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Jose Punnamparambil (*1936) is considered one of the most important German-Indian publicists of the present. Since his arrival in Germany in 1966, he has been committed journalistically, culturally, and socially to promoting understanding between India and Germany. Through the magazine Meine Welt, numerous books, and documentary films, he has significantly shaped German-Indian dialogue. For his life’s work, he received the Federal Cross of Merit and the Tagore Culture Prize. In the interview with me, Jose looks back on his career – from his roots in Kerala to his beginnings in Germany. He speaks about the challenges and objectives of his work, particularly the nuanced portrayal of the Indian diaspora and the promotion of cultural understanding. In doing so, he emphasizes the importance of overcoming clichés and building bridges between societies – a mission he continues to pursue today. His wealth of experience is a valuable legacy for future generations, which can sustainably strengthen German-Indian dialogue and inspire new bridge-builders.
Looking Back on a Eventful Life
Jose, you came to Germany in 1966 – originally for one year, yet you stayed until today. What were the most formative moments of your arrival and integration, and how did they influence your later path?
I arrived in November 1966 with a scholarship from the Federal Press Office for a one-year journalist training program in Germany. The scholarship was arranged by an Indian priest from Kerala who was studying theology at the University of Bonn at that time. He had good connections to CDU politicians in the government. In December, this priest took me with him to Münster to attend a conference for Indian students in Germany. My conversations with these students from Kerala, who were mostly present at the conference, gave me a strong impression that they were very poorly informed about India and its current situation. The reporting on India in the German media at that time was on the one hand very sparse, and the German-language skills of the Indian students were on the other hand also very limited, making it difficult for them to adequately inform themselves about India from the available German sources. So, in a discussion with the students from Kerala, I proposed publishing a monthly newsletter in their Malayalam language, with the purpose of informing the Indian community from Kerala about current developments in India, especially in Kerala, and also about changes in German legislation affecting foreigners.
How was your proposal received?
Positively! But the question remained who would found and carry out the project and where the funding would come from. The Indian priest was very impressed with my proposal and promised support, including financial assistance. Together, we published the first small information leaflet, Heimatbrief, in Malayalam after the conference. I became the responsible editor of the newsletter. This is how my almost 58-year journalistic career in Germany began! In 1973, I founded a full Malayalam magazine called Ente Lokham and was its editor for 10 years.
The Caritas also played a role…
Yes, that was another important moment in my early years when I met at a 1967 conference the Caritas Cologne official responsible for integration issues for newly arrived Indian nurses, Mrs. Anni Jülich. This encounter led to a decades-long close and trusting collaboration with Caritas Cologne, both in the area of integration and inclusion of Indian nurses and their families, and in project support to deepen German-Indian friendship and international understanding.
The Significance of the Magazine Meine Welt
In 1984, you founded the German-language magazine Meine Welt to promote German-Indian dialogue. What were your goals at the time, and how has the role of the magazine evolved over the years?
It must be known that when I came to Germany in 1966, there were about 20,000 Indians living here, most of them students. In the 1960s and 1970s, about 5,000–6,000 young women from the southern Indian state of Kerala came here to be trained or work in nursing. In the 1970s, the majority of these women married men from their home state, brought them to Germany, and started families here. This was the period when Meine Welt was founded. I want to quote from the editorial of the first issue of the magazine:
„Many of them are fully integrated here. They master the German language, have a stable job, and their children born here are already attending school, grammar school, or university. They invest their savings in apartments or houses. In short, they have become a solid part of German society… The Indians do not live in ghettos but are dispersed among Germans in villages and cities. They have German neighbors, friends, and acquaintances. Their children play, eat, learn, think, and dream with German children.
Through the presence of so many Indians over so many years, interest in India has grown in Germany. Many more Germans eat Indian food today, visit India, buy Indian products, and enjoy Indian music and dance than in the past. Indians and India offer them new opportunities for expanding experience.
All this shows that a modest German-Indian community has already emerged here. This community is the target audience of our magazine. Oriented to their needs, anchored in their dreams, conflicts, and achievements, we want to build Meine Welt as a regularly published magazine.“
Your magazine then became very successful…
Yes, it received great support from the Caritas Association and was financially supported by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Germany. In 1988, the magazine received the „Journalism Award for Development Policy.“ The award increased attention and acceptance of the magazine among its target audience and served as recognition and motivation for the volunteer staff.
