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Paper short abstract:

My objectives in this paper, are to understand the trials and tribulations of the Siddi community in Haliyal. Based on my field research, conducted in two short spells in December 2016 and January 2017 in Haliyal, as well through previous established written works I seek to uncover what it means to be Siddi.

Paper long abstract:

There are about 250,000 Afro-Indians i.e Indians of African origin, in India, settled in the state of Gujarat bordering Pakistan, and in the states of Andhra Pradesh in south central India, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala in the south, and the former Portuguese territories of Daman, Diu and Goa. The Afro-Indians are generally known as Sidi/Siddi/Sidhi or Habshi/Habsi. One way or the other, the Siddis are represented as distant, the epitome of alterity, both from a geographic and from a social and religious perspective. Since the Siddi community is spread over large parts of southern India with each community possessing distinct characteristics shaped by the region in which they have been living, I chose to focus my study on the Haliyal district of Karnataka. My objectives in this paper based on my field research, conducted in two short spells in December 2016 and January 2017, as well through previous established written works is to understand what it means to be Siddi i.e if it constitutes a social stigma, the question of education for the Siddis, the work scenario and finally briefly analyse how religion is practiced among the Siddi Christians and the influence of religion on their lives.

Issues of citizenship and national belonging, social and political agency will inevitably impose themselves to my analysis.