Why South Africans of Indian descent must reclaim their Girmitiya history

The history of South African Indians must be reclaimed, as they must not be overlooked in discussions about slavery and indenture. The arrival of the first Indian indentured labourers in Durban in 1860 marked a defining chapter in South African history, with 152,641 Indian indentured workers arriving between 1860 and 1911 to work on sugar plantations.

Many faced harsh working conditions, poor living conditions, low wages, abuse, and restrictions on their freedom. Their labor helped build Natal's sugar industry and established a community with significant contributions to South Africa.

Despite these contributions, the history of Indian indentured labourers is often treated as a lesser chapter when discussing the British Empire's colonial record. While the language and paperwork differed, indentureship was still a form of controlled labour that exploited people with little control over their circumstances. The arrival of Indian indentured labourers marked the beginning of a defining chapter in South African history, with their sacrifices helping shape the country's identity.

The debate about reparations for slavery often overlooks the experiences of descendants of indentured Indians. While acknowledging the injustice of slavery is important, the descendants of indentured labourers also have a legitimate reason to demand acknowledgment of their history and the need for reparatory justice. The British Empire's financial interests in slavery were recognised, but the human debt owed to those who suffered was not.

Today, Britain should confront the consequences of its imperial past and recognize the history of indentured Indians.