The Old Hindu Diaspora

The Old Hindu Diaspora traces its roots to the indentured labor system—a practice that emerged in the 1830s after the abolition of slavery across most of the British Empire. In need of a new source of cheap labor, British colonial authorities turned to South Asia, recruiting primarily poor and uneducated individuals from the region to work on plantations and infrastructure projects across the globe.

Between the 1830s and early 20th century, nearly 1.5 million South Asians—most of them Hindus from North India—were transported to far-flung colonies such as the Caribbean islands, Fiji, South Africa, Mauritius, East Africa, and the Malay Peninsula. These men and women labored in harsh conditions on sugar, cotton, coffee, and tea plantations, as well as in railway construction and other colonial enterprises.

Although labeled as “indentured,” many laborers were coerced, deceived, or misled about the nature of the work and the conditions they would face. Some fled famine, poverty, or social unrest, but often found themselves caught in a system that closely resembled slavery in all but name. This exploitative practice was later adopted by other colonial powers, including the French and Dutch, after they too abolished formal slavery in their colonies.

Recruitment into the British Indentured Labor System officially ended in 1917, and indentured labor was formally outlawed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

Despite the trauma of displacement, many of these Hindus chose to remain in the lands where they had been taken, rather than face the uncertain and often dangerous return to India. With no money, status, or clear place to return to, they stayed—and over time, laid deep roots in their adopted countries. These communities have made significant contributions to the social, cultural, and economic life of their new homelands.

Today, we turn our hearts in prayer toward these communities—descendants of the Old Hindu Diaspora—recognizing both the pain of their past and the enduring strength they have shown in building new futures.