DIASPORIC ONLINE COMMUNITIES(OF KERALITES)

Muhammed SabithII MA

Dept. of Mass communication

Common Characteristics

Are they really nostalgic/thinking of home..?

Discussions.. Politics.. Who has time..?

Online Communities Of Gulf Keralites

Kerala people in Dubai (32 likes))

Sharjah Malayalee Samajam

Members want to know new people They use it for advertising for their company

-Of Australian, European and

N. American Keralites Hamilton Malayalee Samajam

(Australia) (35 members)

Though much discussion is not found in this group also, people who seem very casual appear to be finding a kind of unique enthusiasm with the group. Many ‘shares’ “lol this is the coolest group ever”.

-Of Australian, European and N. American Keralites

Toronto Malayalee Samajam

(N. America) (130 likes)

It was found many contents posted in the wall of this page are of business and job. Home-land related discussions, here also, seems lacking

Some other posts like literary posts can also be rarely seen.

-Of Asian, African and Other Keralites

Kerala Samajam Botswana (Africa) (54 likes)-

No discussion found in this relatively new Community page

Its mainly appears meant to spread info. About public functions and gatherings.

It also seems to be used to convey among the members the information like special achievements of member(s).

-Of Asian, African and Other Keralites

Malayalees of South Africa: (Africa) (253 members) No discussion, being used to find new people

Kerala Samajam Ethiopia (Africa) (34)It is also a community members of which are not

interested in any kind of lasting discussions or serious sharing

ConclusionOverseas Keralites create Online

communities mainly to get in touch, not to get into any ‘serious’ discussions as many local Malayalees assume.

It is so partly because of the divergence of the members. E.g.: a large section of the Gulf Keralites do not have education beyond primary level. They are unaware of virtual public spheres though they have ‘account’ in it.

Also, many of them are not living in conditions in which they have free and unrestricted access to the net.

മലയാ�ളി� (Malayalee) Pondicherry University

Not Diasporic, still non-resident Around 200 members More effective because of its nature

-homogenous and easy to get connected physically.

Facilitate physical contacts. As of educated youth, discussion on

various topics could be seen –on home politics, student activism, art and literature.

Thank you…

Questions.?