This article is about people originating from India. For native ethnic groups of Mexico, also sometimes called "Indians", see Indigenous peoples of Mexico.
Ethnic group
Indian Mexicans indo-mexicanos
Indian dancers at the Feria de las Culturas Amigas in Mexico City
Total population
3 954 India-born residents (2014)[1] Unknown number of Mexicans of Indian descent
Indian Mexicans are Mexican citizens who are descendants of migrants from the nation of India. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, there are about 2,000 Indians living in Mexico as of March 2011.[2]
Overview
The first Indians arrived in Mexico during the colonial era. During this period, thousands of Asians arrived via the Manila galleons, some of them as slaves termed 'Chino' (Chinese, regardless of actual ethnicity). Notable among these slaves was Catarina de San Juan, a girl captured by Portuguese slave traders in Cochin.
In 1923, immigration of ethnic Indians was secretly prohibited.[3] The ban was kept confidential in order to avoid diplomatic problems with the British Empire. This ban, along with similar bans based on ethnicity, was eliminated by a 1947 law that prohibited racial discrimination.[3]
Most of the Indians in Mexico are recent arrivals in the country and almost all of them have settled in Mexico City.[4] Mexico has a non-discriminatory policy with regard to the grant of its citizenship. The spouse of a Mexican national would generally not face any problem in acquiring local citizenship. Although a few of the NRIs have married Mexicans, they have retained their Indian citizenship.
The Indians in this country are mainly businessmen or professionals. Many of them work with one or other international organization or a multinational corporation. There are also some academicians and scientists among them. They have helped to bring about greater mutual understanding between India and their host country. Some of the Indians work for "ISPAT Mexicana" which is part of the Laxmi Mittal group, well known in this region for having turned around a sinking steel company in Trinidad. The Indian presence in Mexico has been greatly appreciated as fifty other business ventures have invested around US$1.58 billion in the country around 1994 to 2000.
Indian culture in Mexico
The Indian community in Mexico has no divisive factions in it, although its constituents come from different parts of India. The main Indian community organisation is the Indian Women's Association of Mexico (IWAM)in Mexico City. It celebrates important festivals and organises cultural programmes. A Sai Baba temple, a Vaishnav temple, and a Gurudwara have also been constructed by Sangam Organisation in Mexico City.
^ abFitzGerald, David Scott; Cook-Martín, David (2014). Culling the Masses. Harvard University Press. p. 220. ISBN0674729048. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
