Old Indian-Guyanese woman talks about Indentured Servitude under British Empire

In 1833, the Parliament of UK abolished slavery throughout most of the British Empire. However, plantation owners had already figured out a new way of exploitation.
As soon as slavery ended, the British introduced a system of indentured servitude. Under this system, upto 3.5 million* Indians, most of them illiterate peasants, were transported to British colonies in Africa, Guyana, Fiji, etc. over the next 90 years
These indentured laborers, derogatorily labelled ‘Coolies’, worked on the plantations, replacing the freed slaves. Their conditions were no different than slavery. These are the words of the very last surviving witness of this system in Guyana. She talks in a pidgin of English and something else.
Link to original documentary, "How the British Re-invented Slavery" - • Coolies: How Britain R...
* 3.5 million is the figure I got from Wikipedia. The documentary itself presents a figure of 1 million. Estimates seem to vary a lot.

[@mimiandreas8331]

Her name was Elandi yeagan and she was my great grandma mother.

[@vijijohn4077]

I think you blood and language is tamil

[@forgetfulfunctor1]

Thought she say all she children die?

[@jackbeck4]

south indian

[@keepingitrealandtruthful.5081]

forgetfulfunctor1 She also stated she had one granddaughter and God took her away.

[@forgetfulfunctor1]

mrtheoneandonly 83 so as in that she outlived them?

[@elrifle24]

everyone always talks about what spain and colombus did. but never what the british did

[@Mitchieboo1970]

The British did a lot of evil for centuries.

[@isabellasifuentes799]

Wait what ? I work in a hair salon and as dealing with all textures of hair even afro we CONSTANTLY talk about what the british did and how we still feel the reverberations a century later. Wether it be softer hair, religion to civilizations that had their own, to languages we speak, I'm happy that I can say I continue to learn about history through the generations of today.

[@amritaj14]

@@isabellasifuentes799 I wish I had a community like that, I’m still in school and I’m taking history classes, my teacher says the Indian people chose to go and “were excited for the opportunity” when in reality that’s not the truth.

[@isabellasifuentes799]

@@amritaj14 Are you in Uni? History sadly is written by the victors.

[@amritaj14]

@@isabellasifuentes799 nope I’m in my last year of high school, but yes you’re correct; history is sadly corrupted to capture the colonizers’ victory

[@ChrisA-ee6do]

As a coolie this is the best thing ive ever found on youtube... Makes me humble and fall to my knees for all the suffering of my ancestors. Never take anything for granted... People came from nothing and made you something!!

[@VedantMishra55]

@nirmal dude I've seen you in so many different videos' comment threads lol

[@aishabenyahmin2777]

Amen. Totally agree. 💥💖

[@indianamerican6362]

I recommend you to read the book Coolie Woman by Gaiutra Bahadur. It is a great book to understand the pain of indentured labor.

[@Raj-bv5dt]

@@VedantMishra55 He is telling that "he fall to knees for all the sufferings of his ancestors" and look at yourself how shamelessly pulling his legs and laughing on his comment........

[@rudeintallect9489]

#Suriname #Trinidad #Guyana #Jamaica #Mauritius One love ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

[@ashneelram837]

Love and Respect to all my Trinidad 🇹🇹, Guyana 🇬🇾 and Suriname 🇸🇷 brothers and sisters... Just know that you also have a little part of your family in 🇫🇯 Fiji who also share the same hardship and story

[@aland.3728]

Being an Indian from India, it pains me greatly, and aches my heart terribly knowing that my potential neighbor, friend, brother, sister, was taken away from Bharat, by the evil British whose poison still corrupts our nations even til today. Love my Desi people wherever you are! Jai Hind! 🫡 🇮🇳💪🏽. ❤️ 🇬🇾

[@skarsdhark4846]

Love you too

[@aland.3728]

Dear friend, I never ever said anything about looking down upon anyone, so I’m not sure where your comment stems from. I am Indian, and love my heritage, and all those connected. I live by the tenant: “ you only look down while assisting them to their feet “. Be well!

[@aryanhassan4659]

​@@melc4308what does we have to do with Africans?! We never made anyone our slavess... take your hatee to somewhere elsee

[@strongarms2127]

@aland.3728: I love how you mentioned the Hindi name (Bharat) and not the British name. These people, back then, believed that they were superior to any other race. Whereas they were poison to the human race, especially, Indians and Africans. Calling themselves and having the world call them "white people" which is a universal farce. Nobody is white or black. All of us are different shades of "brown" people.

