Indians In Fiji
Indo-Fijians are Fijians whose ancestors came from India and various parts of South Asia, South-East Asia and Asia itself. They number 313,798 (37.6%) (2007 census) out of a total of 827,900 people living in Fiji. They are mostly descended from indentured labourers, girmitiyas or girmit, brought to the islands by Fiji's British colonial rulers between 1879 and 1916 to work on Fiji's sugar cane plantations. These were complemented by the later arrival of Gujarati and Punjabi immigrants who arrived as free settlers in contrast to their counterparts who were brought under the indentured labour system. They have adapted to the new environment with changes to their dress, language and culinary habits, although they have maintained their distinct culture and physical appearance. The Indo-Fijians have fought for equal rights, although with only limited success. Many have left Fiji in search of better living conditions and social justice and this exodus has gained pace with the series of coups starting in the late 1980s.
Read more about Indians In Fiji: Life During The Indenture Period, End of Indenture, Emergence of The Fiji Indian Identity, Free Immigrants, Indian Platoon During The Second World War, The Name Debate, Political Participation: Early 20th Century, Religious and Social Divisions: 1920–1945, Developments Since 1945, Impact of The Church and Religious/ethnic Politics, Demographic Factors, Emigration, Health Issues, Notable Indo-Fijians, See Also
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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