A big role in this connection has been played by thousands and millions of Indians who had, and continue to, migrate around the world. Migration has been an integral part of human history since time immemorial, playing an integral in building our modern societies.
Why Did People Migrate?
Humans have moved all over the globe, over many years, to form the basis of human civilization as we know it today. This crisscrossing of humans all over the globe has left a permanent and deep impact on global history.
As complex as the process of migration, the impact of migration is also as complex and multi-faceted. As far as the impact of migration, to and from India, on Indian history, culture and in general society is concerned, it is profound and nuanced.
The biggest factor contributing to migration from the pre-independent India was the hope of the migrant families to lead a more satisfying life in countries that present an opportunity for a better living standard.
These Indians, who due to many reasons settled across the globe, also gave their children a great opportunity to assimilate a new culture into their lives, and become an integral and respected part of the society of their new country.
A major part of these Indian migrants settled in the Islands of Fiji, oceans beyond the Indian coast. Even today an Indian heart beats in the core of these islands, which is still a sight to behold. But before that let us quickly delve into the history of these islands.
The Story of Fiji Islands
Fiji Islands are small islands in the South-Pacific region of the world. The process of colonizing these islands, scattered all along the Oceania region, started in the late 18th century. They were predominantly colonised as they were located near the important colonies of Australia and New Zealand.
Another interest the Europeans had, was missionary work, to spread Christianity to these islands. The Dutch, French, German and the British, all had some or the other kind of territorial colony in this region. These peaceful and scenic islands were also very popular due to the high-quality sandalwood, sea cucumbers and marine invertebrates they produced.
But as the Europeans, and more specifically the British started flowing in, conflicts also followed. The native community was neither satisfied nor welcoming of the drastic changes the Europeans had brought in. This led to massive strikes on the island, which consequently led to the British making the Fiji islands a British Crown Colony.
To pacify the natives of the island, the new governor, Sir Arthur Gordon, passed legislation, wherein he banned the involvement of the natives in any kind of commercial or political activity.
But the islands were of specific great interest to the British, as they had fertile soil which was suitable to grow Sugar plantations, and increase the profit pocket of the British, so they could not abandon their plantations and therefore needed labourers for the work in the farms.
So the British administration decided to use Indian labourers and Australian investment to continue their work on the plantations. This is how the migration of Indians to Fiji started.
The Advent of the Indians
The Indian immigration to Fiji was among the first movement of Indian migrants under the Indian indenture system, which expanded rapidly after the abolition of Slavery in the British empire in 1833. These migrants, from eastern UP and Bihar, migrated to another face of the planet according to the whims of their colonial masters.
They were taken as indentured labourers, who, in many instances, were treated as badly as the slaves from Africa. Their contract dictated harsh and cruel terms and conditions to these labourers, and hardly any right or respect was extended to them.
The Larger Picture
On a macro level, these small stories of migration lead to a grander picture. Successive migration of Indians across many generations, since the pre-independence era, has led to a demographic shift in these countries today, where Indians are now a big portion of the population and command respectable positions in the society.
But these Indians were many times taken away from India on a wrong pretence of a better life and economic opportunities, but all these things were a sham. Many Indians died on board ships, where no facilities were arranged for them. Like any other story, the Migration of Indians to Fiji resulted in both positives and negatives.
The families, when they left the pre-independent India, could never imagine that they would forever lose the traditions that generations before them had nurtured in villages and the rural parts of the nation. The story of migration, even though it is an integral part of our history, has not treated everyone equally.
They tried, and still are trying, to hold on the most the can of the age bygone. Temple procession and traditional festivals are still a common sight in these Islands, with many still speaking local Indian languages. But in between many still wonder, as to for how long this Indian heart, in the middle of a faraway ocean, will beat before it fades away to oblivion.
Written by - Piyush Pandey
Edited by - Adrija Saha
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