Understanding Acculturation in Subsequent Generation Chinese and Nepali Communities in the Indian Context

This research explores the acculturation patterns of two ethnocultural communities, the Chinese and Nepali in India. The primary objective is to identify how these communities navigate the preservation of their cultural heritage while adapting to the dominant Indian culture, and to investigate the differences in their acculturation strategies, including integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization. This article argues that acculturation among subsequent generation of migrants is not a linear or uniform process but is shaped by community-specific dynamics, urban context, and generational negotiations of identity and belonging. The study employs K-means clustering and PERMANOVA to analyze the distinct acculturation patterns within these communities. The study uncovers intriguing differences between the Chinese and Nepali communities in India, where both groups predominantly favor integration strategies. The study also identifies how the acculturation pattern contributes to the cultural dilution or thriving of a community. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of how ethnocultural communities, particularly the subsequent generations, negotiate their cultural identity in a multicultural setting, and highlight the complexities and variations in acculturation experiences.