transmigration

Transmigration is a term used to describe two related but distinct phenomena. In religious and philosophical contexts it denotes the movement of a soul or consciousness from one body to another after death, a belief found in various traditions and often called transmigration, metempsychosis, or reincarnation. In secular discourse it refers to a policy or practice of relocating people from one geographic area to another, typically by government programs.

Religious accounts differ. In Hinduism and Jainism the soul (atman) undergoes a cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara) through successive lives, with karma shaping future existence. In Buddhism rebirth occurs without asserting a permanent self, but beings migrate into new lives under karmic conditions. Other cultures describe metempsychosis or soul migration with varying degrees of similarity to these conceptions.

Policy use: The Indonesian transmigration program (transmigrasi) relocated residents, especially from densely populated Java, to outer islands such as Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua, beginning in the 20th century and continuing into the late 20th century. The goal was to relieve overcrowding, foster regional development, and integrate the archipelago. The program produced diverse outcomes and sparked debates over environmental impact, land rights, cultural change, and social tension.

In contemporary discourse, transmigration is discussed both as a religious concept and as a case study in population policy and cultural change. See also: reincarnation; metempsychosis; transmigration (Indonesia).