder 54
New India Coalition
1976-1977
Box 1, Folder 55
Non-Resident Indians for Secularism & Democracy (NRISAD)
1992-2001
Box 1, Folder 56
Non-South Asian Orgs, Miscellaneous
1976-2002
Box 1, Folder 57
Pakistan-India Friendship Society
1990-2002
Box 1, Folder 58
RACHANA: An Experiment in Rural Development
1976-1978
Box 1, Folder 60
SAHARA: South Asian Helpline and Referral agency
1992
Box 1, Folder 61
SAMAR: South Asian Magazine for Action & Reflection
1992
Box 1, Folder 63
Scientific Workers' Forum: West Bengal
1998
Box 1, Folder 64
Sikh Organizations, Miscellaneous
1976-1991
Box 1, Folder 65
South Asia Citizens Wire
1998
Box 1, Folder 66
South Asia People's Organization (SAPO)
1977-1978
Box 1, Folder 68
South Asian Center of Toronto
1976
Box 1, Folder 69
South Asian Resource Center
1980
Box 1, Folder 70
South Asians for Collective Action (SACA)
1990-2004
Box 1, Folder 71
SACA Newsletter
1991-1996
Box 1, Folder 72
Southern California Bengali Cultural Association
1975
Box 1, Folder 73
Student Orgs, Miscellaneous
Box 1, Folder 75
TOUCH: The Organization for Universal Communal Harmony
1993
Box 1, Folder 76
Trikone: Lesbian and Gay South Asians
Box 1, Folder 77
Unknown Organizations, Miscellaneous
1976-2003
Box 1, Folder 78
Women's Organizations, Miscellaneous
1993
Series II. South Asian Politics
1967-1999
Scope and Contents
This series contains documents, flyers, articles, and newspaper clippings from 1967-1999 pertaining to South Asian politics,
namely the Bangladesh War of Independence, famine in India, FREA, and the 1970's state of emergency in India.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 1, Folder 79
Bangladesh War of Independence
1971-1972
Box 1, Folder 80
Indian Politics
1967-1999
