6 - The Remigration of Hindostanis from Surinam to India, 1878–1921

Summary

The Dutch colony of Surinam (present-day Suriname), situated on the northern tip of South America, was one of the last colonies to introduce indentured labour from India. In 1870, after extensive negotiations, the Dutch and British governments signed a 26-article treaty, agreeing to the employment of indentured Indian labourers in Surinam. This Coolie Treaty (Koelietractaat) was not implemented for another three years, and it was only on 5 June 1873 that the ship Lalla Rookh arrived in Surinam with 410 emigrants, having left the port of Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) in February. Within one year (between June 1873 and April 1874), seven ships followed, bringing almost 4,000 Indian emigrants to Surinam. In total, 34,304 Indian emigrants were received across 64 ships between 1873 and 1916. It is important to note that these Indian emigrants remained British subjects in Surinam. Their descendants did not become Dutch subjects by law until 1927, and by that point the majority had been born in the colony. They designated themselves as Hindostanis (‘Hindostanen’ in the Dutch language) in reference to their land of origin – Hindustan being one of the original names for India. Due to their status as strangers in a foreign colony, special arrangements protected them. According to Article 9 of the Coolie Treaty, the Indian labourers indentured to Surinam had the right to a free return passage after five years. It also stated:

If he consents to contract a new engagement he will be entitled to a bounty and will retain his right to return-passage at the expiration of such second engagement. The right of the immigrant to a return-passage extends to his wife, and to his children who quitted India under the age of ten years, as well as to those born in the Colony.

More than a third (11,512) of the 34,304 Indian emigrants returned to British India at the expense of the Dutch government. Yet, significantly, in spite of the gratis opportunity to return, the majority of the emigrants settled permanently in Surinam. They received approximately 5 acres of fertile land free of rent for six years and 100 guilders (equivalent to the cost of the return passage). Furthermore, over a quarter (9,725) of them signed a second contract for an additional five years in Surinam and received an extra premium of 100 guilders. After settling, these Indians and their descendants became successful small farmers in due course.