Trigger warning: For the purpose of this blog, I will be using the word coolie, this term is a slur and should no longer be used but for the context of this blog it is important that is used. This is also a heavy read so please read with care.
*I have only scratched the surface with this very long blog so expect a part two.*
During South Asian Heritage Month, we will see a lot of posts about the partition but there was a whole population of people that often get missed out of the conversation, the same people who often go on to feel an extra layer of otherness throughout their lives, this long blog (sorry there was a lot to talk about) is about the indentured labourers that went to East Africa.
We don’t talk about the social hierarchies that happen within the South Asian community, sure we talk about colourism, the caste system a bit, but have you ever truly asked someone from the East African Diaspora the reaction they get when they tell someone that is where they are from? The othering that if you are not from India or Pakistan (we also see the Bangladeshi community othered and this is quite clearly shown in our ethnicity pay gap data) the bias is there, unbeknown where it truly comes from.
So, let’s talk about this community, my community.
In 1834 after slavery was abolished the British clearly had a problem, because Black folks were now “free” so who was now going to pick their cotton and do the work that the enslaved folks were doing as they obviously now refused to work for low wages on railway lines and sugar farms in British colonies. The British then decided to recruit indentured labour to work on sugar, cotton and tea plantations, and rail construction projects in British colonies, which were in West Indies, Africa and South Asia. From 1834 to the end of the WWI, Britain had transported approx. 2 million Indian indentured workers to 19 different colonies including Fiji, Mauritius, Ceylon, Trinidad, Guyana, Malaysia, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa. So, when you see Tiktok videos of people saying Indian’s are everywhere… now you know why.
The indentured workers were known by a derogative term “coolies” which was given to them by Europeans and many of them signed a 5 year or more contract to work abroad in exchange they were promised wages, a small amount of land and some of them were also promised a return passage home once the contract was over – I mean it sounds like a good deal right? Why wouldn’t you?
What also is important to know here. Is that many of our ancestors that made this move from India (the majority were from Gujrat and Punjab) had high levels of illiteracy, so very few of them actually could understand the terms and conditions of the contract that they were signing. We know that today when we except the job the first thing we do is check our contracts before we sign, the British knew they were unable to understand the terms and asked them to sign using their thumbprint as they were unable to read the terms nor sign their names.
Also, a key piece of information here is that this population were also highly vulnerable and trying their upmost to escape poverty and famine. India was hit by recurrent famines from 1760 AD to till 1943 AD. As per British sources, there were more than 85 million Indians that had died in these famines which were in reality genocides done by the British Raj.
When looking at research and stories of those who were part of the community of indentured workers there was one common theme regardless of where they seemed to end up. There were all mislead or flat out lied to about where they were going to, what they would be paid and what the journey would be and how long it would take. Some people thought they were just going to another city in India and then they were taken to immigration depots and transported overseas to never see family again.
One story I read about was about an Indian woman (this wasn’t just men that were impacted by this), who was lied to about where they would be going and how far it was. “An Indian woman (who)… belonged to Lucknow, … met a man who told her that she would be able to get twenty-five rupees a month in a European family, by taking care of the baby of a lady who lived about 6 hours’ sea-journey from Calcutta; she went on board and, instead of taking her to the place proposed she was brought to Natal” (Indian Immigrants Commission Report, Natal, 1887, cited in Carter and Torabully, 2002, p. 20).
I read that those who were taken to the Caribbean’s journey took 10–20 weeks, but I have been unable to find anything that tells me how long the journey took for those who went to East Africa, I can’t imagine it being much different. The conditions on the ship were compared to slave ships and it’s said that the average death rate of South Asians that were being transported was up to 20% during the journey due to diseases like dysentery, cholera and measles. Once they had disembarked, there were further deaths in the holding depot and during the process of acclimatisation in the colonies.