In autumn 2008, the 25th-anniversary issue of the magazine was published. I quote again from my editorial:
„That integration does not mean assimilation is no longer disputed by enlightened contemporaries. The migrant as a stranger brings his own cultural baggage and behavioral repertoire. At first, he can only behave as he is accustomed at home. Therefore, he is perceived and rejected as a foreign body in the host culture or tolerated with great reservation. In many cases, this leads to a destabilization of his being. He must change to survive in the host country. On the other hand, he must hold on to his cultural identity so as not to drift aimlessly into the unknown. Integration is therefore not something that can be hatched in a hurry; it is the result of a long and conflictual process in which the guest and the host slowly move toward each other. This is how ’spaces of understanding‘ or ‚cultural intersections‘ arise, where a smooth and mutually enriching coexistence between natives and migrants is possible. That ‚dialogue‘ and ‚encounters‘ play a key role here does not need to be particularly emphasized. In this sense, Meine Welt has, over the years, created new spaces of understanding between Germans and Indians through the promotion of dialogue and exchange. Thus, the magazine has made a modest but important contribution to the integration of Indians here.“
Today, the small Indian community is an integral part of German society. The vast majority of the first-generation Indians and Indian women who immigrated have retired, many of their children born here have completed their studies or training, and their careers in professions and society have begun successfully. Families are constantly being formed, children are born and baptized, weddings and marriage anniversaries are celebrated. But people also get sick, become lonely, and long for their homeland they left years ago. Gradually, the face and structure of the Indian community here changes. Therefore, the requirements for a magazine like Meine Welt are in many respects different from 25 years ago. Conflicts in marriage, children’s education, aging on German soil, engagement in politics and society, adherence to faith and inherited religious practices in an increasingly secular society – these and similar topics are the focus of today’s readers. We in the editorial team try to meet the changed needs without abandoning the dialogue character of the magazine.
What happened next with the magazine – did the end approach?
Based on the aforementioned changed requirements, I led the editorial team until 2017. Then I handed over management for age-related reasons to the well-known India journalist Rainer Hörig. Under his responsibility, the magazine appeared until 2022. Rainer then gave up as Caritas Cologne and the German Bishops’ Conference stopped financing the magazine. Additionally, Rainer had health problems and sadly passed away shortly afterward. And thus, Meine Welt ended.
What did it achieve?
For me personally, this magazine was my most important project as a migrant in Germany. During the crucial phase of Indian immigration to Germany, the magazine served as an effective platform for communication and exchange as well as an integration-promoting instrument of understanding. The magazine reflects the development of the small (German-)Indian community over almost 40 years of its existence. I am sincerely grateful to Caritas Cologne, the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the editorial team, and many volunteers who contributed so that this project could make an important contribution to German-Indian understanding and friendship.
Editorial Note: All issues of Meine Welt published until the end of 2022 are archived at Domid e.V. (Documentation Center and Museum on Migration in Germany, Venloer Straße 419, 50825 Cologne, Tel. 0221-294 94484).
German-Indian Relations Today
Let’s talk about current relations between Germany and India, Jose. Which developments do you find particularly positive or challenging when you think of cultural exchange?
In 1966, German-Indian relations operated on two levels: the upper level, characterized by full admiration and respect for India’s thousands of years of cultural achievements. The main mediators and interpreters of this perception of India were academics and specialized diplomats. On the lower level, however, the relationship was shaped by an image of India portraying it as poor, underdeveloped, and exotic: India as the land of sacred cows, dowry murders, illiterates, and wandering sadhus! This image, conveyed by tourists, development workers, and not infrequently church missionaries, not only produced disparaging attitudes toward the country but also strong sympathy and a resulting motivation among Germans to help people in India and improve their living conditions.
That has changed today…
Correct. This negative image of India has radically changed over the last five decades. Today, India stands on equal footing with Germany. Since 2000, there has been a strategic partnership between Germany and India. In October 2024, the federal cabinet under Chancellor Olaf Scholz elevated this partnership to a new level. The focus is on cooperation in foreign and security policy, development cooperation, climate and environmental protection, expansion of economic and scientific collaboration, and recruitment of skilled personnel.
And regarding migration?
In recent times, Germany has taken many important measures to facilitate the immigration of skilled workers and students. According to the Ministry of Labor, 137,000 Indians are employed in Germany under social security. With 50,000, the number of Indian students leads among foreign students in Germany. When I arrived, the total number of Indians in Germany was around 20,000; today it is about 277,000.
What is your point?
