Migration in Perspectives : Towards Theology of Migration from the Margins

Migration has become an inconceivable complex phenomenon in our times today. It has become an issue of great concern both globally and locally as there is rising tension among the nations, regions and communities due to surge in migrant population caused by various pathetic and lucrative push and pull factors. This book makes a concerted effort to read the phenomenon of migration and address the challenges of it in multi-dimensional perspectives, especially from the margins.

The book answers the pertinent question such as, "Is migration in itself an issue?"; "Is it mere demographic or regional concern?"; "Is it mere economic and political concern or is it cultural and religious concern too?"; "Is it not the issue of humanity, human identity, dignity and human rights?"; And so, "is it not ultimately a theological concern?". While answering such questions, the book explores and highlight both the positive dimensions as well as the challenges. The book as an academic endeavour certainly will provide a conceptual tools and epistemological resource to the wider academic world about the huge challenge of theological reflection ahead, and the practical action awaited from the policy makers, civil society and the Church as a whole.

Rev. Dr. Songram Basumatary, Editor of the book, is an ordained minister of the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church (NELC), who hails from Assam, India. Currently, he is the Professor and Head of the Department of Theology & Ethics at Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute, Chennai. He also serves as the Dean of the Post Graduate Studies, and the Convenor of the Gurukul Summer Institute. He has written a wide varieties of articles which are published in reputed Indian journals and edited books. He is the author of the book - `Ethnicity and Tribal Theology: Problem and Prospect for Peaceful Co-existence in North East India' (2014) published by Peter Lang; and the editor of the book - `Transforming Reformation: Reformation in Perspectives' (2017) published by CWI.

I am very much delighted to write few lines of introductory words about this volume of Gurukul Publication on a pertinent issue the world is facing today.

One of the serious issues the globalized world, society and people encountering today is the problem of migration. The landless farmers of Indian villages, mostly belonging to Dalit, Tribal and Adivasi communities who are deprived of all the basic rights in the society, are moving to metropolitan cities for livelihood and security in life. Migration of semi-skilled and unskilled people are growing at an alarmingly fast rate in the metropolitan cities. They are mostly absorbed as labour force in unorganised sectors with heavy workload, tremendous competition, poor pay, worst sanitation and insecurity, especially the women and children who undergo various kinds of misuse, abuse and physical violence.

In fact, the Constitution of India under Article 19 guarantees the fundamental rights to the citizen. The fundamental right includes the right to every citizen to travel, reside and carry out any trade, profession or business in any part of the country. However, in reality it is all opposite. The migrants are forced to work for long hours and live in a very pathetic conditions even without knowing what all constitutional rights they have. Even it is sad enough, no one seems worried about these poor migrants and their human rights.

Globally and locally, migration has become an inconceivable complex phenomenon in our times today. The surge of migration in general, and the inflow of refugees and migrant workers from one place to the other in particular, are increasing in alarming proportion. There are varieties of migration such as trans-nation, trans- state and trans-region taking place due to various factors. Some of the key factors of migration are political unrest, economic insecurity, ethnic tension, religious persecution and natural calamities. It is estimated that over three percent of the global population are migrants today. And it is predictable that the political and demographic forces, globalization and environmental degradation, economic distress and unemployment, ethnic and socio-religious tensions will lead to increase the population of migrants in drastic manner in the coming days. It is realised in our times that such trend of migration has affected each and every country of the globe, each and every states of those countries, each and every communities of every region, and every individuals of all communities.

If we look at locally too, there are migration of every kinds everywhere. In India in particular, the village to city or rural to urban migration is alarmingly increasing due to various push and pull factors like education, job opportunities, livelihood, comfort and security of life etc. Many of the migrants are forced to move out from their respective places and regions predominantly by socio economic push factors in India.

Since migration takes place predominately due to economic factors, there are many tensions that emerges between the migrants and the natives of the host nation or region. Perhaps, there is always perceived mutual threats between the two. While the natives or claimed as "people of the land" attempt to use political power to overcome their fears of economic defeat and cultural subordination to the migrants, if they are better educated, more highly skilled and more enterprising: the migrants claim for equal access to opportunities, equal treatment at per with the natives and protection by the state. In responding such issues, the state often take biased position and approach due to which the migrants mostly become susceptible to various injustices, discriminations and even human rights violations.

**Contents and Sample Pages**