I write this piece for the benefit of migrant parents and their children in understanding the realities of migration of families that take place more so in the current times than in the past. Migration affects emotional and social relationships and unintentionally creates new dynamics in social, economic and political spheres. This calls for greater sensitivity in human relations in the migrant’s societies and localities.
Migration is part of human history. Migrations have made great and significant changes in the course of human history. It is estimated that one out of every 35 persons worldwide is a migrant. Further it is estimated that 48 per cent of the migrants are women. Migration is a result of the operation of negative factors (push factors) in the areas of origin and positive factors (pull factors) at destinations. Migration affects every facet of life economic, social, demographic, political and even religious. Large scale migration has taken place from different parts of the world largely during post second world war period, and still the migration is an ongoing process with greater impacts. The main reason for the migration has mostly been the search for more comfortable life in terms of job opportunities, better living conditions, and better educational facilities. This migration happened to destinations both within the country and to foreign countries. There are also unfortunate migrations both into and out of countries due to war and social commotions although they are politically or socially compelled ones.
Migration is a deprivation. For some, migration is freedom from the struggles of the origins but for most it is a deprivation of the comforts of the origins. The compulsions associated with the migration leave great marks on the emotional attachments with the people and place on a permanent basis. The compulsions of migration cause anxieties, physical and mental stress in the course of adjusting to the new environment and conditions. The intensity of the compulsions for migration decides the ability and determination to withstand and adjust to the new situations.
Migration is a challenge. The migrant always faces the challenge from the new environment. The different geography, environment, climate, culture, people are all the different aspects of the challenge. The biggest challenge is the one relating to uncertainties, insecurity, fear of failure, and economic inadequacies. Human frailties are generally overcome by the migrant and face the challenges with the determination of do or die. There is a great sacrifice on the part of the migrant, especially in the initial stages of the migration as one has to forgo many pleasures of life to find resources to fight the challenges of life.
Migration is an opportunity. Along with the challenges migration provides many opportunities as well in the newfound land. The success of a migrant can be measured by the opportunities that have been utilized to enhance one’s capabilities, improve economic conditions, build up social network and also contribute to the society. Many use the opportunities to transform their own original traits and thus be able to adopt new value systems, and global outlook to bring about a new thought process.
Migration is a social transformation. Migration leads to developing new human networks leading to diverse interpersonal relationship dynamics creating a new social system. A new society gets evolved and developed. A social transformation takes place and a new society gets created. This transformation is felt within economic, religious, and political realms of the society. Migration leads to a new community life meshing with the old and the new. The old world in the migrant’s personality adjusts to the traits of the different world creating a self adjusted and newly brewed world. This new social life also brings about a new personality in the migrant which is capable of understanding the old and new and is able to look at social issues and world values with a new perception and openness. The migrant thus brings about a new social transformation.
Migrant’s children are a new society. It is interesting to note that the first generation migration leads to the formation of a new society through their second / third generation children. These children are beyond their first generation parents in all aspects. Unlike their parents the children don’t go through the pangs of migration but are ready to accept the new society in which they are grown. They don’t get affected by the forces which controlled their parents. They belong to a new thought process of a new society and a new world. Their value systems may get transformed and the parents should not get bewildered. The migrant’s children are in a better position to understand the old and the new worlds with a more balanced mind and approach. The migrant’s children are blessed with a better economic, social and emotional security and safeguards. This should enhance the chances of creating in them more balanced and capable personalities enabling them to achieve greater heights than their migrant parents.
The migrant’s mission is to create new and better world, accepting the challenges and utilizing the opportunities and pass on that mission to the new generation.
Dr. CT Abraham, PhD
Mountains in Plains 