[@aland.3728]

No creature on this earth should be kept in bondage to serve another against their will. We were all created to be free. Free to choose, free to live. ( that’s what I believe )

[@saxenas]

and white people have the nerve to say that they actually saved this poor woman and gave her a better life.

[@saxenas]

I feel you on that but oppression period needs to stop. All abhrahmic faiths need to be stopped. Hindus never do this kind of bull shit.

[@saxenas]

But yes karma is good

[@saxenas]

only reason for corruption and oppression in India is because poverty breeds it. But with abrahamic countries their oppression breeds their livelihood; they depend on it. That's the difference btween abrahmic faiths and India

[@interestingyoutubechannel1]

S Saxena Which white people is that? There's countless good people among every skin color, and bad people among them too.

[@saxenas]

interestingyoutubechannel nice try at deflection

[@bigfoot135]

My heart breaks for this woman. So much history. May her soul rest in peace ❤❤

[@kay22k15]

Just heartbreaking when she talks about losing her children, thank you for posting this video.

[@kumarjadu]

I am a descendant from the same roots but from Fiji islands. Exactly same or even worse things happened to us in Fiji also. Our people suffed a lot during those tough times. I urge to all new generation out there to wake up and respect our people .

[@aryansahab5319]

are you Indian?

[@tahliah6691]

Indians in Fiji have been giving the native population a hard time👀 for years….. the truth will set you free you are not a Fijian native

[@FilesdocumentsAndreposit-kr3vb]

​@@tahliah6691hard time? They can't run anything on their own.

[@TheGuyNobodyReallyLikes]

@@aryansahab5319 He's Fiji Indian.

[@TheGuyNobodyReallyLikes]

@@tahliah6691 You mean the so-called native Fijians have been giving Indians in Fiji a hard time. The native Fijians being constantly racist to the Indians. Robbing the Indians. Breaking into their homes. Assaulting Indians and breaking into Hindu temples, stealing money and jewelry and urinating in the temple. That's what native Fijians are doing to Indians in Fiji.

[@Nishexplores]

Sorry your life was fulled with so much pain nani. God bless you

[@bhogeke1330]

She survived suffering and painful experiences. We must listen and learn from her. RIP. May your ashes be scattered across the vast ocean to be reabsorbed into this earth and form new life. Her spirit lives on in those who she inspired.

[@shaunchetty4223]

Wow ..great documentary Im south African Indian and we were brought here about 150 years ago to work on the sugar plantations Lots of stories of hardship and pain caused by the British. It saddens me to think how my ancestors suffered

[@keeganthambiran1375]

Howzit Shaun... It's amazing... to think we may have distant relatives in some of the other countries where Indentured Labour was a thing. Would be nice to find a way to connect with the diaspora...

[@bluenill1420]

scouser LFC Ronil Ram Indians were never slaves they were paid laborers and the option of going back. This doc was made by Indians for Indians so you know it's a sneaky lie.

[@jimmylives]

@@bluenill1420 They were paid paltry. They weren't allowed to go back to their homeland. You blacks are just butthurts.

[@warriorkrishna6153]

@@jimmylives I don't know if whites did bad. I did know they did bad to Indians in India. But an indentured servant has the right to go back that's all contractual once your contract is done you can go back I know because in the 1800s my great grand father had this in south Africa and whites had that situation too just saying not trying to take from the suffering this lady went through.

[@jimmylives]

@@warriorkrishna6153 South Africa can't be compared to North American Jamaica or South American Guyana and Suriname. South Africa was on trade route from Europe to India so it was easy to come back. This wasn't same for Americas. British and Dutch changed hands here and Indians remained slaves.

[@ronilram4535]

Our family too were brought from India to fiji by then British rulers,Fiji has larger amount of Indian origin people who follow Hinduism

[@tapashchakraborty9983]

Ronil Ram Love from India.... Hinduism long live

[@PRAVINSINGHpaliwaljee]

Which state from india

[@soundcheck2k7]

@@PRAVINSINGHpaliwaljee Indians that went to Trinidad, Guyana and Fiji come from the Bhojpuri (uttar Pradesh and bihar) regions of India and from South India (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala).