The rapidly increasing number of Indian migrants – especially highly qualified specialists, students, and nurses – requires an expansion and deepening of cultural promotion by India. Numerous initiatives must be established to convey Indian art and culture and to promote communication, dialogue, and exchange within the growing Indian community as well as with native Germans. This can include expanding activities of the Tagore Center in Berlin and the Max Müller Bhavans in India (similar to Goethe Institutes) by establishing branches in major cities such as Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Munich, staffed with qualified personnel. The Tagore centers could then work closely with India-related organizations and associations to develop and implement programs and projects that promote dialogue within the German-Indian community. Cultural promotion by India should no longer focus mainly on the performing arts but also include language, literature, classical music, etc.
You mentioned India was long associated with clichés…
Yes, but the long-term presence of my first generation did not remain without its positive effect on Germans’ image of India. Today, one rarely hears disparaging terms such as sacred cows, dowry murders, caste system, etc., when talking about India. The growing number of immigrants from India conveys a different, more authentic image of India as the world’s most populous country, the fifth-largest economy, and with an annual growth rate of currently 6.5%! Highly qualified professionals from India bring not only talent and expertise but also experiences and attitudes from a centuries-old diverse society, which is invaluable for a progressively diverse society in Germany.
A passionate plea – but what is the downside?
The growing number of Indians contributes to the noticeable increase of foreigners in the German population. This may drive nationalists and people with far-right views to develop and act on anti-Indian attitudes. Here lies a conflict potential that will be a challenge for current and future generations.
How could this be addressed?
To respond constructively and peacefully, the current Indian diaspora must develop an effective initiative. It is very important to build proximity of Indian immigrants to the native population through targeted measures and convincingly demonstrate the valuable role of our skilled and nursing staff and the wealth they generate. I would suggest founding a non-profit “Pravasi India Foundation,” supported by sufficient donations from affluent Indians and Germans (with India connections) to carry out suitable projects aimed at expanding and deepening acceptance of the Indian diaspora among native Germans.
Integration of the First Generation
I would like to take a step back: What experiences did the first Indian migrants in Germany have, and how have integration processes changed since the 1960s?
As mentioned earlier, the nurses I am referring to here started families in Germany. This group required special support to integrate into social and professional life because they came from rural areas, had little exposure to the outside world, and lacked sufficient knowledge of the German language. To assist them, the Caritas Association in the city of Cologne established a “Social Service for Indians,” with which I have been closely associated from the very beginning. The Caritas “Indian Social Service” promoted the integration of the Indian community through a variety of initiatives, such as joint trips with Germans, cultural and social events, language support, the founding of two magazines—one in Malayalam (Ente Lokham) for nurses from Kerala and another in German (Meine Welt) for dialogue and exchange within the German-Indian community, funding book projects, and more.
A significant number of Indian migrants who had already been living in Germany in the 1950s and even earlier were students. However, after completing their studies, they were required to return to India. Many of them married German women and then started families in Germany. Although, according to the law at the time, Indian nurses would have also had to return to India after completing their training, the government made an exception because German hospitals urgently needed their services. Since it was possible to stay and work in Germany, a large number of these nurses married men from their home state of Kerala, brought them to Germany, and started families here.
For the men, however, there were restrictions.
In fact, under the rules at the time, husbands who came under “family reunification” were not allowed to work for at least four years…
…You mean they were not given a work permit?
Exactly, and this made integration for this group extremely difficult. Yet somehow, they managed to establish themselves here and lead normal family lives. Many German friends and neighbors generously supported the growing Indian community, helping them successfully integrate into German society.
For example, my parents’ generation reported that there was a great curiosity about foreigners at the time, but also language barriers on both sides, and consequently a truly necessary bilateral integration process.
I fully share your parents’ view that integration had to be a bilateral process even back then: Not only did Indians have to adapt to a completely foreign way of life, customs, and traditions of the Germans, but Germans also had to learn and internalize the behaviors and particularities of the lifestyle of the incoming Indians. In the following decades, the first Indian generation became an integral part of German society. Many of their children, born and raised here, now hold leading positions in public service, industry, and the media—a successful integration achieved while preserving their own cultural identity!
Foto: Jose Punnamparambil with India’s Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, (c) J. Punnamparambil
Dialogue Between Generations
You have also studied the second generation of the Indian diaspora intensively. What challenges and opportunities do you see in the “intergenerational dialogue” within the community?
