Indentured Tamil Immigrants From Madras to the British Sugar Colonies of the Empire, 1837-1917

This book explores the characteristics of Tamil indentured labour migration from Madras to the sugar plantations in Mauritius, British Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Natal and Fiji. Paying particular attention to the various types of contracts to these destinations and the development of human trafficking and coolie trade, it vividly describes the exploitative nature of work in the colonies. The volume analyzes the monstrous and inhuman treatment meted out to workers and how their hopes and dreams of fortune had been crushed out. The author exposes the social capital accumulated by the British planters, and highlights the role of labourers in the making of the British Empire.

S. Jeyaseela Stephen is former directeur, Institut pour études Indo Furopéennes (2013-2023). He was Professor of Maritime History (2001-2013) at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan. He has authored mumerous books on the maritune history of early modern India. His books have been translated into Chinese, Danish, German and Tamil. He is the recipient of the Best Book Prize of the Year 1999 from the Government of Tamil Nadu. He received the Thiru Vi Ka Award of 2023 by the Government of Tamil Nadu