Girmitiya Chapter

The term “Girmitiya” comes from the word “Agreement”, referring to the indenture contracts signed by Indian laborers who were taken to work on plantations under the British Empire between 1834 and 1917.

After the abolition of slavery, the British began recruiting Indians as indentured laborers to meet the demand for cheap labor in colonies such as Mauritius, Fiji, South Africa, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, Seychelles, and Réunion.

More than 1.5 million Indians, primarily from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and South India, left their homeland with the hope of a better life. However, many faced hardship, separation, and exploitation during and after the long sea voyages.

Despite these struggles, the Girmitiyas carried with them the spirit, traditions, and values of India. Over generations, they preserved their language, culture, music, and religion, forming vibrant Indian communities abroad. Their resilience and commitment transformed pain into pride, and struggle into strength.

Today, the descendants of these Girmitiyas continue to honor their ancestors’ legacy by celebrating Indian festivals, speaking native dialects, and reconnecting with their roots — keeping alive the story of courage, faith, and identity across generations.