To ensure the continuity of the diverse development of the Indian diaspora here, it is very important that the “intergenerational dialogue,” as you call it, and the exchange of experiences take place far more often than they do today. The first generation has accumulated experiences and insights that could be invaluable for subsequent generations in shaping the future life of the diaspora. Unfortunately, initiatives such as the cultural exchange events in Mülheim an der Ruhr or a magazine like Meine Welt no longer exist. Here, the second generation must take an active role—developing initiatives and establishing them.
Immigration and Nursing Professions
In your documentaries, you have highlighted, among other things, the stories of Indian nurses in Germany. What role do they play in German society, and how is their work perceived today?
The immigration of Indian nurses to Germany is undoubtedly a success story. They arrived in the early 1960s without formal contracts, mostly through private, often church-affiliated channels. At its peak in the early 1970s, their number was about 5,000. Most came as young women from Christian middle-class families in the southern Indian state of Kerala. A few had already trained as nurses in India and wanted to work in Germany.
Surely it was not easy for them in Germany at first.
That is correct. The biggest challenge was the language, but dietary habits, behaviors, and the cold weather also posed major adaptation difficulties. Added to this was the great uncertainty regarding work and residence permits. The unfamiliar, highly urbanized German lifestyle was also challenging for these young women, most of whom came from rural areas. Yet there were connecting and supportive factors that helped them overcome these difficulties. People from foreign cultures were not an everyday reality in Germany as they are today. Most Germans were particularly open and courteous toward them. This applied especially to Indians, as they came from a culture highly valued in Germany. Being Christian also helped the young women build friendships and connections with Germans. Once the issues concerning residence and work permits were resolved, the young women usually married Indian men from their home state, started families, and had children. This then created the challenge of balancing family and work. Since most nurses worked shifts or night duty, it was difficult to care for the children properly. Many Indian couples today remember with gratitude how their German friends and neighbors helped them overcome this difficult situation.
That sounds like a great deal of self-sacrifice.
Indeed, the Indian nurses and their spouses placed great importance on a good education and training for their children. They were willing to forego personal comfort to achieve this. With remarkable dedication and exemplary commitment, the children were placed in good schools and later enabled to pursue higher education. Today, many of these children have become doctors, engineers, business professionals, researchers, university professors, or journalists.
What does the future hold?
I should note that Germany imposed a recruitment ban on non-European workers in 1973. After that, very few came to Germany to train as nurses. Today, the vast majority of Indian women who arrived in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s are retired. Many of their children have already married and started families. The arrival of grandchildren radically changes the lives of the first-generation nurses. Many no longer speak of homesickness for India, but of a life with their own children and grandchildren in Germany. Visiting India and relatives or friends there once a year seems sufficient! Thus, the story of this unique immigration from India to Germany is almost complete. In a few years, memories of this migration will remain only as an occasional spicy meal, a strange name, a beautiful dark complexion in some, and a subtle sense of resilience and openness in society.
Journalism as a Bridge
As a journalist and author, you have built many bridges between cultures. How do you see the role of journalism today, particularly in the context of migration and integration?
From the very beginning, I focused on three themes as a journalist, which remain relevant today: 1. integration and diversity, 2. India’s regional literature, and 3. critiques of prosperity. Through my journalistic work, I wanted to effect a change in the mentality and attitudes of people living here—namely, to promote a migration policy that is oriented toward the human being, as well as a climate-friendly environmental policy.
So, point one: integration and diversity…
From my work on integration with the first generation, I gained the insight that it is worthwhile to engage more intensively with the topic of migration. Due to negative demographic developments, by 2050 Germany will be short approximately eight million people needed to maintain the current standard of living. These people will therefore have to come from abroad. Diversity will thus be a defining factor for the future development of social life in Germany.
In this process, Indian migrants will play an increasingly important role. They will not only bring urgently needed human capital, but also knowledge, behaviors, and skills that can make valuable contributions to transforming German society toward future viability. With over 17,000 highly qualified scientists, Indian migrants already rank at the top among foreign professionals in Germany. For these reasons, it is urgently necessary to ensure that Indian migrants coming to Germany are met with acceptance and favorable conditions. Equally important is a willingness to integrate these people into German society. My journalistic work was intended to contribute to this goal.
Picture: f.l.t.r. – Nirmal Sarkar (Literaturforum Indien e.V.), Alokeranjan Dasgupta (poet), Martin Kämpchen (author), Jose Punnamparambil, (c) J. Punnamparambil
Point 2: India’s Regional Literatures…
In this area, I am almost missionary in my approach (laughs)—that is, promoting Indian regional literature through translation and publication in German. India has 22 officially recognized regional languages in which significant literary works are produced. This literature reflects the reality of life for the vast majority of ordinary Indians: their struggle to survive, their everyday life, the painful impact of rapid change, their doubts, their visions, their attitudes, and so on. In short, this literature opens the door to the inner lives of Indians, many of whom live in rural areas. By making this literature accessible to German readers and encouraging them to read it, we contribute effectively to German-Indian understanding. Doing something effective in this way has been—and remains—almost a passion for me.
