Publications
Indentured diaspora (Girmit) in Mauritius: Histories, legacies, and contemporary implications
Aapravasi Ghat stands as a poignant symbol of the indentured labor system that reshaped Mauritius between the 19th and early 20th centuries. This study reveals how the British colonial indenture system, introduced post-slavery abolition, exploited North and South Indian workers through deceptive recruitment practices, while simultaneously fostering resilience and cultural preservation among laborers. Despite harsh conditions—strict regulations, racial discrimination, and limited freedoms—they laid foundational contributions to modern Mauritian society. The research underscores the dual legacy of exploitation and endurance, illustrating how Aapravasi Ghat serves as both a memorial and a living testament to the indentured diaspora's enduring impact on Mauritius’s colonial and postcolonial identity.
Memories of indenture: An analysis of representations of indentured labour at the Aapravasi Ghat and the 1860 heritage centre
A comparative analysis of exhibitions at Aapravasi Ghat (Mauritius) and the 1860 Heritage Centre (South Africa) reveals how these sites shape memories of indentured labor, a transnational system that dispersed populations across continents. The study highlights their role in fostering connective memory through narratives tied to democratic nation-building and postcolonial identities, while also exploring diasporic networks and contemporary interpretations of historical materials. By adopting a transnational oceanic framework, the research demonstrates how these sites can reimagine indenture's representations, suggesting new directions for museum practices to engage with this complex history.
Preserving Bhojpuri Language and Culture Through Art
Art serves as a powerful medium for preserving and promoting marginalized linguistic and cultural traditions, particularly the Bhojpuri language and culture. This study demonstrates how two distinct artworks—one featuring 38 Bhojpuri sentences inscribed in Devanagari script on traditional jute cloth using cow dung and soil, and another composed of cut pieces from a grandfather's turban draped over dried tree branches—effectively capture daily life, festivals, and historical narratives. Both artists' works highlight their personal connection to the Bhojpuri tradition, illustrating how contemporary and traditional art forms can sustain intangible cultural heritage. The analysis underscores the role of such artistic expressions in giving visibility and continuity to at-risk linguistic identities.
Reimagining the Aapravasi Ghat: Khal Torabully's poetry and the indentured diaspora
Khal Torabully's poetry collection, 'Voices from the Aapravasi Ghat: Indentured Imaginaries,' challenges traditional narratives of Mauritius' indentured labor history by highlighting the diverse ethnicities—Indian, African, Malagasy, and Chinese—that contributed to its diaspora. Through his concept of Coolitude poetics, Torabully reimagines the Aapravasi Ghat as a foundational space for complex, open-ended identities that promote diversity while acknowledging contradictions. This study reveals how Torabully's work disrupts ethnic distinctiveness but inadvertently reproduces Indo-centric perspectives, particularly through the themes of 'kala pani' (dark waters) and the fakir figure.
Slaves, Convicts, Abolitionism and the Global Origins of the Post-Emancipation Indentured Labor System
Recent research challenges long-held assumptions about the origins of the post-emancipation indentured labor system, revealing that it emerged 25 years earlier than previously believed and was initially centered on Chinese rather than Indian workers. The British East India Company played a pivotal role in this global migrant labor system's development during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with its influence extending beyond the Indian Ocean region. This study sheds new light on the interconnected free and forced labor trades that shaped colonial plantation economies, drawing from international conferences and supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund.
Privileging the Diaspora in Mauritius: Making World Heritage for a Multicultural Nation
Aapravasi Ghat, inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as a symbol of the Indian diaspora, serves as a contested site for Mauritian nationalism. While it represents transnational diasporic identity, its designation reflects a political vision that prioritizes diaspora over mixed or entangled identities. This study reveals how diaspora functions as a primary modality for distinguishing Mauritian citizenship and fostering a sense of loyalty to a single place, akin to primordial nationalisms. The research examines the emergence and operation of Aapravasi Ghat as a diasporic heritage project, highlighting the dynamic nature of identities and the political implications of its World Heritage status.
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