International Institute for Population Sciences
Deemed to be University (An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India)

Mumbai has been attracting migrants from all over the country for centuries on account of globalization and liberalization. Although migrants from Uttar Pradesh have emerged as the dominant community in Mumbai and particularly in the taxi trade. In this paper, I explore the role of already existing social networks and their sense of belongingness in the city. These social networks are built on the basis of the common ethnic identity of migrants, which they carry with them into the city from their place of origin. Therefore, it is not possible to separate social network and ethnic identity; in fact, both go parallel and intertwined. In order to achieve the objective of the paper, I used mixed methodology to integrate both qualitative and quantitative methods to gain a comprehensive understanding. To guide this exploration, I used Fredrik Barth’s (1969) theory of ethnic groups and boundaries as a conceptual vessel. Barth’s (1969) theory inherits the idea that ethnic boundaries are fluid, temporal, highly flexible, and shaped by historical, economic, and cultural circumstances. Ultimately, this leads to a transformation in identity shift. The paper reveals that social networks hold relevance in the lives of migrant taxi drivers, not only in facilitating the initial migration process but also in navigating everyday life in Mumbai. These networks are primarily rooted in shared ethnic backgrounds, serve as channels through which migrants access accommodation, a first job, an initial safety net, and get emotional support. Therefore, they rely heavily on co-ethnic networks for arrival and survival in the city. Keywords: Ethnicity, Identity, Migrants, Mumbai, Social Networks