Once they arrived in East Africa. Over 19,000 people from the Punjab, Sind, and North Western Provinces (today’s Uttar Pradesh) were sent to work on was known as the “Lunatic Line” railway, as we know a fifth of them were declared dead upon returning. Ironically, British abolitionists had championed the railway as being a way, in the words of The Anti-Slavery Reporter, to engage in the ‘suppression…of the slave trade,’ despite actively engaging in slavery just in another form. Which is a great example of cognitive dissonance.
The same individuals tirelessly fighting to dismantle the institution of slavery were the same people that were supporting the railways. However, this stance led to an intriguing case of cognitive dissonance, as the abolitionist’s beliefs seemingly contradicted their core principles. The cognitive dissonance that arose from this abolitionist’s support for the Lunatic Line Railway stemmed from the contradiction between their core principles and the means they believed would achieve those principles. On one hand, they vehemently opposed slavery, recognising it as a grave injustice. On the other hand, they argued that the railway would promote economic development, leading to a reduction in slavery over time. The British abolitionists justified their position by reasoning that increased economic opportunities brought by the railway would diminish the reliance on slave labour. By examining such polar opposite perspectives, we gain a better understanding of the multifaceted nature of historical movements and the mind set of those who champion them, we have to again question and ask intentions and impact.
The Lunatic Line Railway, which was officially known as the Uganda Railway, was a monumental engineering project constructed by the British Empire in East Africa during the late 19th century. We have heard stories of the conditions our ancestors were working under, but I personally have never had anyone really tell me in detail what happened when they arrived and that is what I had to delve into, it was really tough and heavy and writing this blog I had to take several breaks, there were many tears and even more sleepless nights but if I want to know who I truly am I need to know where I have come from.
The conditions and terrains that they worked in were pretty awful to say the least, including dense forests, swamps, and rocky landscapes. The indentured labourers who were renamed as “coolie’s” which is a pejorative term used for low-wage labourers who performed thankless backbreaking physical labour in harsh working conditions, The word “coolie” was associated with the indentured labour system that followed the abolition of slavery in the 1800’s and particularly gained popularity in the mid to late 1800’s. It was almost and exclusively used in relation to Asian labourers especially Indian and Chinese people. This term is still used today in the Caribbean to describe people of mixed Indian and Black heritage but it is important to understand the origins of this term and the harm that came from this word and that language matters.
They were working long hours and minimal protection against the elements. They were subjected to extreme heat, torrential rains, and the risk of wild animal attacks, when looking at research I saw articles about people being eaten by lions but stopping working wasn’t an option, which was heart breaking to read. The lack of adequate medical facilities, proper sanitation, and clean drinking water further exacerbated their hardships. When we look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, their basic human needs were not even being met and this was done intentionally which is something we as a community have to remember that this wasn’t done by accident this was done by design. These communities were brought to replace enslaved Black people and we know how they were treated by design so why would the conditions of South Asian people be great.
The British treatment of South Asian people during the construction of the Lunatic Line Railway was solidified by discrimination, racism, and exploitation. South Asians were considered inferior to their British counterparts and were subjected to a hierarchical system that placed them at the bottom. They received lower wages compared to European workers, faced severe restrictions on their movements, and were often denied basic rights and privileges, but let’s hold this thought because it didn’t remain this way, that hierarchy changed into a 3 tiered system when the work was completed and the Black community was introduced into the story, and that is where the perpetuation of anti-Blackness in the South Asian community comes into play, but we will come back to this.
South Asians were segregated and forced to live in separate camps from other workers. These camps were often overcrowded, lacked decent housing, and were characterized by poor sanitation. South Asians were also subjected to physical and verbal abuse by British supervisors, who frequently resorted to violence as a means of discipline. Instances of harassment, mistreatment, and even sexual assault of both men and women by British officials were not uncommon and many even were brutally murdered at the hands of the British officials.
The construction of the Lunatic Line Railway was marred by a tragically high mortality rate among Indian indentured labourers. Although exact figures are difficult to ascertain, estimates suggest that up to 2,500 South Asian workers lost their lives during the construction phase. The causes of death were varied and included accidents, diseases, malnutrition, exhaustion and through racial violence from British officials.
