The “new” Indian diaspora in Romania. Home and belonging SYNERGY volume 10, no. 2/2014 224 THE “NEW” INDIAN DIASPORA IN ROMANIA. HOME AND BELONGING Angelica MARINESCU 1 Abstract This research questions the definition of “home” and “belonging” for the members of the “new” Indian diaspora in Romania, based on a qualitative research study. The issues of “home” and “country” are central in the diaspora research, being connected to the feeling of ‘inclusion’ or ‘exclusion’ (Cohen, 1997). As Arjun Appadurai argues, the “delocalization” and multiplication of spaces where the individual places himself / herself is a feature of modernity (1994), transnational communities existing simultaneously in two cultural spaces (Portes, 1996: 74-76). Given that individuals are creating interpersonal relationships inside their social networks, in connection to their activities (see Marinescu, V. 2009), the research focused on questioning what are the professional, social and personal trajectories of Indians living in Romania? What are their strategies of inclusion, inside and outside the Indian community? The “communication” dimension is included in this research as well, considering that the relation between communication, localisation and identity is at the intersection of “imagined communities” (Anderson, 1983) and “imagined worlds” through the ethnoscapes (Appadurai, 1996). What are the communication and meeting spaces, from cricket clubs, restaurants, family bonding, to celebration of different religious festivals (like Ganesh Chaturti on Herăstrău Lake in Bucharest) to online groups dedicated to the Indian diaspora in Romania? Keywords: belonging, Indian diaspora, hybrid identity, communication, social integration. 1. Introduction The Indian diaspora has become more visible in Romania after 2007 and although India and Indian people are perceived as geographically and culturally distant and exotic, Romanians are more aware of the presence of these new “strangers” (Hobsbawm, 1992: 173). While there are various researches regarding the emigration flux out of Romania (as Romania continues to be a country of emigration, see Sandu, 2010; Michalon, Nedelcu, 2010: 5-28) little has been said about the immigrant people coming to Romania, especially about people coming from South Asia. 1 Angelica Marinescu, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest, angelica.marinescu@yahoo.ro.