Why in the News?

On his Trinidad and Tobago visit, the Prime Minister said India is working to create a Girmitiya community database and to regularly host World Girmitiya Conferences.

More on the News

• Extension of OCI cards to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago was also announced. 
• Additionally, Trinidad and Tobago has become the first country in the region to adopt India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI). 

About Girmitiyas

• "Girmitiyas" were Indian indentured labourers who left India in the mid to late 19th century to work in British colonies especially after enforcement of British Slavery Abolition Act 1833, causing  labour shortage.
  • The term "Girmit" is a mispronunciation of "Agreement," referring to the contract under which they migrated.
  • They went to work on sugar plantations, tea gardens etc. in the colonies, and many eventually settled there.
• Distribution: Mauritius, Fiji, West Indies,  Mauritius, South Africa, Caribbean (mostly Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, and Jamaica).
• Source Regions: Mostly from the eastern United Provinces and Bihar. 
  • The economic challenges they faced back home,  poverty, unemployment, unfavorable agricultural conditions, and prospect of greater pay and living conditions in the colonies were the main motivators for many Girmitiyas.
  • However, after reaching the colonies, the workers continued to live in poverty as they had no access to resources, living wages, or even food and potable water.
  • Note- Tamils from Madras, Negapatam and Thondi went to Ceylon, Burma and Malaysia.

Significance of Girmitiyas for India

• Deep cultural ties: They became the majority group in countries like Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname, driving significant cultural assimilation of Indian traditions into local cultures.
  • Songs, music, traditions similar to India
    • Festivals: Celebration of Diwali, Ramleela in Fiji, Hosay festival in Trinidad and Tobago.
    • Folk Songs: In Fiji and Surinam, North Indian folk songs Kaharva, Birha, Lorik, Faruahi etc. are popular.
    • Use of musical instruments like Dhanatal with dholak, harmonium, Dandatal (eastern Uttar Pradesh).
  • Language: Hindi, Bhojpuri, Awadhi are widely spoken in Mauritius, Fiji and Surinam.
• Political: 
  • Soft Power Diplomacy: Support at multilateral forums like the UN, WTO etc.
  • Hold highest state and government positions in the Girmitiya countries. For eg. Prime Ministers of Mauritius (Navinchandra Ramgoolam), Trinidad and Tobago (Kamla Persad-Bissessar). 
• Economic: Source of philanthropy, information exchanges, investments in innovation, and support for development projects. For e.g. Mauritius (17% of total FDI FY 2024–25).

Conclusion

The recent proposal to introduce the history of girmitiyas in school education in India is significant to preserve the culture, art and history of Girmitiyas is welcome and highlights the overall significance of the community in our cultural heritage.