indian indentured labour
TRANSCRIPT
- 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 of contract labour (indenture)
Work for 5 yrs on the plantation; 45
hours per week
Return passage after 10 yrs residence
in the colony
Allowances of clothing and food
Accommodation provided by the
planters
Wages of 25 cents a day (varied for task
work)
Planter responsible for medical care
and health of the labourers
Licenses issued to recruiters Sub-recruiters hired (arkatia)
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
medical attention)
Sufficient supplies
Proper food preparation
Restrictions on the number on board
Space allocation per emigrant
Trinidad Immigration Depot located on Nelson Island
Inspection of ship, food and stores by Protector of
Immigrants
Fumigation of bundles and blankets
Quarantine
Medical Examination
Weak ones remained at the depot (rest)
Sick 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 status of women
No female infanticide
Better opportunities at marriage
Infidelity (horning)
Wife Murders
Control over women
Music – Indian classical, folk, tassa, chutney
Food – roti, doubles, curry, prasad/methi
Dance – Katak, Bharat Natyam, Odissi
Theatre - Ramleela
Religions – Hinduism, Islam
Place names – Fyzabad, Barrackpore,
Clothing – sari, shalwar, kurta
Goldsmiths
Festivals – Divali, Phagwa
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)
Abolition
Labourers’ protests
Indian middle class
protests
Protests in S. Africa,
Fiji, Mauritius
Protests in India