[@DeepVerma728]

@@soundcheck2k7 Wrong. Fiji had open immigration from India. My great grand parents immigrated from Harayana to Fiji during partition. Are town and community is still there till today called Ambala Place. We speak Hindi and Punjabi. Guyana and Trinidad were slave plantations Fiji was not big difference. And Fiji is part of the Asian Pacific alliance which includes India. Many Fiji Indians speak native Fijian and Hindi.

[@soundcheck2k7]

@@DeepVerma728 Good for you! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@anupamdein]

The British imperialists reduced India from a wealthy nation to a pauper.They were no better than the Nazis>>Winston Churchill was solely responsible for the Great Bengal Famine.Just imagine the pain and suffering this old woman must have endured>>seeing all his Children die one by one.SAD!

[@ShidaiTaino]

INVICTUS British India was one of the few times the subcontinent was United

[@dileepkumargelam2744]

476 Anno Domini What was so great about united (when all we had was suffering?)

[@ramanansui629]

@@dileepkumargelam2744 You don't whine when you lose.

[@harshrai840]

@@ShidaiTaino Fuck off ur united bullshit. India was strong and united much before white thieves came

[@mrp5764]

@@ShidaiTaino Hindusthan or India was a United country much before the British left their caves. From kabul in the west to calcutta in the east. Kashmir in the north to the deccan in the south all of it was called Hindustan. Please brush up ur history before making absurd comments

[@Account-rz5nq]

The white man has hurt anyone darker than them and it’s sad to see

[@niranjandesai6766]

They are dead now

[@arianayoung7537]

Aweee she said all her children died 😔so sad. She looked like South Indian Tamils

[@cqk3578]

Then you know nothing of what happened in Ireland since 1169.

[@gabaryasharallaforeigner1472]

@@niranjandesai6766 Ecclesiastes 3:15 KJV: That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

[@nareshbandari8503]

Hinduism has survived in the Caribbean and has thrived. Many a Indians are not aware of this history but because of the internet today, many are now becoming aware. It's funny how cricket has been the spark that ignited this enquiry.

[@angelalumwai6164]

Who said indian don't know their culture and history in the Caribbean ! That statement is false. I am not Indian, but I know many Hindus and Muslim practicing their religion and culture in Trinidad. My mother who was born in 1913, made me aware of the various cultural groups in Trinidad and she remembers Dewali and Eid been celebrated in Trinidad when she was a child and this has always continued. Mosque and Hindu temples and their schools were around during my mother's lifetime and I grew up hearing the Hindu language and music around me. For someone who is not Indian, it tells you how strong this culture has been allowed to florish in Trinidad. Indian heritage & culture is very much alive and practiced in Trinidad. Some indian food have become traditional to Trinidad and are amongst the most popular in the country and amongst all the races. Indian music is enjoyed throughout the land and amongst all the racial groups that have settled in Trinidad . The Indian population have retained more of their culture than any other group. This is probably because, poor Indians never ceased migrating to Trinidad. The Indian population in Trinidad (Hindu &Muslum) is about 50%.

[@vanousisi8112]

Internet lies

[@taurussun2228]

So sad...smh Her skin is AMAZING 😍 OMG!!!! JUST LOOK AT IT!! 🇭🇹

[@notcannon2.224]

She is not whatever flag u put

[@Vividaaa]

Wow, this womans story touched my heart…Hope she has peace now. ❤

[@VelMurugan-qb1xq]

From the bottom of my heart I thank you Brother Raja for investing your time and resources into documenting people like this lovely lady.. A lot of us, in a variety of ways, will be benefited from your good work. May our Almighty bless and keep you.

[@RajaVinayChandra]

Brother vel murugan, thank you. I only cut the story of this beautiful old lady from a bigger documentary, nothing more. I did it because I found it as moving as all the people like you who have left so many heartfelt comments. Bless you too.

[@rrr0723]

@@RajaVinayChandra Did you try to talk in Tamil. Could you please ask someone who knows Tamil in Guyana.

[@giniolamy]

Everywhere the white man step foot in he caused pain

[@peterfreeman3181]

Correction, Islam ! Their the ones who started this slavery business by the Sahara slave trade.

[@seawallbreeze9616]

Yet you are probably living in a country ran by one lol

[@giniolamy]

@@seawallbreeze9616 Yes i do what's your point you think i would love to be in one smh

[@elijahoye8216]

Anglo Commando WE BUILT YOUR FUCKING COUNTRY. WE SHOULD BE THE ONES KICKING YOU OUT

[@giniolamy]

@@elijahoye8216 I don't have a country you didn't build shit for me

[@jennifersomers3267]

The natives of India who were sold as indentured slaves!👁🤦🏽‍♀️😔

[@HimanshuSingh-uy6cs]

Ur Black stop lying

[@forgetful9845]

not slaves, servants, ik the treatment was often similar, but theres a big difference!

