INDIAN INDENTURED LABOUR

arrived in Trinidad in 1908 - aboard the SS Indus. - 3 going on 4 yrs - came with her mother Ramdai - 103 years old
-

 May

30th 1845 arrival of the Fath-al

Razak
March

1917 recruitment of indentured

labourers illegal
January

1st 1920 complete end of

indentureship system

Total

147,600 Indian indentured

labourers
-

Distributed throughout Trinidad Mainly Sugar cane plantations Also coconut, cocoa, rubber

System Work

of contract labour (indenture)

for 5 yrs on the plantation; 45

hours per week

Return

passage after 10 yrs residence

in the colony

 Allowances

of clothing and food

provided by the

Accommodation

planters
Wages

of 25 cents a day (varied for task responsible for medical care

work)
Planter

and health of the labourers

Areas of Migration

Oudh

Bengal

Bihar

Madras/Bombay

United Prov

27%

48%

5%

14%
6% 0%

Brahmins

14 %
castes 60% 25%

Agricultural Low

castes

Others

1%

Muslim = 15% Hindus = 77% Christians = 4% Others- 4%

Colonies

Colonial Office

Government Of India

Licenses

issued to recruiters hired (arkatia)

Sub-recruiters Arkatias

went into districts and

villages
Positive

images of indentureship used to convince labourers

Chinidad

the Land of Sugar

Use

of force abductions and

Kidnappings
Especially

in relation to

recruitment of female labourers

Small,

one room structures Lack of medical care No attention to labourers health temporary situation medical facilities in these areas of an embryonic nature

Government officials

Quarantine
Medical treatment Inspection (emigrants and facilities)

Sanitation
Sufficient accommodation Water supply (regular and nearby)

Latrine facilities (if needed)

Eradication of contagious diseases

James

Nourse Shipping Company Length of time : 20 weeks (sailing ship) and 13 weeks (steamer) New travelers Journey equivalent to Middle Passage (African slavery) Motion sickness; fever; meningitis; measles and mumps

 Provision

of medical care (hospital and constant supplies preparation on the number on board

medical attention)
Sufficient

Proper food Restrictions Space

allocation per emigrant

 Trinidad

Immigration Depot located on Nelson Island of ship, food and stores by Protector of

Inspection

Immigrants
Fumigation

of bundles and blankets

Quarantine
Medical

Examination

 Weak Sick

ones remained at the depot (rest)

ones taken to the Colonial Hospital

(Port of Spain)
Healthy

ones sent to the estates

Estate to provide accommodation,

ration and medical care

Inspection by the Medical

Officer of the district

Immigrants responsible for

cleanliness of barracks and

space around

All estates must have facilities for the care of the

immigrant ( hospital)

At least one dispenser or sick nurse

on each estate

Regular visits by Protector of

Immigrants and the Surgeon-General

Life on the Plantation

Freedom

of movement curtailed needed a pass to leave the estate Cultural practices allowed Caste system broke down Names changes Conversion to Christianity

 Patriarchical

society Problems in recruiting women 69% male 29% male 2% cannot be distinguished Ratio: 40 women per 100 men

 Illegal

recruiting

Increased No

status of women

female infanticide opportunities at marriage (horning)

Better

Infidelity Wife

Murders over women

Control

Typhoid fever

Dysentery
Bronchitis Pneumonia Ankylostomiasis Tuberculosis

 Music Food

Indian classical, folk, tassa, chutney

roti, doubles, curry, prasad/methi

Dance

Katak, Bharat Natyam, Odissi

- Ramleela Hinduism, Islam

Theatre Religions Place

names Fyzabad, Barrackpore, sari, shalwar, kurta Divali, Phagwa

Clothing

Goldsmiths Festivals

Loss of vernacular languages e.g. Bhojpuri Cultural practices adapted to suit host environment Conversion to Presbyterianism

 Loss

of vernacular languages e.g. Bhojpuri

Cultural

practices adapted to suit host

environment
Conversion

to Presbyterianism

 African/Indian

cultural mixture

Chutney (soca chutney) Pantar (steelpan and sitar) Dougla (African and Indian parentage)

Labourers protests

Protests in India

Abolition

Indian middle class protests

Protests in S. Africa, Fiji, Mauritius

African Slavery

Indian indentureship

forced labour Culture suppressed

Contract labour Culture allowed (once not a threat) Regulated by law Could return after10 years labour in the colony

Not regulated Hardly any chance of returning to Africa