Remembering Indenture: Cultural Memory and Identity Formation in Girmitiya Diaspora Literature

Abstract

Aim: The paper aims to examine the historical memory of the indenture system among the Girmitiya community and its role in shaping diasporic identity. Indenture was a contractual labour system under which Indian labourers were bound to work for a specified period. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, thousands of Indian labourers were transported to colonial plantations in different parts of the world following the abolition of slavery.

Methodology and Approach: The paper adopts a qualitative textual approach and analyses selected works of Indo-Caribbean writers, including David Dabydeen, Peggy Mohan, and Ramabai Espinet. The study examines how experiences of migration, displacement, plantation life, and survival are represented and transformed into collective cultural memory. It also considers the preservation of language, traditions, and cultural values across generations.

Outcome: The study demonstrates that the memory of indenture contributes significantly to the preservation of Girmitiya cultural identity. The selected writers portray the exploitative conditions of plantation life while highlighting the resilience of Indian labourers who preserved their languages, traditions, and cultural values despite displacement and hardship.

Conclusion and Suggestions: The paper concludes that remembering indenture enables the Girmitiya diaspora to reconstruct its historical past, preserve its cultural memory, and negotiate its identity in the contemporary world. It suggests that greater attention should be given to Girmitiya literary and cultural narratives to preserve the memory and experiences of indentured communities for future generations.