The period of Indian Indentureship was a time of remarkable change for our ancestors as traditional caste barriers, deeply ingrained in Indian society, began to crumble. In particular, the proximity of high and low caste Indians in Immigration Depots, aboard ships, and across the Caribbean played a pivotal role in this dramatic shift.

Imagine the impact when people from different castes found themselves side by side, sharing physical spaces, resources, and experiences. This forced interaction challenged the long-standing prejudices and hierarchies that shaped Indian communities for generations. As they embarked on a new life in a foreign land, our ancestors had to rely on each other, breaking down the walls of caste that once separated them.

The consequences of this radical transformation were profound. Some suggest that the breakdown of caste opened doors to unprecedented social and economic mobility. Individuals from lower castes were no longer confined by the limitations imposed by their birth. Others argue that the erosion of traditional caste distinctions meant the loss of cultural practices and values that were deeply intertwined with caste identities. As our ancestors embraced a new reality, some aspects of their heritage and customs were diluted or even lost, leaving a bittersweet legacy.

Join us on the Pepper Pot Podcast as we delve deeper into this chapter of our history in Episode 6: Caste Away. In this episode, we explore the impact of the dismantling of caste barriers, the triumphs, the dilemmas, and the enduring lessons we can learn from this momentous transformation. Together, let's uncover the layers of our shared heritage and celebrate the resilience and strength of our ancestors.

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Credits

Beats and Music by Noyz

Research by Ryan N. Ramdin

Creative Direction by Sara-Sati Ramprashad

Produced by WESTINDIECO

Resources

Bahadur, G. “Coolie Woman: the Odyssey of Indenture” (The University of Chicago Press: 2014).

Basu, S. (2016 Sept. 28), “Solah Shringar: The science behind it” Times of India. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/beauty/solah-shringar-the-science-behind-it/articleshow/54520592.cms

Bronkhurst, H.V.P. (1888) “Among the Hindus and Creoles of British Guiana and its Labouring Population,” Woolmer, London.

Christian, R. “‘They Came in Ships...’ Indo-Caribbean Women and their Construction of Safe Spaces in the Caribbean” in Lurdos, M. & Misrahi-Barak, J. (dir.), “Transport(s) in the British Empire and the Commonwealth.”

“I am a Coolie: Identity and Indenture,” Moray House Trust. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUirPfa8Fjg&t=1811s

Jayawardena, C. (1966) “Religious Belief and Social Change: Aspects of the Development of Hinduism in British Guiana,” Comparative Studies in Society and History, 8(2), pp. 211-240.

Khanan, B.H. & Chickrie. R. (2009) “170th Anniversary of the Arrival of the First Hindustani Muslims from India to British Guiana,” Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 29(2).

Mahabir, K. (ed.) (2004) ‘The Massacre of Indians in the 1884 Hosay” Indian Arrival Day, 5(1).

Mahase, R. (2005) “Caste, Religion and Gender Differentiations amongst Indentured Labourers from Bihar to Trinidad, 1870 to 1900,” in Samaroo, B., Bissessar, A-M. (eds.) “The Construction of an Indo-Caribbean Diaspora” (UWI School of Continuing Studies, St Augustine, Trinidad).

Moore, B.L. (1979) “Retention of Caste Notions Among the Indian Immigrants in British Guiana in the Nineteenth Century” Comparative Studies in Society and History.

“Tracing Roots to India,” Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. Available at: https://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.423197.55992c06ab