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News: India’s External Affairs Minister is visiting Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, highlighting their special connection through Girmitiya communities.
About Girmitiyas
- Girmitiyas were Indian indentured labourers who migrated to British colonies in the mid to late nineteenth century for work.
- Timeline: Girmitiyas migrated mainly after the British Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which created labour shortages in colonies.
- Origin of Term: The term “Girmit” is a mispronunciation of “Agreement,” which described the labour contracts signed with the British Government.
- Naming: Girmitiyas were also called Jahazis or Jahajis, referring to their shared journey by ship to foreign lands.
- Source Regions: Most Girmitiyas came from eastern United Provinces and Bihar due to poverty, unemployment, and poor agricultural conditions.
- Major Destinations: They were sent to plantations in Fiji, South Africa, Mauritius, and Caribbean regions like Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, and Jamaica.
- Key Aspects:
- Migration Conditions: Labourers migrated due to economic hardship but faced poverty, lack of resources, low wages, and poor living conditions after arrival.
- Cultural Continuity: They preserved traditions through festivals like Diwali, Ramleela, and Hosay, and maintained folk music and instruments like dholak and harmonium.
- Language and Identity: Languages such as Hindi, Bhojpuri, and Awadhi remained widely spoken in places like Mauritius, Fiji, and Suriname.
