Above all there was the issue of how immigrants felt about the retention of their religious and cultural identity, their heritage and their language. Since those from the subcontinent and East Africa had little religious and ethnocultural homogeneity, it was natural that the issue of cultural retention would be vexed and complicated in Toronto. A New Delhi Muslim most probably would opt for his religious Islamic faith and perhaps his language. His options would have no meaning for a Maharashtrian, a Tamil-speaking Hindu, or even a Bangladeshi. It is likely that, while language and faith may particularize South Asian immigrant life, active co-operation in areas of economic matters and broad cultural activities can be achieved.
Divisive factors remain and result in factionalism.
Those Pakistanis and Indians who evoke the homeland too much also bring to Canada some of its religious, sectional and ethnic strife. That lurks for you in many a wily shape. During the last twenty years more than 100,000 people of East Indian origin came to Canada. They are not all professionals as was the case in the beginning. Now you will find men and women who run businesses, manage restaurants offering Indian and Pakistani cuisine, operate movie theatres and radio shows.