Paper short abstract:

The paper will deal with the history and circumstances under which Indians migrated to Germany from the 1950s onwards. The focus will be on their experiences in communicating with the majority community for the process of their settling down while keeping their links with the 'origin country' alive.

Paper long abstract:

From the mid-1950s onwards Indians came on an individual basis for work, training and higher education to Germany. Though in their majority intending to return after some years, they stayed on and formed the "first generation". At the beginning of the 21st century there are roughly 40000 Indian citizen and equally 40000 citizen of Indian origin living in Germany as "second" and "third generations".

The paper in the beginning will deal with the formal and informal circumstances in India and Germany under which Indians opted for migrating to Germany during the second half of the 20th century (development of a German immigration policy, India's attitude towards their diaporic communities, individual considerations of Indians for migrating and for staying on in the 'diaspora').

The major part will review the available literature (personal accounts, reminiscences etc.) concerning the attitude of the majority community, the Germans, towards Indian migrants. It will reflect their individual experiences made in their communication with the various layers of the local society. I will argue that this is one of the most decisive factors influencing the process of their "settling down", e.g. to which extent Germany in their understanding has become their own country. This contradictory process addressing Germans and Indians alike has always India as a reference point.The paper therefore finally tries to reflect on the crucial role, the link with the 'origin country' continues to play in the mind -set and the real and imagined activities and considerations of 'settled strangers'.