Indo Spanish

Infobox Ethnic group
group = Indo Spanish
poptime = 29,000
popplace = Madrid, Ceuta, Melilla, Canary Islands, Palma de Mallorca
langs = Spanish, Hindi, Sindhi, Punjabi, English
rels = Hinduism, Sikhism
related-c = Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin, Desi, Gyspy Spaniards, Anglo-Indians

The Indian community of Spain number only 30,000, less than 0.1% of the population. Most Indians originally travelled to Spain from Africa, while others came from India and even Japan and Southeast Asia.

Sindhi traders and shopkeepers thrived in the freeports of the Spanish Canary Islands of Las Palmas and Tenerife following the imposition of importand foreign exchange restrictions in Spain after World War-II.

They conducted a brisk trade with the North African continent from Las Palmas. When Ceuta and Melilla, parts of Spanish Morocco,were also declared as free ports, Indian businessmen set up trading houses and retail shop scatering to the tourist trade [http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter11.pdf]

The next wave of Indians to go to Spain were descendants of Indian laborers from former Spanish colony of Equatorial Guinea. By the mid-seventies, there were over 200 Indian trading houses in Ceuta and Melilla. With the liberalisation in import policies introduced in the eighties, businessactivity shifted to the port cities of Malaga and Barcelona. Madrid also attracted many Indian Businessmen.

The Indian community in Spain enjoys a good reputation. Indians are considered hard working, non-political and peaceful. The Indian community has integrated well with Spanish society. Sindhis and Sikhs form the majority of the Indian community. Spain has recognized three entities of Hinduism. [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71409.htm IRF 2006, Spain] The community celebrates various Indian festivals. Rath Yatras are also taken out by members of the Hare Rama Hare Krishna movement with the enthusiastic support of the Indian communit. There are temples in Valencia, Ceuta and Canary Islands. There are some Gurdwaras as well in big cities of Spain, like Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca. There too many Indian Restaurants in theisland of Mallorca. The majority of Indian people living in Mallorca have there own business like in restaurants, call centres, indian spicy shopes.

ee also

*Hinduism in Spain

References

* [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71409.htm IRF 2006, Spain]
* [http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter11.pdf Indian Diaspora in Spain]
* [http://www.littleindia.com/news/132/ARTICLE/1346/2006-10-12.html Overseas Indian Population 2001 including Spain]