A comparative examination of two communities of India, namely, the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Punjab, who constitute a majority in the Indian diaspora, reveals that both these communities share certain features such as landownership, middle caste status and a dominant caste position besides some socio-cultural similarities. Despite their common background, each has performed differently in foreign countries. The nature and streams of their immigration patterns differ. In the case of Patidars, it is a step migration while amongst the Jats the pioneers were ex-soldiers. The innovativeness and entrepreneurship of the Patidars significantly contributed to the economic development of the host countries. The Jats—the most progressive community—are found in almost all parts of the globe. They have largely taken up agricultural and industrial labour activities. They invariably invest their surplus money in buying some agricultural land. The differential performance of two communities points towards their different attributes, orientations towards work, work ideologies and primordial ties such as sense of family and kinship networks.

This article aims at describing the process whereby entrepreneurship among members belonging to a particular caste and religion emerged as a result of terrorism. Rural entrepreneurship saw drastic changes during the last two decades. The once dominant business class found themselves in a situation where it was difficult for them to oper ate. The subversive activities—a resultant of terrorism—created panic and induced many to close down their family run businesses and proceed to urban areas in search of safer environments. Their vacuum was filled up by the agricultural class, which as a result of the green revolution was economically emerging as an entity to reckon with. The Jat Sikhs were the beneficiaries of this revolution. Terrorism paved their entry into the domain of business. Using a case study methodology, the authors have documented the process as it happened in one village. The authors argue that similar situations could also be witnessed in rural Punjab as well. This article therefore points out the significance of political factors, which the authors argue, cannot be ignored in any study on entrepreneurial development. Similar situations are seen almost all across. The new social groups, as the authors put forth, do not observe the rules of the game. The process of intimidating the well-established social and economic groups from all walks of life through adoption of violence has become the order of the day. The authors are very critical of the disharmony and the imbalance that such processes will create.

This article explicates entrepreneurship as a means to empower the underprivileged sections, particularly the scheduled castes, in our society. The cases of the scheduled castes from Jalandhar and Amritsar (cities of Punjab) reveal that they have experienced social, economic and political mobility through entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurial activities are, however, unevenly distributed among the rural and urban scheduled castes. It is mainly the two scheduled caste groups, namely, the Ad-dharmi and the Megh, in both the cities, who have ventured into entrepreneurship, largely by diversifying their traditional caste occupations. The Ad-dharmis have modified their skills in handling and processing the rawhides and have started leather-based industries, factories and workshops. The Meghs, who have been engaged as workers in the manufacturing of surgical instruments before migrating to these cities from Sialkot after the partition of India (1947), have excelled in sports goods and surgical instruments industries. The overall empowerment of scheduled castes is possible through entrepreneurship. The policy makers may encourage entrepreneurship as a means to achieve equality for them.

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