Dear Editor,
This coming March (2017) marks the centennial of the official abolition of Indian indentureship or girmitya labour, an era spanning the years 1834 to 1917 [1838-1917 in the case of Guyana]. Some four million Indians were sent overseas as indentured or girmitya laborers to various countries around the globe. Indian indentureship has had a significant impact on these societies – Mauritius (and other islands in the Indian Ocean), Fiji, South Africa and other African countries, Trinidad, Suriname, Guyana, Belize, Guadeloupe, and other territories of the Caribbean region, Malaysia, Singapore and other Asian countries; as well as on the USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands, France, New Zealand, Australia, etc, where the descendants of indentured labourers have settled over the last fifty years. The one hundredth anniversary of the abolition of indentureship, as indeed for any event, is historic and should be commemorated.
A group of individuals met last week in New York to plan the Commemoration of the Centennial of the end of indentureship. The group met under the auspices of the Indian Diaspora Council (IDC) which will plan and execute a series of events around the globe from September to March.
There is also a plan for a book to be released entitled: Centennial of Abolition of Indian Indentureship: End of an Era of Indian Migration, its Challenges and Progress of the Community. This book will be a compilation of relevant articles by prominent writers, historians and researchers selected from respective countries to commemorate the centennial and to provide insights on challenges, progress and achievements during and after that historic era.
This keepsake volume is intended to be a historical document for scholars, students, libraries, Indian diaspora researchers and the general public.
Some other planned events are:
- Kick-off press conference and seminar on 12th September, 2016 in New York, USA
- Recommended kick-off press conferences and seminars in selected countries, Sep-Oct 2016.
- Release of publication: Centennial of Abolition of Indian Indenturedship… 2nd January, 2017
- Conference session at Uttar Pradesh Divas 2017 (Lucknow, India). 4th January, 2017
- Panel session at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2017 (India), 8th January, 2017
- Coordinated country commemoration conferences and cultural presentations in selected Indian embassies and consulates in countries impacted, 5th March, 2017. (Cities ‒ Suva, Port Louis, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Naypidaw, Sydney, Auckland, Kolkata, Chennai, New Delhi, Lucknow, Patna, Saint Denis, Durban, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Toronto, Orlando, Georgetown, Paramaribo, Port of Spain, Kingston (Jamaica), Kingston (St Vincent), Corozal (Belize), St Georges (Grenada), Castries (St Lucia), Basseterre (Guadeloupe), Fort-de-France (Martinique). Other cities would be added as needed.
- Global convention in Port of Spain (Trinidad & Tobago), 18th-20th March, 2017. Activities to include conferences, break-out sessions, workshops, resolutions, action items team, cultural entertainment, receptions and banquets; recognition awards for notable achievements.
Coordination teams in every country are being set up. The IDC welcomes the community’s interest and seeks participation in the varied planned activities in this global Commemoration of Centennial of Abolition of Indian Indentureship (CCAII).
IndianDiasporaCouncil.org website is being developed and updated information will be posted on a regular basis.
More details can be obtained from IndianDiasporaCouncil@gmail.com
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram