Dear Editor,
Nearly a hundred and ten years (March/May 1917) after the end of recruitment of indentured laborers from India and nearly 106 years after the abolition of indentureship in British colonies, the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi to the campaign against that dehumanizing, slave-like labor system remains an important chapter in the history of India and the making of the Indian diaspora that is spread across the globe. The abolition of indentureship stands as a significant milestone in the history of the Indian diaspora. Indentureship led to the creation of the Indian diaspora similar to how slavery led to the rise of the African diaspora. The subject of indentureship continues to be of interest to descendants of Indians who labored during indentureship and to scholars of the subject in India and the diaspora. The struggle of Gandhi and other Indian freedom fighters was critical in ending that exploitative labor system. Gandhi’s opposition to indentureship developed from his experiences in observing that repressive, predatory labor system in South Africa where he spent considerable years opposing it and the ill-treatment of Indians and Blacks. He led a campaign against racism in South Africa and later became involved in the national campaign in India to end indentureship of Indian laborers overseas.
Indentureship was a system under which Indian workers (girmitiyas) entered contracts to labour for fixed periods in British colonies and other imperial territories (of France, Holland, Denmark). The Indian indentureship period began in 1828 first to (French) Reunion Island where indentureship and slavery existed side by side and where Indians, according to reports, also served as slaves alongside Africans. Indentured laborers were sent to Mauritius in 1834, British Guiana in 1838, and other territories thereafter. Some 1.5 million Indians were transported to places including South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, British Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica, French Guiana, Grenada, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Suriname, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Belize, St. Croix, Seychelles, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, and other colonies. Workers were promised (low) wages and other benefits (that were not delivered especially in British colonies in the Caribbean), and many faced difficult laboring conditions, restrictions on movements and cultural practices, poor nutrition, diseases that killed many, inadequate pay and at times no payment, fines if they ‘violate’ the contract, and very harsh, oppressive treatment. The system became increasingly controversial and was condemned by Indian nationalists (championing India’s independence) as an affront to human dignity – not dissimilar from slavery as scholars commented. It was criticised for its coercive character as laborers could not venture more than two miles from the estate and the dead (Hindus) could not be cremated. Workers could face penalties for breaches of labour regulations and faced restrictions on movement and difficult working conditions. Reports of abuse and exploitation gradually attracted attention in India and among reformers in the colonies.
Gandhi’s personal experience in South Africa gave him an intimate understanding of the problems faced by indentured laborers and confronting indentured Indians and their descendants overseas. He arrived in South Africa in 1893 and soon encountered racial discrimination against Indians including himself. During his years there, he fought against racism. His work brought him into contact with both indentured and formerly indentured Indians. He witnessed the social and economic difficulties faced by Indian workers and became convinced that the system was incompatible with human dignity. He worked hard to unite Indians across social and religious divisions and established political organisations to defend their rights. His campaigns brought him into contact with indentured and former indentured workers and exposed him to the hardships experienced by the Indian labouring population.
One of the major issues in South Africa was a burdensome £3 tax imposed on former indentured workers who remained in Natal after completing their contracts. Gandhi opposed the tax because it placed an unfair burden on workers who had completed their period of indenture and wanted to engage in free labor. His wider South African campaign eventually contributed to the abolition of the tax and other measures affecting the Indian community. The 1914 settlement between Gandhi and the White South African authorities not only abolished the £3 tax but also recognized Indian marriages. Recognition of Indian marriages in Guyana and other territories came much later.
Gandhi’s South African experience strengthened his conviction that indentureship had to end altogether. After returning to India in January 1915, he turned his attention to the continuing recruitment of Indian labourers for overseas colonies. He joined the growing campaign against indentured emigration. He was not alone as political leaders, reformers, journalists and community organisations had already been raising concerns about the system. His campaign coincided with growing criticism of indentureship throughout the Caribbean and India. Reports about the conditions of workers overseas had created increasing pressure on the colonial authorities.
Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, in particular, played an important role in pressing for abolition. Gandhi’s contribution was to bring additional public energy and moral force to the campaign.
In 1916, the Indian nationalist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya moved a resolution in the Imperial Legislative Council calling for abolition of indentureship. Although the British Government indicated that the system would eventually end, Gandhi believed that an indefinite promise was insufficient. He argued that India should demand a definite date for abolition.
In early 1917, Gandhi began a determined campaign to build public opinion against indentured emigration. He travelled to major centres and addressed public meetings, urging Indians to reject a system that he considered degrading to the country’s dignity. CF Andrews, a lay preacher and sympathizer of Indians and a supporter of Gandhi, was sent abroad by the Indian leadership to look into conditions of the indentured laborers. CF Andrew’s visited Guyana and other colonies. He reported that the indentured laborers and their descendants were treated very poorly. Gandhi himself acknowledged that public agitation and the work of other campaigners were important factors in securing the result.
A significant moment came during Gandhi’s visit to Calcutta in March 1917. At a large public meeting at the Town Hall, he supported demands for the immediate abolition of indentured emigration. He insisted that India could not continue to tolerate the system while discussions and official procedures were repeatedly used to postpone action. The campaign helped create strong public pressure on the Government. The Gandhi Heritage Portal records his March 1917 activities in Calcutta, including his declaration that India could not tolerate indentured emigration beyond the proposed deadline.
The British Government subsequently moved towards ending recruitment. The suspension of indentured recruitment was announced in March 1917, although reports say it was May 25, and the system was abolished on January 1, 1920.
The abolition of indentureship was also the result of the courage and persistence of some of the workers themselves, as well as the efforts of many activists, politicians, journalists and reformers. Indian labourers had resisted exploitation in different ways, while campaigners documented their conditions and brought their grievances to public attention. Several leaders in Guyana advocated for continuation of importation of laborers from India.
The end of indentured recruitment had far-reaching consequences leaving over two million Indians behind. And although the system itself was abolished, Indians were still exploited. Indians settled down. Their descendants went on to make significant contributions to the cultural, economic and political life of countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Fiji, Mauritius and South Africa. Indians co-led the struggle against apartheid.
As the diaspora celebrated Gandhi’s birth anniversary, his role in ending indentureship is remembered as part of his broader commitment to human dignity and justice.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram
Source: Kaieteur News
