Indian Immigration was a new form of slavery after the emancipation of the Africans in the Caribbean

i shall be arguing that Indian Immigration was not a new form of enslavement in the Caribbean after the emancipation on the Africans. Initially, the indentured servants were recruited as a sustainable labour force on the declining estates in the Caribbean after emancipation (1838) as the Africans left in mas exodus in the low density colonies such as Trinidad and British Guiana. This caused a major labour shortage. This solution was, in fact not a new form of enslavement as the Indians chose to migrate to the Caribbean. The Indians migrated as a result of push factors as well as pull factors. The push factors were those instruments that forced these Indians to leave. Firstly, economic hardships hardship was common among many. The Indians emigrated for various reasons such as famine especially in the Gangetic plains where due to bad weather caused a shortage of crops which made food prices increase. However, when food was plentiful and cheap, Indian immigration was low; alternately, when adverse weather conditions caused distress as in 1860, 1868 and 1874 Indian immigration was heavier. The British Industry led to unemployment especially among the textile producers who could not compete with the cheap British textiles flooding the Indian market. Poverty was common among many. The British government took over land and some became landless as they had to pay high taxes which had to be paid in cash and up front. Overpopulation in India put great pressure on the resources of the country. There was less available land and many left to acquire land of their own. Agricultural output could not match population growth. Added to this were the social issues of escaping the caste system which discriminated against lower members of the caste which forced many to leave. Abuse from husbands and tyrantical mothers-in-law made many women flee from India. In addition to this were the pull factors. These were the instruments which encouraged the Indians to leave their homeland and migrate to the Caribbean. The low density colonies had a number of attractive incentives to the Indians. There was land in abundance which the Indians welcomed the opportunity to possess land of their own. The contract system stipulated wages to be paid to these labourers. These wages were higher to what they received in India. Added to this was were the attractions of free housing and medical care captured their attention. The mare fact that they could have a job was a major reason for the unemployed Indians to go to the Caribbean. They were told that they were coming to work on the sugar plantations, something they were familiar with. They were also promised a free return passage, back to India if they decided not to stay in the West Indies. Those who stayed would receive land or cash in lieu of returning upon the completion of their contracts. These promises influences many Indians to migrate to the Caribbean. As can be seen from the above, the Indians CHOSE to migrate to the Caribbean for various reasons. They willingly chose to move to the West Indies in search of a better life. The Africans, however did not have a choice if they wanted to go as they were forcefully taken from their homeland to toil on the sugar plantations unwillingly. This point shows that Indian Immigration was NOT new form of enslavement after the emancipation of the Africans because they had a choice on if they wanted to go to the West Indies. They went willingly , whereas, the Africans were forcefully taken and did not have a choice on whether or not they wanted to go. Sources : htttp://www. thefeedictionary. com. .. . http://books.google.tt...- Dhookhan, Isaac. A Post-Emancipation History of the West Indies. Jamaica: Carlong Publishers Ltd. 2001 Dhookhan, Isaac. A Pre-Emancipation History of the West Indies. Jamaica: Carlong Publishers Ltd. 2008