The Journey of Indian Diaspora as Indian Indentured Labourers in Fiji

Abstract

Indian diaspora is the largest diaspora in the world. As we know, the basic reasons for diaspora are unemployment, natural disaster, forced migration, etc. In this paper,I would like to depict Indian diaspora in Fiji as an indentured labourers. Indian labourers brought to Fiji as indenturedlabourers to work on a sugarcane plantation. They signed a contract from labourers which was called ‘girmit' and who came under this contract called ‘girmitiya'. It was a five-year contract that contained rules and regulations for workers. They had to face many obstacles during their journey from India to Fiji and also,they had to suffer hardship on Fiji island as indentured labourers. With the passage of time, Indian indentured labourers and their new generation have got the identity as Fiji-Indians.There are many notable Indo-Fijians like James Madhwan who was one of the longest-serving parliamentarians in Fiji, Mahendra Chaudhary was the fourth Prime Minister of Fiji, Sidiq Koya was politician, opposition leader and statesman and so on. Indians brought as indentured labourers to Fiji island but with their hard work and intelligence they have got their rights and made a distinct place in Fiji