Sindhi Hindus in India and Muhajirs in Sindh, both groups of refugees, came into conflict with local governments and communities in their adoptive countries. This essay compares the trajectories of these two groups and attempts to show how, despite certain superficial similarities, they were faced with diametrically opposite circumstances, and so employed differing strategies to create a new sense of identity for themselves. In this context, the cultural perceptions of the refugees—of both themselves as well as of the local communities—played a significant role. © 2016 South Asian Studies Association of Australia.

Identity Cultural perceptions Muhajir Partition Sindhi Refugees Hostility Conflict Adaptation

ethnic group perception Pakistan Sind refugee cultural conflict immigrant population India cultural identity