Advances in Language and Literary Studies - Vol. 8 No. 1 - February 2017 - Flourishing Creativity & Literacy - The Different Types of Ethnic Affiliation in M. G. Vassanji's No New Land

Oct 15, 2026

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Establishing a sense of affiliation to ethnicity is addressed as a highly controversial issue for displaced people far from their motherland. The study links British colonisation in the nineteenth century to the forced movement of Indian workers from India to East Africa, followed by deportation after independence as part of decolonization. Using M. G. Vassanji’s novel No New Land, it analyzes migrants’ affiliation experiences and examines how South Asians in Canada maintain ethnic values, outlining three types of affiliation and their documentation within community ethnic records.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

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Abstract

Keywords

1. Introduction

Advances in Language and Literary Studies ISSN: 2203-4714 Vol. 8 No. 1; February 2017 Australian International Academic Centre, Australia | | | | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | Flourishing Creativity & Literacy | | | The Different Types of Ethnic Affiliation in M. G. Vassanji's No NewLand Hussein Ali Abbas Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia [E-mail: h_abbas1957@yahoo.com](E-mail: h_abbas1957@yahoo.com) Manimangai Mani (Corresponding author) Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia [E-mail: manimangai@upm.edu.my](E-mail: manimangai@upm.edu.my) Wan Roselezam Wan Yahya Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia E-mail: [roselelezam@upm.edu.my](roselelezam@upm.edu.my) Hardev Kaur Jujar Singh Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia [E-mail: jshardev@yahoo.com](E-mail: jshardev@yahoo.com) Doi:10 .7575/aiac.alls.v. 8n. 1p.60 URL: [http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.8n.1p.60](http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.8n.1p.60) Received: 14/09/2016 Accepted: 20/12/2016 Abstract Establishing a sense of affiliation to ethnicity is one of the most controversial issues for people who are displaced in countries that are far away from their motherland. The colonisation of the British over Asia and Africa in the nineteenth century resulted in the mass movement of Indian workers from India to Africa. These workers were brought in to build railways that connected the British colonies in East Africa namely Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. While the arrival of the Indian workers is considered as a kind of colonial practice, but their deportation in the post-independence years is seen as a part of decolonization. These Indians were forced to leave Africa as they were blamed for being non supportive of the Africans who were then engaged in armed struggles against the British colonialists. This study is based on the lives of these deported Indians as depicted in the novel titled No New Land by M. G. Vassanji. M.G. Vassanji is a Canadian novelist whose family was also deported from Dar Esslaam, Tanzania. He also describes how the Indian Shamses were strict in affiliating with the different social and cultural background they found in their new home, Canada. This research examines the theme of affiliation and the experiences of these migrants. This study will show that South Asians in Canada are strict in their affiliation to their ethnic values. Secondly, it will expose the three types of affiliation and finally show how the author deals with affiliation as a part of the community’s ethnic record that must be documented. Keywords: sense of affiliation, types of affiliation, colonization, displacement, discrimination, enclave, Indian Shamsi “After all, we’ve brought India with us” M.G. Vassanji 1. Introduction Canada has a unique story in terms of geography and history. Geographically, this country is situated in the northern part of North America. It extends from North Pacific Ocean to the west and North Atlantic to the east. It is located between the Arctic Ocean to the north and USA to the south. The distance between the eastern and western parts in Canada is equal to the distance from London to Bombay. It is the world’s second largest country after Russia. Historically, Canada is a small nation that is composed of Europeans who migrated there after the discovery of North America in the late 15th century. Besides these white people, Canada is also inhabited by Metis, Inuits, and several Native American groups. Before the coming of Europeans, these groups of people enjoyed living their own cultures and speaking their own languages. Things continued so until 1670 when the European “explorers” began to arrive. The Europeans, English and French in specific, have changed Canada a lot; they confiscated the land and imposed the European languages and culture on all people. In 1776, Canada was declared as a British colony with a province for French-speaking catholic Europeans called Quebec. The Canadians have chos

FAQs

Why is ethnic affiliation described as controversial for displaced people?

The abstract explains that building a sense of ethnic affiliation becomes controversial for people living far from their motherland, especially when displacement results from historical colonial movements.

How does the study connect British colonisation to the Indian workers’ migration?

It states that British colonisation in Asia and Africa during the nineteenth century caused mass movement of Indian workers from India to East Africa to build railways in places such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

What does the research analyze in Vassanji’s No New Land?

It examines themes of affiliation and migrant experiences, presenting three types of affiliation and how the author treats affiliation as part of the community’s ethnic record that should be documented.

Oct 15, 2026

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