Commercialization & Commodification of Chutney & Other Indo-Caribbean Music Forms

Caribbean Hindustani is supporting and encouraging research in the Caribbean, one person we are collaborating with is Doctoral Candidate Shazia Khan, from India. She is currently writing an academic thesis from the perspective of Indian Diasporic studies based on how Indian music developed over time with emphasis on the commercialization and the commodification of Chutney and other Indo-Caribbean music forms.

As a part of her primary research, she has formulated a basic questionnaire for analyzing the relationship between the two. She is hoping to gain 50 respondents for this survey within the next three weeks.

The questions are based on the emotional relationship and social connection. This survey is an attempt to understand the connection between Indian diaspora and music and most importantly the consumption of Chutney music. Furthermore, it will help in understanding how they appreciate the current evolution in the field of the chutney music industry. We would appreciate as many responses to this as possible.

If respondents could please read the question and instructions carefully before answering and rechecking before submitting that would be great. Alternatively, if you miss out on any question or need to re-write, you can either just take up the whole survey again or  e-mail your vary response to Ms. Khan via email- khanshazia2089@gmail.com

Please see Shazia Khan’s petition and link below.

Dear Respondents,

I am welcoming you to participate in a research survey to study the significance of music for the Indian diasporas and how it goes about as an important marker of their ethnic identity that links the diaspora with the homeland or country of origin.  At the end of this letter, you will find a link which will take you to the survey directly questionnaire that asks a variety of questions (single, multiple choices, few statement and comment based) about your various connections (social and personal) to music.  It won’t take you longer than 15 mins to complete the entire form. Kindly help me with your valuable response.

The results of this survey will be analyzed to compile statistics dependent on the preferences and emotional responses. Through your cooperation, I would like to comprehend the current essence of Chutney music industry and how globalization and commercial market impacted the musical choices of people. I trust that the results of this survey will be useful for assembling the data and seeking a better understanding of this interplay between the two.

I do understand the privacy concern of each and every respondent, therefore, their participation and answering to this survey will be kept confidential and will not be used for any other purposes or share with others and will only be used for writing the Ph.D. thesis.

I understand that you will take the time to complete this questionnaire and return it. Your participation is completely voluntary.

If you have any questions or concerns about completing the questionnaire or about being in this study, you may contact me via email- khanshazia2089@gmail.com. This questionnaire has been approved by my Ph.D. Supervisor Dr. Ajaya Kumar Sahoo (Associate Professor at Centre for the study of Indian Diaspora, University of Hyderabad).

If you agree to participate, you may click on the link listed below to complete the survey. If you wish, you may stop at any time.

*Should you wish to fill this questionnaire please click on the following link —

https://form.jotform.com/201162578079459

Sincerely,

Shazia Khan

Doctoral candidate

Centre for the study of Indian Diaspora

University of Hyderabad.