Point 3: Critique of Prosperity…
Excessive resource consumption and a lifestyle bordering on wastefulness in Western affluent societies provoke me to critique. The great Indian visionary Mahatma Gandhi once said that the Earth has enough to satisfy the basic needs of all people, but not their greed. I consider the Western premise that nature is subordinate to humans to be wrong and outdated. I prefer the Indian perspective that humans are part of nature and must live their lives in harmony with it. If we learn to live more modestly and distribute the resources saved fairly to people in need elsewhere in the world, we can save our planet from an impending major catastrophe. I will never stop trying to inspire people everywhere to adopt this fundamental mindset.
Federal Cross of Merit
In 2022, you were awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon. What does this special honor mean to you, and how do you see it in the context of your life’s work?
The Federal Cross of Merit was a great recognition of my work in promoting German-Indian friendship and international understanding. But I was strongly supported by Indian and German friends alike. My family was also fully involved. That is why I believe this great honor belongs not only to me but also to those who have supported my work so wonderfully. In particular, I would like to sincerely thank the responsible officers at Caritas Cologne, Ms. Annie Jülich and Mr. Heinz Müller, for their decades-long generous support and trusting collaboration.
Literature and Cultural Exchange
You mentioned that you have translated numerous works from Malayalam into German. What significance does literature have for intercultural dialogue, and which works are particularly close to your heart?
We live today in a decisive phase of history, in which globalization determines the rules and paradigms for international coexistence. The norms, values, and beliefs that prevailed for centuries, primarily originating in the West, can no longer be considered contemporary and universal. Nations and peoples with different cultural roots also have both the right and the great opportunity to contribute fundamentally to the creation of a sustainable and universally viable world order with their own ideas, experiences, and insights.
Literature is a powerful medium that best articulates and conveys the culture-specific experiences, aspirations, and perspectives of a people in a particularly lasting way. It can play a key role in the emergence of a new global ethos, in which all peoples have a just place. This is especially true for India’s literatures in regional languages, which speak to well over a billion people worldwide. The prerequisite, however, is that we earnestly strive to make this literature accessible to people of other languages in other parts of the world through high-quality translations and effective promotion measures.
Future of the German-Indian Community
What are your hopes and visions for the future of the Indian diaspora in Germany? What role could platforms like theinder.net or Masala Movement play in this?
The rapidly growing number of Indian immigrants will undoubtedly have a positive impact on Germany’s development as a diverse society. The large number of highly qualified professionals and students arriving in Germany today bring not only their expertise but also experiences, behavioral norms, and values from a highly developed cultural country that emphasizes unity in diversity. Their presence and contributions will positively influence the ongoing process of societal transformation toward diversity in Germany. Platforms such as theinder.net or Masala Movement can further support this transformation through events and projects that foster interaction and community building.
Personal Anecdotes
Is there a particular or humorous incident from your life in Germany that you would like to share?
(pauses) After completing my internship, I was sent on a three-month trip across Germany. I visited major cities like Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, and Berlin, and held discussions with people from the media, politics, and society. During this trip, I spent a few days in Frankfurt. That was the first time I ever went to a pub! I sat alone at a table and wanted to order a glass of cola. Then a stout man came over, sat next to me, and started talking. He was very friendly and already knew quite a bit about India. When the waiter came, he ordered a beer for himself and one for me. I told him I did not drink alcohol. Then he ordered two glasses of cola for me. We talked a lot about India. At the end, he said to me: “When you finish your training and return to India, tell your people there that they must first slaughter and eat all their sacred cows before they can receive development aid from Germany.” Somewhat startled and shocked by this remark, I went back to my hotel room and thought for a long time about what “development” really means!
Thank you very much for your time, Jose, and all the best for the future.
Jose Punnamparambil was born in 1936 in the Indian state of Kerala. He first came to Germany in 1966. Since then, he has worked as a teacher, lecturer, journalist, consultant, department head, section manager, editor, and author. During this time, he produced numerous texts that remain highly relevant today. This volume presents his most important articles, commentaries, and interviews. These texts were written with the aim of improving German-Indian relations and making the world a slightly fairer place. Link