Indentured diaspora (Girmit) in Mauritius: Histories, legacies, and contemporary implications

This paper explores the history and impact of Indian indentured labour migration to Mauritius during the 19th and early 20th centuries. After the abolition of slavery, British colonial authorities introduced the indenture system to meet labour demands on sugar plantations. The paper examines how workers from North and South India entered the system through recruitment processes that often involved deception and coercion. It describes their daily lives, characterized by strict regulations, limited freedoms, and racial discrimination. Despite these hardships, many labourers formed new communities, preserved cultural traditions, and contributed significantly to the development of modern Mauritian society. The study also looks at how places like Aapravasi Ghat commemorate the history of indenture and how these historical connections continue to shape Mauritius’s identity today. By highlighting both the exploitation and resilience of indentured laborers, the paper illustrates their central role in the island’s colonial and postcolonial history.