Accidents were prevalent due to the dangerous nature of the work, with workers frequently falling from heights, getting crushed under machinery, or being injured by collapsing structures. Diseases such as malaria, dysentery, and cholera were rampant due to the lack of proper sanitation and medical facilities. Malnutrition was also a significant issue, as the tiny rations provided to South Asians were often inadequate to sustain their physical exertions. Its common sense right, if you are working under those conditions and not having enough to sustain yourself then eventually your body is going to give up especially with no clean water or sanitation. The conditions that were endured by our ancestors were horrific and it has really been hitting heavy on my heart that we as a generation and a community are not talking about it. That we seem to have almost forgotten the working conditions, discrimination, mistreatment and murder they faced at the hands of the British Empire and authorities while we go about our business, and I have to ask why? What is it that causes us to do that? East Africa and all indentured labour that were transported is a real dark chapter in history but we as a community don’t talk about our collective healing and our justice.
The Lunatic Line Railway brought about a lot of social changes for South Asians in East Africa. With the completion of the railway, many South Asian labourers opted to stay, some in Kenya, Uganda and across the region, and they established small businesses and their own communities. These South Asian communities were often referred to as “bazaar towns,” became important centres of trade and commercial activity. South Asian’s soon started to contribute a significant amount to the local economy, engaging in various industries such as retail, finance, and skilled craftsmanship. Over time, these settlements grew into vibrant cultural hubs, blending South Asian traditions with the local African culture, the question we have to critically ask ourselves as a South Asian community without our model minority hat on is, was that all done through pure hard work? Absolutely without a doubt our ancestors worked hard, I don’t doubt that for a second but if it was that “easy and quick to do” why hadn’t the Black African folks achieved this? It sure as hell wasn’t because they were lazy. I mean they were doing the work our ancestors were doing as indentured labourers for longer and for free. Let that question sit with you while you continue reading.
Despite their contribution to the region, South Asians faced discrimination and prejudice from both the British colonial administration and the local African population. The colonial authorities implemented policies that favoured Europeans over Indians, limiting their access to certain professions and reinforcing racial hierarchies. But this time it wasn’t just two tiered it was three tiered, Europeans at the top of the hierarchy, near the bottom the South Asians and just below it was the African folks. Additionally, tensions sometimes arose between South Asians and Africans due to economic competition and cultural differences. Looking at it now critically, it was the perfect colonial plan to divide two communities that had the potential to come together and be united and powerful together. If there was tension and they were busy fighting with each other they wouldn’t notice all of this was built by design, right?
Nonetheless, the plan worked perfectly, and South Asians continued to carve out a niche for themselves in East African society, preserving their cultural identity while adapting to their new surroundings. Blissfully unaware still operating in survival mode, how they were part of a system of white supremacy that was built for them to “be better” than their Black counterparts but never achieve what their white counterparts could but still strive to “if they just worked hard enough”.
After the completion of the Lunatic Line Railway South Asians in East Africa also influenced the political landscape of the region. South Asian migrants took an active interest in politics, advocating for their rights and demanding fair treatment from the colonial authorities. They organised themselves into social and political associations, promoting South Asian culture and identity while advocating for equality and representation in solidarity with the African community, it was a real time of unity for both communities.
The struggle for independence in East Africa saw South Asians aligning themselves with local African nationalist movements. They played a significant role in fostering unity among diverse communities and contributed to the fight against colonial rule. South Asian leaders emerged as important figures in the independence movement, working alongside African leaders to achieve self-determination. I can only imagine how this would have made the British Officials and Colonials feel when they saw this.
The completion of the Lunatic Line Railway opened up new economic opportunities for South Asians in East Africa. The railway facilitated trade between the interior regions and the coast, providing South Asians with access to a broader market. Many South Asians took advantage of this by establishing businesses along the railway line, such as shops, restaurants, and transportation services. They also played a crucial role in the development of agriculture and industry, contributing to the growth of cash crops like tea, coffee, and cotton. The question I always ask is did they push for say opportunities for the African population too and if not why? Another question we have to ask ourselves as a community how does that play out today in how we lift and bring everyone up in our success and use our privilege?
