Although technically the workers had to appear before a magistrate and fully understand their terms and conditions, these were written in English and many workers, signing only with a thumb print, did not comprehend the nature of their service. The Indian Government appointed a Protector of Immigrants in Jamaica, although this office tended to protect the interests of the employers rather than the workers. Most Indians who signed contracts did so in the hope of returning to India with the fruits of their labour rather than intending to migrate permanently. The British Indian government encouraged indentured labour and recruiting depots were established in Calcutta and Madras, although agents were paid significantly less per recruit than for a European worker. Despite such hardships, many Indians in Jamaica have retained their culture and religions like Hinduism and Islam. Indians were harassed with the derogatory term, ' coolie,' referring to their worker status. This, along with fundamental cultural and linguistic differences and a tendency to not mix with the local population, caused the Africans as well as the British to look down on them. Indian immigrants therefore undercut the wages of the ex-slaves. While slaves obviously were not paid for their labour, when they were emancipated in the 1830s, their wages were more than those given to Indian indentured servants. Indian workers were actually paid less than the ex-slaves, who were of West African origin. Indian labourers, who had proved their worth in similar conditions in Mauritius, were sought by the British Jamaican government, in addition to workers coming from China. The demand for their labour came after the end of slavery in 1830 and the failure to attract workers from Europe. Around two-thirds of the labourers who came remained on the island. A significant minority were from South India. 7.2 Notable Jamaicans of partial Indian descentĭue to deteriorating socioeconomic of conditions in British India, more than 36,000 Indians came to British Jamaica as indentured labourers under the Indian indenture system between 18, mostly from Bhojpur and Awadh in the Hindi Belt as well as other parts of North India.6 Impact on Jamaican culture and economy.

Naomi russell aids 2014