Indians in Guadeloupe
Encyclopedia
Tamils in Guadeloupe are mostly descended from indentured workers who came from Tamil Nadu
in the late 19th century. There are currently about 55,000 people of Indian origin living in Guadeloupe making it home to one of the largest Indian communities in Latin America
.
to Guadeloupe
in 1861 to work on plantations through an agreement reached between France
and the United Kingdom
. The importation of Indian labour was gradually discontinued after 1883 as a result of adoption of a policy by the British Government
against recruitment of labour in its territories and also because of high mobility of Indian labour.
Over 10,000 of them perished as a result of difficult living and working conditions and the rest continued to be treated harshly until they got some political rights in 1904 due to Henri Sidambarom's efforts. It was in 1923 that Guadeloupeans of Indian descent were granted citizenship and the right to vote. A few Indians were indentured to Saint Martin
(prior to 2007 Saint Martin was a part of Guadeloupe).
After migration stopped, the Indian community gradually accultured to the rest of the population, so much so that few of the Indians on the island speak Tamil
any more. However, third or fourth generation persons of Indian origin
still maintain links with India in many different ways, such as adopting Indian names. Many Indians in Guadeloupe adopted French and Christian names.
in Guadeloupe and Pondicherry have been designated as twin cities to promote cultural links and exchanges.
The Indian community in Guadeloupe is estimated to be approximately 55,000 in a population of over 400,000. However, ethnicity statistics are not done by the French government. There are several associations to promote Indian culture in Guadeloupe, usually run by people of Indian origin. They are fairly active in organising cultural activities in all the principal towns, namely, Pointe-a-Pitre
, Le Moule
, Port-Louis
, Capesterre-Belle-Eau
and Saint-Claude
. An important one of these groups is ‘Association Culturelle Guadeloupéenne des Amis de L’Inde’, which has over 300 members and 2000 associates. There is lot of Hindu Tamil
Temples can be found in Basse-Terre, and other regions. Tamils in Guadeloupe started studying their own language and willing to preserving their culture and traditions. Guadeloupe Tamils started links with Tamil Canadians in developing their language and Culture.
Recently, 152nd birthday of the arrival of the Hindus Tamil in Guadeloupe was held. The Indian Associations in the territory are in the process of forming a committee, which will start working to realise the event.
. Ernest Moutoussamy has been the Depute of Guadeloupe in the National Assembly of France
.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
in the late 19th century. There are currently about 55,000 people of Indian origin living in Guadeloupe making it home to one of the largest Indian communities in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
History
Tamils in Guadeloupe trace their roots to over 40,000 indentured workers who were brought from IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
in 1861 to work on plantations through an agreement reached between France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The importation of Indian labour was gradually discontinued after 1883 as a result of adoption of a policy by the British Government
Politics of the United Kingdom
The politics of the United Kingdom takes place within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is the head of state and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government...
against recruitment of labour in its territories and also because of high mobility of Indian labour.
Over 10,000 of them perished as a result of difficult living and working conditions and the rest continued to be treated harshly until they got some political rights in 1904 due to Henri Sidambarom's efforts. It was in 1923 that Guadeloupeans of Indian descent were granted citizenship and the right to vote. A few Indians were indentured to Saint Martin
Saint Martin
Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately east of Puerto Rico. The 87 km2 island is divided roughly 60/40 between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands ; however, the Dutch side has the larger population. It is one of the smallest sea islands divided between...
(prior to 2007 Saint Martin was a part of Guadeloupe).
After migration stopped, the Indian community gradually accultured to the rest of the population, so much so that few of the Indians on the island speak Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
any more. However, third or fourth generation persons of Indian origin
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
still maintain links with India in many different ways, such as adopting Indian names. Many Indians in Guadeloupe adopted French and Christian names.
Current status
The city of Basse-TerreBasse-Terre
Basse-Terre is the prefecture of Guadeloupe, an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles...
in Guadeloupe and Pondicherry have been designated as twin cities to promote cultural links and exchanges.
The Indian community in Guadeloupe is estimated to be approximately 55,000 in a population of over 400,000. However, ethnicity statistics are not done by the French government. There are several associations to promote Indian culture in Guadeloupe, usually run by people of Indian origin. They are fairly active in organising cultural activities in all the principal towns, namely, Pointe-a-Pitre
Pointe-à-Pitre
Pointe-à-Pitre is the largest city of Guadeloupe, an overseas région and département of France located in the Lesser Antilles, of which it is a sous-préfecture, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Pointe-à-Pitre....
, Le Moule
Le Moule
Le Moule is the sixth-largest commune in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. It is located on the northeast side of the island of Grande-Terre.-History:...
, Port-Louis
Port-Louis, Guadeloupe
Port-Louis is a commune in the department of Guadeloupe, on the northwest of Grande-Terre.-Geography:Some settlements are depending of the commune of Port-Louis, such as:* La Goguette-References:*...
, Capesterre-Belle-Eau
Capesterre-Belle-Eau
Capesterre-Belle-Eau is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is located in the south-east of Basse-Terre Island. Capesterre-Belle-Eau covers an area of 103.3 km² and the population as of 1999 is 19,568. The population density is 189...
and Saint-Claude
Saint-Claude
Saint-Claude or St. Claude can refer to:Canada*St. Claude, Manitoba, the largest community in the Rural Municipality of Grey*Saint-Claude, Quebec, a municipality of Le Val-Saint-François, a Municipalité régionale de comté of QuebecFrance...
. An important one of these groups is ‘Association Culturelle Guadeloupéenne des Amis de L’Inde’, which has over 300 members and 2000 associates. There is lot of Hindu Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Temples can be found in Basse-Terre, and other regions. Tamils in Guadeloupe started studying their own language and willing to preserving their culture and traditions. Guadeloupe Tamils started links with Tamil Canadians in developing their language and Culture.
Recently, 152nd birthday of the arrival of the Hindus Tamil in Guadeloupe was held. The Indian Associations in the territory are in the process of forming a committee, which will start working to realise the event.
Famous Examples
Some of them have acceded to important posts in the public and private sectors. Dr. Henri Bangou held the post of Senator from Guadeloupe in the French SenateFrench Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
. Ernest Moutoussamy has been the Depute of Guadeloupe in the National Assembly of France
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
.
See also
- Asian Latin American
- Indo-CaribbeanIndo-CaribbeanIndo-Caribbean people or Indo-Caribbeans are Caribbean people with roots in India or the Indian subcontinent. They are mostly descendants of the original indentured workers brought by the British, the Dutch and the French during colonial times...
- Indians in French GuianaIndians in French GuianaIndians in French Guiana are mostly descendants of indentured labourers from India who now lives in the French Overseas Department of French Guiana. They are often referred to as Indians or East Indians...
- Indo-MartiniquaisIndo-MartiniquaisIndo-Martiniquais are residents of the French Overseas Department of Martinique who have Indian descent. A majority are descendants of indentured labourers from India who were brought to the island in the nineteenth century...
- Tamil DiasporaTamil diasporaThe Tamil diaspora is a demographic group of Tamil people of Indian or Sri Lankan origin who have settled in other parts of the world. Significant Tamil diaspora populations can be found in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Middle East, Réunion, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Fiji, Guyana,...
External links
- Indian Diaspora in the Caribbean
- 152nd birthday of the arrival of the Hindu Tamil in Guadeloupe
- Francophone Indians in a remote corner of the Caribbean reclaim their Hindu identity
- Guadeloupe Tourism