Migrant -

Migrant communities came to India as merchants, traders, religious practitioners, rulers, and even as slaves. The largest single movement of population to India took place at the time of Partition in 1947 which was due to religion compunctions. Since 1947 approximately 35 to 40 million people have crossed borders between India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. Other examples of migration are the Bhotias, a name given to several groups of people inhabiting the Himalayan ranges. They migrated from Tibet and have settled in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, West Bengal and Sikkim. The Banjaras are said to be descendants of the Roma gypsies of Europe, who migrated to India through the rugged mountains of Afghanistan and finally settled down in Rajasthan. Again, the Siddis are believed to be of African origins who were brought to India by the Portuguese towards the end of the seventeenth century. At present, they are distributed along the western coast of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. In the post-independence period, population movement took place for a variety of socio-political, economic reasons and also as a result of conflicts. 

Causes of migration 

Over the centuries, most of the causes behind the movement of people have not been clearly established.A number of factors may have led to migration of people. Some of these are as follows: 

Economic Search for livelihood is one of the main causes for people to migrate. These