The Indian Diaspora Council (#IDC) will hold its New York, USA commemoration of Abolition of Indian Indentureshipat the Consulate of India at 3 East 64th Street in New York starting at 6:30pm on March 3, 2017. The theme of the event is: “Centennial of Abolition of Indian Indenturedship: Challenges, Achievements and Charting New Frontiers”.

Year 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the official abolition of Indian Indenturedship, an era spanning 1834-1917. Indian Indentureship was an intense and harrowing period of Indian migration from several Indian states to far way lands of then British colonies throughout the world: Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean regions. The majority of those laborers came from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkand, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

The history and consequences of Indian Indenturedship are deeply embedded with tremendous significance, meaningful history and sometimes painful reflections to millions of descendants living in many countries which were the recipients of Indian Indentured laborers seeking better livelihoods: Mauritius, Fiji, S. Africa, Trinidad, Suriname, Guyana, Belize, Guadeloupe and other countries of the Caribbean; as well as second migration to USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands, France and other countries.

The upcoming New York event is commemorating the centennial of abolition of Indian Indenturedship in the NY-NJ-CT-PA-MA region where a significant population of PIOs and NRIs reside: Over 200,000 PIOs descendants of Indian Indentured immigrants from Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname, Jamaica, South Africa and other countries presently reside in the region.

The March 3 program includes remarks by consul generals of India and other countries impacted by Indian indentureship, followed by prominent historians and speakers on: History of Indian Indenturedship; Impacted countries & second migration; Perspectives on the end of an era; Challenges, Unparalleled Progress and Achievement; Evolution of economic and political standing; Descendants of Indian Indenturedship and the PIOs experience. After an audience interactive Q/A, there would be presentation of music, dance and poetry on Indian migration, followed by an assortment of foods from the Caribbean and other PIO countries.

Similar commemoration events are being held by Indian Diaspora Council (IDC) and its affiliates in several countries impacted by Indian indentureship during the month of March 2017, including a 2-day conference in New Delhi on April 22-23.

This New York event precedes the Indian Diaspora World Convention 2017, the grand global commemoration on March 17-20, 2017 to be held in Trinidad & Tobago: Grand opening ceremonies, conferences, panel sessions, workshops, resolutions, action items team, future projects, cultural presentations and receptions. Several Indian officials as well as officials, civic and community leaders from neighboring Caribbean countries would be engaged in discussions on engagements and collaboration.

For more information, please contact Ashook Ramsaran @ ashookramsaran@gmail.com

Indian Diaspora Council (IDC) is an international non-profit organization of shared heritage, aspirations and interests.