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This book is the second in a global trilogy looking at the unreported Sikh diaspora comprising mainly the non-English speaking countries. The first one in the Sikh Global Village series was Sikhs in Latin America. This volume covers Sikhs in Asia Pacific countries. The third will be on Sikhs in Europe.

The Asia Pacific region is a vital and under-recognized home for the Sikh diaspora. Before 1947, most Sikhs migrated east. In addition to the commonly known destinations, the author also examines Sikh migration to some lesser known ones such as China, Korea, Japan and the Philippines. The book covers various aspects of the diaspora including history of migration beginning mainly as soldiers in the British Indian Army and as policemen post the Second Anglo-Sikh War. The British gave preference in recruiting Sikhs, and encouraged them to build gurdwaras and supported them to keep their Sikh identity. Soon after arrival, these early immigrants encouraged their village compatriots and relatives to migrate in large number to avail of the various opportunities for gainful employment or business.

Not only is this wave of migration important in its own right, but Sikh migration to North America find its origins in the Asia-Pacific Sikh diaspora, specifically from Shanghai. The decolonization of Asian countries slowed down the migration and in some cases resulted even in exodus of Indians/Sikhs at the same time as new destinations to North America and UK opened up.

Migration to each country has a unique profile, traced vividly in the book. Additionally the author has made an effort to outline the similarities and differences in migration of Sikhs to the East against present migration to the West. Case studies are extensively used.