Despite the hardships they endured, Indians in East Africa exhibited a level of resilience and determination that we can really be proud of. Over time, they began to adapt to their new environment, learning local languages, customs, and traditions. This process of adaptation allowed them to establish relationships with the local African population, fostering a unique cultural fusion that would shape the identity of future generations.
Through intermarriage and cultural exchange, South Asians and Africans created a unique blend of traditions, language, and cuisine. It still makes me laugh every time I speak to some one of my generations from the South Asian East African Diaspora who says, “I thought I was speaking X language but it turns out it was Swahili)” and how me and one of my team who is Black and from Uganda have this shared love for matoke that no one else will ever understand because if you know you know. This fusion of cultures enriched the social fabric of East Africa, leading to the emergence of a diverse society that celebrated its shared heritage.
But at the same time as much as there was this beautiful cultural fusion that for me was normal growing up with Black uncles and aunts from inter-racial marriages, as I got older, I started to really understand the colonial era played a significant role in exacerbating the division between East Africans and Indians. European colonial powers, such as Britain, established systems that favoured certain ethnic and racial groups over others. They clearly had a policy of “divide and rule” to maintain control and exploit the region’s resources. This strategy created divisions and fostered animosity between different communities, including East Africans and Indians.
There were some real distinct cultural differences between the East Africans and Indians like traditions, and languages. These differences, combined with a lack of understanding and appreciation for each other’s cultures, often led to misunderstandings and divisions. Cultural barriers and lack of interaction further perpetuated the divide between the two communities. One of the biggest issues that fuelled tensions and deepened the divides was land ownership and access to resources, due to the European colonial powers favouring certain racial and ethnic groups these have historically been contentious issues in various parts of East Africa. Disputes over land, particularly during periods of colonial rule, often created divisions between East Africans and Indians. The perception is that Indians acquired land and resources at the expense of local communities.
All of this combined meant that East Africans were sometimes suspicious of the motivations of the South Asian community which upon reflection looking at everything objectively you can start to understand. As nationalist movements emerged in East Africa, some South Asian communities aligned themselves with these movements, advocating for independence and self-determination. Do we still see this play out today if we ask ourselves honestly? East Africans questioned the loyalty and motives of the South Asian community. Political differences and rivalries further contributed to the division between the two groups. It was so ingrained and built by design that at no point did anyone look to see who had created this divide and these systems and how they were perpetuated, if we as a generation don’t start to do this now then when will we?
There was one person in African history who decided to take a different approach. He called himself the people’s champion. Idi Amin was a one of the most notorious and complex leaders in African history and ruled from 1971 to 1979, Idi Amin was born in Koboko, a small village in north-western Uganda, around 1925. He joined the British colonial army at the age of 18. What is important to know is that the British played a important role in Idi Amin’s rise to power in Uganda. (is anyone starting to see a theme here?) During Uganda’s colonial period, which ended in 1962, the British used their significant influence over the country’s political and military structures. They trained and armed the Ugandan military, in which Idi Amin was a part of and who rose through the ranks to become a military officer. One of the reasons that he rose so quickly through the ranks was due to his physical strength and charisma, the British saw his physical strength as something that they could use and capitalise on.
In 1971, Idi Amin seized power in a military coup, overthrowing President Milton Obote. Some reports suggest that the British government had prior knowledge of the coup but did not actively support or encourage it. However, there are also claims that the British may have been indirectly involved, which let’s be honest after everything we know would you be surprised? As Idi Amin had maintained close ties with British military officials during his time in the military.
