Reclaiming British Gujarati culture after conversion to Evangelical Christianity

When the Gujarati diaspora from India and East Africa arrived in Britain from the mid twentieth century onwards, their religio-cultural beliefs were based on replications and adaptations due to their migratory history. Their primary goal was to fulfil their religious duty to the whole extended family, to increase financial capital, and to ensure that coming generations would have the hope of a prosperous future. As the younger generations became accustomed to life in Britain, their ideologies adjusted to the customs in Britain. The Gujarati geographical diaspora was subject to a less visible ideological diaspora influenced by British Christianity that resulted in the challenge of the binary of religious affiliation. For some British Gujarati this resulted in a complete change of religious self-identity to Evangelical Christianity.
By using ethnography and autoethnography this thesis probes into the lives of the British Gujarati who have chosen to self-identify as Christian. Through conversations, interviews and extended field visits it became apparent that the daily lives of the converts and all those around them continue to be impacted by the individual decision to change their religion. The challenges they face are explored using anthropological theories of social identity and the changes in interaction with people, places and decision making practices.
Drawing upon Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of social fields and Michel de Certeau’s spatial theory, facilitates the analysis of the lived realities of British Gujarati converts. By connecting muted group theory to the conversion experiences, I explore how multidimensional social spaces and multiple identities are used to navigate relational networks and contribute to the adaptation of transcultural practices.
This thesis provides a unique exploration and understanding of the impact of Christian conversion on the British Gujarati diaspora. It also explores the complication of self-identity and the problems incurred through the imposed binaries of identifications by others. By investigating the idea of multiple identities, the thesis unmutes British Gujarati Converts’ experiences of family roles, places of belonging and decision making.