Assimilation, Heterolocalism and Ethnic Capital: The Case of an Immigrant Indian Community in America

Abstract

The article examines the assimilation dynamics and functioning of ethnic organisations of a small immigrant Bengali community in the Kansas City, USA. Indian Bengalis in Overland Park (a suburban neighbourhood) formed a closely knit group and bonding social capital was sustained through activities of ethnic associations, consumption of ethnic amenities, and through weekend parties/get-togethers. Such ethnic bonding and meagre ethnic/racial diversity in the city (compared to the larger cities of the USA) are found to be contributing to slow and limited assimilation of Bengalis to the American society. These findings challenge the existing erudition that assimilation increases with improvement in socio-economic standing and suburbanisation of immigrants. Further, the article finds that assimilation there is segmental and ethnic associations not only provide a comfort zone to the immigrants in a culturally and racially different country but also play a prominent role in preserving the ethnic identity of its members.