| Abstract |
This article aims to explain meanings of “home” given by Mon living in Thailand. It employs the concept of “home” of diasporas as the analytical framework. Qualitative research methodology is used in this study. The study indicates that Mon diasporas has been living in Baan Wang Ka, Kanchanaburi Province since AD.1949. The ethnic suppression policies in Myanmar are the major cause of transnational mobility of this ethnic group, although, in the later periods, some of them left their homeland to go to Thailand for trading and eventually resettled at Baan Wang Ka. Currently, Mon people in Baan Wang Ka include four generations. Although they are from Myanmar and heirs of those from Myanmar, Mon in the village gave definitions of their “home” differently. Those of the first generation define their homeland as their “home.” The second to fourth generations refer to their “home” in association with the place where they live in Thailand or their homeland. The diverse notions of “home” have to do with not solely generation differences and causes of migration, but also an individual’s experiences, economic opportunity, legal status as well as social status in Thailand and assimilation to Thai society. Thus, this paper shows that the definitions of “home” are constructed and multiple – rather than fixed and specific – and such definitions relate to their contexts as well as migration periods.
Keywords: notions of “home”, Mon ethnic group, diaspora
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Publication
Journal Publication
ไทย