Diaspora Well-Being and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Some Reflections on Public Discourses on Impacts in the USA and UK

It is generally acknowledged that the 30 million strong, Indian diaspora, although heterogeneous and diverse, is relatively wealthy, dynamic and generally thriving, more so in countries that are highly developed. Much evidence exists to support this general assertion. Indeed, the dream of life of luxury living in rich countries such as the USA and UK acts as a powerful magnet for potential migrants from India. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated both strengths and weaknesses of these diasporas, bringing to the fore some interesting characteristics. More significantly the pandemic has exposed health vulnerabilities of the community and brought out the extent of its ill-being, leading to a disproportionate number of deaths. The main objective of this chapter is to provide an overview of Indian diaspora experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will focus specifically on comparative experiences of the Indian diaspora in the USA and UK, bearing in mind that the USA is the hardest hit country globally in terms of deaths, with UK at number two and by far the worst affected in Europe. These comparative experiences bring out, on the one hand, the degree of health inequalities and economic vulnerabilities of these communities and on the other, the significant contribution these communities have made or are making in mitigating the effects of the pandemic. These varied experiences provide some important insights into socio-economic diversities of USA and UK Indian diasporas.