Girmit History and Diasporic Consciousness in the Writings of Satendra Nandan

Abstract

The system of indentured labour, commonly referred to as Girmit in Fiji, emerged in the aftermath of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 as a colonial mechanism to sustain plantation economies. Although presented as a contractual labour arrangement, the system replicated many oppressive features of slavery. This paper examines the historical evolution of the girmit system, the lived experiences of Indian indentured labourers in Fiji, and the cultural and psychological consequences of their displacement. It further explores the diasporic consciousness articulated in the literary works of Satendra Nandan, whose poetry and prose recover the silenced histories of the girmityas. By analysing Nandan’s major poems and autobiographical reflections, the paper argues that girmit history represents both trauma and transformation, contributing to the formation of Indo-Fijian identity. The study highlights the importance of memory, narrative, and literary representation in reclaiming marginalized histories and reinterpreting indenture as a site of resilience rather than mere victimhood.