After Idi Amin came to power, the British initially apparently tried to maintain diplomatic relations with Uganda, but they said tensions quickly escalated. Idi Amin’s regime was marked by human rights abuses, political repression, and the expulsion of the country’s South Asian population, including British citizens. As a result, the British government condemned Idi Amin’s actions and imposed economic sanctions on Uganda which had an impact on the Ugandan citizens who were already disproportionally impacted. Britain also made it really clear that they didn’t really want to take their South Asian ‘British citizens.
Idi Amin’s approach was brutal and horrific but there is a part of me that understands why there was a community of people, that were sick and tired of western colonial powers coming into their country and taking from them. Embedding another population of people, a shade lighter than them (I know I am generalising) in the racial hierarchy and that community (the South Asians) just going with it, and yet again nothing being given to a community who are indigenous to the land. This is a perfect example of what happens when white supremacy and white supremacy culture exists and continues to exist, when it goes unchecked and how it exists in institutions. It’s also really important to remember that this is a lesson on how easy it is for anyone to uphold institutional racism regardless of race by upholding a system that benefits whiteness without whiteness even being in the room, and that by doing that it will only harm us even when it’s us upholding it. Representation doesn’t mean anti-racism. Representation doesn’t mean anti-Blackness.
Idi Amin’s regime was characterised by its brutality and disregard for human life. Estimates of the number of people killed during his rule range from 100,000 to 500,000, with countless others subjected to torture, rape, and forced displacement. It is said that he targeted political dissidents, people of the Global Majority, and anyone he perceived as a threat to his power, which without him realising was him upholding a system of white supremacy and it had gone way beyond what his initial plan was, that had initially gained him a certain level of popularity with certain segments of the Ugandan population. It had now become about control and the same people he was trying to get justice for, the African community in Uganda were also suffering due to his own paranoia and a desire to maintain absolute control. Traits the British had seen in him when they had decided he would be the one they would fast track to leadership. The question we have to ask is did they pre-empt this kind of outcome?
In 1972, Idi Amin issued an expulsion order that gave all South Asians, regardless of their citizenship or legal status, 90 days to leave Uganda. My family were part of this population. This decision was framed as nothing personal but something he had to do as an economic measure to reclaim the economy. Idi Amin accused the South Asian community of exploiting Ugandan resources and dominating the economy, whereas the South Asian community felt they had made significant contributions to the country’s development.
The expulsion of the South Asian community meant a forced displacement of approximately 60,000 South Asian Ugandans. It meant that they had to abandon their homes, businesses, and possessions, with very limited notice. Many families lost everything they had built over generations in Uganda and only allowed to take one suitcase and £60 cash.
The expulsion of the South Asian community had severe consequences for the country’s economy. The departure of skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners led to the collapse of many industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, and commerce. The vacuum left by the South Asian community’s departure contributed to the economic decline in Uganda for years to come and not long after Idi Admin fled Uganda and left the people of Uganda to rebuild, and the British were no to be seen to help.
The impact on the displaced South Asians was significant as well. Many faced immense challenges as they were forced to start over in unfamiliar countries with limited resources. You won’t find one person who won’t tell you that they didn’t face discrimination in their new home and struggled to rebuild their lives. Many in fact will not talk about it at all as it was too traumatic. This led to another layer of trauma to the community and another layer of intergenerational trauma that has been passed down to us today.
What I did find really interesting though is that the South Asians from the East African Diaspora and the South Asian community in general have a real loyalty to Britain and the royals, as if they were saved by them. I wonder if people know that during the time Idi Amin was expelling South Asians and many were murdered, raped and horrific things were happening, the royals were silent and there was nothing that was done to support these British citizens. However, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom asked Idi Amin to pardon a white journalist named Denis Hills. Denis Hills, a British citizen, was arrested and sentenced to death by Idi Amin’s regime in Uganda in 1975. The Queen intervened and personally appealed to Idi Amin for clemency on Hills’ behalf. Idi Amin eventually commuted Hills’ death sentence to life imprisonment, and he was released in 1979 during the overthrow of Idi Amin’s regime. So, the Queen personally wrote a letter for one white man but didn’t feel the need to write anything for thousands of South Asians, and then people wondered why I didn’t queue up for hours when she passed and why I think its wild we are out here accepting MBE’s and OBE’s and CBE’s when this is the Empire.
