Slavery and Indentured Labour: Crime against humanity

“Sell me to this man; he needs a master” — Diogenes of Sinope

By Dr Shravan Nosib

At some point during mankind’s evolutionary journey toward becoming apex predators, it acquired that ruthless streak of hunting its own kind, the only species to do so. Such predatory behaviour preyed upon differences in colour, culture, power and economics, the latter being the overwhelming driving force for this barbaric and murderous exploitation.

Slavery appears to have been a widespread practice throughout history, as evidenced by accounts in Biblical literature; Greeks, Romans, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese resorted to slaves to build and consolidate their empires at the height of their domination. However, the rapid expansion of the American, British and French empires soon seized the lion’s share of this lucrative trade as their military power and political influence paved the way for a malignant exploitation of natural resources around the world, masked as development and civilization of the colonies.

Africa, the cradle of humanity and birthplace of Mama Lucy whose genes all of us carry in our mitochondrial DNA, became the nexus of the slave trade during that dark period in human history and it is estimated that at least 10-15 million African slaves were traded globally to satisfy the greed of the colonisers. Slaves were forced into bondage by their owners, leaving them at their mercy for life. They could find no freedom except in death.

The first slaves in Mauritius were brought by the Dutch East India Company in 1638 to toil the land for agriculture and the wealthy French, fleeing the revolution and the guillotine back home, quickly took over and till 1810, they had imported about 100,000 slaves from Madagascar, Mozambique and other slave-trading African and Asian countries. The southwest Indian Ocean emerged as a regional epicenter for this booming trade, with Captain Dorval gaining notoriety as the most powerful slave trader in the area. In his deposition, he provides a graphic account of how slaves were held captive aboard the ships that transported them to Mauritius.

Enchained at the neck, wrist and ankle and to the group, their descent into Hell was matched by their appalling conditions on the agricultural farms. They were systematically and often brutally deculturized as they were forbidden to speak their indigenous languages and practise their spirituality. This vile modus operandi, under Royal decree, has been the most cruel and efficient weapon in the hands of colonizers all over the world. Torture, maiming, whipping, branding, sexual violence, and decapitation were commonplace.

Slave Revolts

The human spirit, however, can only take so much, and slave revolts were not an uncommon occurrence. Their status as slaves was revoked to maroon, which meant that they had no owner/master. Death on capture was inevitable as the historically documented 11 cases of Peter of Bali, Louis of Bengal, and Jan of Goa who were torn to pieces at the wheels of farming equipment. Jack of Madagascar, Ventura of Mozambique, and Abbas of Penang were hanged. The rest of the group were whipped, branded, and chained to endure their life sentences. Countless others suffered similarly. The instruments of torture were beyond imagination. 

Le Morne Brabant, Black River, is so much more than a mountain; it is a monument, a sanctuary, a mystical structure that weeps its violent and tragic history during heavy rains. It provided shelter deep into its rocky womb to the maroons, safe from sure death. Thus, it is fitting that it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008.

The abolition of slavery in 1835 was a watershed moment in the history of Mauritius and it paved the way for the liberation and emancipation of these bonded souls. Slave owners received generous financial compensation for the loss of their “livelihood”. One of the largest bank in Mauritius was established with funds from the slave trade.

Slaves were left to fend for themselves. It is very telling that they jumped to their deaths from their hideout in Le Morne, fearing recapture, after an emissary was dispatched to inform them that they were free. Oppression has since never left them as they continue to struggle with identity and ideology!

Notorious slave owners around the world attempted to redeem their ill-gotten wealth by donating to causes they valued. Cecil Rhodes donated huge sums of money to Oxford University and has a prestigious scholarship named after him. His statue sits proudly at Oriel College, Oxford, and attempts to have it removed by Professor Chigudu were vetoed by the University academic council. The slaver mentality has never left Oxford University, it seems!

The Indentured Labourer: Masked Slavery

The economic and social realities of the time created a demand for cheap and efficient labor. Bharat became the indentured labour supplier to British and French colonies around the world from Mauritius to Guyana to Trinidad and Tobago to South Africa and Fiji Islands.

There was one fundamental difference between slaves and indentured labourers: they were on a contractual agreement and were free at the end of their term. Lifelong bondage no longer dictated realities. Everything else remained the same. Violence, physical, emotional and sexual abuse continued unabated as the girmityas had to be trained on the job. Many of these girmityas were working in the opium fields in Bharat under British rule. Their master’s job was made easy by drugging the workers with opium and making them addicted to it, they would report to work without fail for more of the same to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Amitav Ghosh describes it succinctly in his ‘Sea of Poppies’. But these ruthless and cunning colonizers sold them yet another dream – gold nuggets were hidden under rocks in Mauritius and the die was cast. Their appalling living conditions and systemic deculturalization and dehumanization caught the eye of a transiting barrister, M.K. Gandhi, who upon his return to Bharat sent an emissary in the person and advocate Manilal Doctor to negotiate with the colonial masters and start the emancipation and rehabilitation of these downtrodden lot. The pregnant Anjalay Coopen, a heroine of the indentured labourer’s uprising braved the British forces valiantly until she was brutally shot down.

The Aapravasi Ghat was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006, serving to commemorate the arrival of the first indentured laborers in Mauritius. While these laborers did not discover gold nuggets — except for a fortunate few — they contributed significantly to the agricultural development of the island, transforming its economic landscape.

Emancipation and freedom of indentured labourers occurred in1917 after this form of slavery was abolished. By then, almost half a million indentured labourers had walked through the gates of the Aapravasi Ghat between 1834 and 1920. Determination and education paved their way out of slavery. Engagement into social, academic and political activities provided further impetus to their emancipation and freedom.

Slavery Reparations: Truth and Reconciliation Committee

The Truth and Justice Commission of Mauritius was set up in February 2009 to look into and assess the impact of slavery and indentured labour on the island since colonization in 1638. Even though the report was submitted in 2011, its recommendations have been harder for successive governments to implement given the fact that it would involve dealing with erstwhile slave traders.

The descendants of enslaved individuals and indentured laborers continue to await overdue financial compensation and the restitution of their lands. Local heroes deserve recognition for their efforts to reclaim their ancestral land, though their struggles are far from over. The mentality of the oppressor often seems to persist. True reconciliation cannot occur without addressing these injustices, and it is hoped that this issue will be resolved soon, as it has been lingering for far too long. The ongoing meeting of the Commonwealth heads of government in Apia, Samoa, has taken up the issue of reparations for slavery, and there is hope that all parties will agree on financial compensation.

Of Freedom

It is with gratitude, that we celebrate the fortitude of our ancestors’ struggles on February 1st to mark the abolition of slavery and November 2nd to mark the abolition of indentured labour in “God’s own little acre”. Our ancestors’ struggles and sufferings ensured we breathe freedom; the essence of which is beautifully captured in the music of slave descendants and cultural icons, Reginald Topize (Kaya) locally and Bob Marley globally. We have a duty to remember their indomitable spirit and to share their message with future generations. Freedom is not free.

References:

– Truth and Reconciliation Committee Recommendations, Government of Mauritius, 2011

– Wikipedia: Atlantic Slave Trade. Indentured labour

– Amitav Ghosh: Sea of Poppies

– The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: Facts about the Slave Trade and Slavery

– Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 1 November 2024