THE PAIN OF GIRMIT
THE INDENTURE AGREEMENT (GIRMIT) WAS NOTHING SHORT OF SLAVERY. In Fiji, we mark Girmit Diwas each year to mark the arrival of indentured Indian labourers to Fiji from 1879 to 1919.
Many thought it was an island in the Bay of Bengal. They had never seen an ocean and when the journey began many jumped overboard in sheer fear of dislocation from the motherland. The journey from Calcutta to Fiji by sail boat took 90 days to reach.
The pain of Girmit (a concocted term for agreement) was inflicted by the British colonial power when it ruled an empire.
Slave trade was a common feature. However, it came to an end with the passing of the British Slavery Abolition Act in 1834.
In Fiji, we mark Girmit Diwas each year to mark the arrival of indentured Indian labourers to Fiji from 1879 to 1919.
During this period, Britain ruled India. Batches of Indian labourers were transported to various colonies to work on plantations.
The Indenture Agreement (Girmit) was nothing short of slavery. The horrific conditions in which the indentured labourers were recruited, kept and transported to Fiji is a painful saga.
Most indentured labourers were from the North Indian state of United Provinces. They were illiterate and had no idea of what they were signing or how far was Fiji.
Many thought it was an island in the Bay of Bengal. They had never seen an ocean and when the journey began many jumped overboard in sheer fear of dislocation from the motherland.
The journey from Calcutta to Fiji by sail boat took 90 days to reach.
Some labourers died due to sea sickness/cholera and were thrown overboard. They were packed like sardines and hygienic conditions were deplorable.
They were fed on tea and biscuits or dhal and rice. On arrival they were kept in quarantine before being sold to the employers. CSR (Colonial Sugar Refining company) was the largest employer and distributed indentured labourers to various parts of Fiji.
Labour lines were constructed to house them in very congested conditions.
To make things worse there was a shortage of women which created huge social problems. Murders and suicide by hanging were rife.
Women were often molested or beaten by the overseers. There was no plan to provide education to the children of indentured labourers. Hence the emergence of committee run religious schools.
After completing two terms the indentured labourers could go back to India on a free passage. However, many opted to stay back in Fiji and were allocated small plots to do farming.
They had no political rights and were treated as the scum of society. The pain and struggle of the girmitiyas runs very deep and painful memories. The capsizing of Syria and death of the labourers still haunts the IndoFijians even today.
I can only shed tears in remembering the pain and sacrifice of my ancestors who came as indentured labourers to Fiji.
Their huge contribution in the development of Fiji cannot be underestimated. 143 years later the descendants of the indentured labourers are enjoying the fruits of their sacrifice.