It is important to note that not all South Asians were expelled from Uganda during Amin’s regime. Some individuals managed to secure their stay by acquiring Ugandan citizenship, marrying local residents, or through political connections. However, the majority of the South Asian community faced expulsion and were forced to leave the country, those that didn’t leave used to meet at local religious buildings daily to keep a sense of community and safety and ensured that they looked out for each other during this period of time. While in Uganda an article was published from a Leicester newspaper that basically said you’re not welcome here, when many of the South Asians arrived in the UK it was the only location, they remembered the name of, so many of them went to Leicester… a city full of hostility, a city where my family went to, the city of my birth.
Upon arriving in the UK, South Asians from Uganda faced various forms of racism and discrimination. The Ugandan South Asian community and other East African South Asian communities that arrived in the UK around the same time or just after were subjected to prejudice and hostility from society.
Many faced difficulties in finding suitable accommodation due to racial discrimination by landlords and estate agents. They were often denied housing or faced higher rents and unfair treatment. I shared a story last year about how my dad and my aunt were denied housing when the landlord saw their race and they ended up sleeping in the car. My grandfather (mum’s dad) and all his family including cousins and siblings all lived in one or two rooms when they arrived as that is all they could afford and get access to.
Ugandan South Asians faced discrimination in the job market. Many highly skilled individuals found themselves in low-skilled or menial jobs due to their refugee status and racial bias. They often had to start from scratch and rebuild their careers. Many of those who went to Leicester like my family did ended up working in the textiles industry in factories.
Many Ugandan South Asians experienced verbal abuse, physical attacks, and racial harassment in public spaces. They were targeted based on their ethnicity, and incidents of racism were not uncommon. I remember hearing how my grandmother had been attacked one day on her way home from work, it broke my heart because my grandma was THE cutest women you will ever meet in your life. She would never cause anyone harm and I never even heard her say a bad word about anyone, so the thought that anyone would want to incite racial violence on her broke me. I heard that a group of “skin heads” had attacked her and it really upset me for days.
The community faced challenges in accessing public services, healthcare, and education due to language barriers, cultural differences, and racial bias. Some individuals also encountered difficulties in obtaining professional qualifications recognized in the UK. Being first generation British born South Asians of the East African Diaspora we would spend a lot of our time going to bank appointment’s, doctors’ appointments, shopping etc. with our elders. We grew up reading bills and being a translator and taking on a role to support our elders which meant that we had to grow up a lot quicker than our white counterparts at school, and this was the reason I know racial bias existed really early on.
There was a lot of racism and challenges but the community in Leicester (and other parts of the UK) worked really hard to form networks and a community.
It’s really important we do not take away from the trauma of our ancestors and our parents, grandparents and those who came in-between, and its also important we start to really unpack our stories, our history and how this shows up today. Today is the day we have to start to unpack and do the work to accept, acknowledge and change how we stop perpetuating harm by upholding systems that were made to divide us from our Black siblings through a divide and conquer method that has worked so well up until now.
We are so busy looking at it from a micro lens we don’t look at it from a systemic lens and see that this was built by design and a product of colonialism, and it was intentional. It still plays out today in our government, our systems, our education system, our culture, our families and in ourselves as individuals. Celebrating a Brown PM that upholds the same system that harms us is nothing to celebrate. It has always been about race, and it always will be about race, and we as a community play a part in it, but we have a responsibility to do our part. We deserve to heal; we need to put our heads above the parapet. History shows us that it wasn’t just our lands that were colonised, our minds were colonised too, and this blog shows it clearly and that has been passed through generations. It’s time to decolonise our minds as a community. We must address anti-Blackness and we must stop brushing things under the carpet and realise working hard and being the model minority myth no longer serves us. As a Global Majority we all deserve better. Our ancestors deserve for us to be better…
So, the question is who’s ready to be a good ancestor?
