Which country will not boast
of its pervasive Diaspora around the world? Strong bonds with Diaspora always
strengthen a nation’s ability to exert diplomatic pressure over rest of the
world, just as Israel did it beautifully, by getting hold of Jewish votes in
United States.
Yes, there is only one nation
on the Earth which denies its allegiance with people of its own origin- India.
India hasn't been as reluctant in recognizing
Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Jain, and Buddhists of Indian origin living
all across the world, as it has been for acknowledging more than 80 thousand
Indian Jews living in Israel since decades.
India not only denied establishing
diplomatic relations with Jewish state, but cut off allegiance with thousands
of Indian Jews, who migrated there during 1950s-60s, after Israel opened its
citizenship (Aliyah) to all Jews around the world.
Millions of Jews migrated from
Europe, North and South America, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq and India to land of
three religions as it opened its border for them wholeheartedly after
independence in 1948.
Most of Indian Jews lived in Cochin
and Mumbai for more than thousand years since there exodus began 2000 years ago
first by Christian crusaders, then Islam.
Wherever they fled for asylum
around the globe, curse of anti-Semitism didn't stop them following for
millennia, and the place where Jews found actual solace, where they never faced
a single instant of anti-Semitism till to date is none other than India.
Major groups of Indian Jews,
which comes under category of Sephadi Jews, include Cochin Jews, Bene Israel, Jews
of Goa and Baghdadi Jews.
Cochin Jews (Spanish, Portuguese, Paradesi and British Jews) settled in Kerala as merchants and traders, whereas
Chennai Jews arrived at Madras during 16th century following their
expulsion from Liberia.
Jews of Goa include Portuguese Jews who fled
to Portuguese Goa after the commencement of the Inquisition in Portugal.
The Jews arrived from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan around
250 years ago settled in Surat, were called Baghdadi Jews.
Meanwhile, Bene
Israel lived in Karachi, Sindh and Punjab region of undivided India.
Many of them moved to Mumbai following partition, while others to Israel after
1948.
After 1948, Indian Jews, settled
in different parts of Israel, flourished and assimilate with migrants of other
nationalities. Most of them settled in Katamon in Jerusalem, Beersheba, Ramla,
Dimona, and Yeruham.
Indian food, language, art,
and culture, despite of huge cultural amalgamation, did find recognition in the
land of migrants.
It has been India's too much
infatuation for Arab countries and Indian Muslims, that no Indian
administration, politician or social group ever tried to connect or communicate
with Jews with Indian blood.
Indian National Congress,
known as hardcore pro-Arab/Muslim Party, deliberately didn't extend any relations
with Jewish country to safeguard their innate vote bank, whereas some efforts
had been initiated by Hindu Nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party between 1998 and
2003 under Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh, tried to further its affection for Israel and Jews since
Israel’s Independence, but could not make it as political agenda, due its insignificance in Indian scenario.
Present government of
Bhartiya Janata Party, backed by Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
as its ideological backbone, again in a mood to romance Hindu-Jewish unity, as
they there common enemy.
With Modi's visit to Jewish
state (First by an Indian Prime Minister) on 4th and 5th
July, Indian Jews in Israel and India hopes for reviving their historic connection
with their country of origin.
On 5th July, Modi is
going to address more than 10,000 Indian Jews in Tel Aviv, to trigger a spark a
new Indo-Israel and Hindu-Jews relations.