[@forgetful9845]

it is sad though how they were treated

[@lordforareason9440]

@@HimanshuSingh-uy6cs so? She cant support indian people?

[@ThamizhanDaa1]

@@HimanshuSingh-uy6cs stfu she's not lying

[@shortythepresident3913]

Big up my Guyanese breddrin. Love from Bob Marley island, Jamaica !

[@indofijianvlog2444]

Hy I'm fijian Indian from fiji island..my great grandparents were also from India..my father is still alive his 87 year old now🤗

[@ritzilyyours]

Which part of India were they from? I'm asking this because you and I share the same last name. I'm from Kolkata. I'm a Bengali.

[@egosatwork3255]

My Fijian friend,, it's been a long journey for you're family,, be blessed, stand proud,,, they've made Fiji a better place through hard work, ☺

[@carymnuhgibrilsamadalnasud1222]

@@ritzilyyours cute!

[@Deshbhakt1507]

So much agony in her eyes and voice while she narrated..

[@indianamerican6362]

Watch full documentary on indenture servitude. So heartbreaking. If you want more information read the book "Coolie woman...." by Guitra Bahadur. I had tears many times reading the book and thinking about the conditions that they were going through. So many died during voyages, so many died there because of diseases, so many children died because of malnutrition etc. They went through so much pain (along with Africans) to build the economy of Britain and the new colonies.

[@realnedd6326]

She didn’t loose her Indian accent 😘awww so sweet lady god will give you strength mama 😘😘🙏

[@azzyf6287]

Lyn Wilson indian? She looks full on african

[@realnedd6326]

Az Plasma what you talking about huh 🤬

[@mimiandreas8331]

Az Plasma she is an Indian...

[@Yollanduh]

Actually, her accent is very much Guyanese*

[@kwacou4279]

Nothing Indian about that accent. I'm Jamaican, and I know my West Indian accents. Dat is 100% Guyana. Unnu yankee people dem, caan distinguish accents wen unnu hear dem.

[@triniboyful]

This woman reminds me so much of my grandmother. My mother who was 80 when she passed 10 years ago used to tell me about all the stories her mother (my grandmother) told her when she was brought to Trinidad as and indentured worker. So sad to think about it. It made them so strong and they never broke. Never call yourself a coolie. It is a very derogatory name use around the world on Indians to degrade them. I correct anyone that calls me that as an Indian person. Jamaicans use it loosely because they don't know where the term came from. They just know that in Jamaica if you are Indian you are a coolie. So I correct them all the time about it. The whites in South Africa brought back the term when the Indians were supporting Mandela during the his civil rights movements before throwing him in Jail for fighting for basic rights. The white people in America called the Chinese coolies back in the day when they were here building the railroad across the Nation for them. They were treated in the same manner as the Indian Indentured workers back in the day. The Indians were not limited to Guyana, there were also a larger number of them in Trinidad and other islands as well.

[@lhl9010]

coolie means indentured, people should be proud that their ancestors survived so that they are here today, many people do not interpret coolie as negative but as look how far we have come.

[@triniboyful]

@@lhl9010 I disagree. That term in what Webster took it to mean from the people who use it. There is a deeper meaning to it that references scum. The people who do not interpret it as negative needs to do there research as to what it really means and where it came from. We have come far as a people, but that has nothing to do with the derogatory name they call us.

[@lhl9010]

@@triniboyful other commenters do not agree either

[@FilesdocumentsAndreposit-kr3vb]

​@@lhl9010sure losers like you are proud of a word that degrades and dehumanizes you.

[@triniboyful]

@@melc4308 Exactly like that.

[@mediocre5645]

She so cute I wish I could go down there to visit

[@xXJasmineJadeXx]

I’m Guyanese and was always curious about how Indians ended up in Guyana. It’s nice to see videos like this explaining and giving some insight to what my ancestors went through.

[@jadonmesfun6479]

Yea they really should teach you in school. It’s a big part of Guyana’s history.

[@indianamerican6362]

I recommend you to read the book Coolie Woman by Gaiutra Bahadur. It is a great book to understand the pain of indentured labor.

[@carymnuhgibrilsamadalnasud1222]

Jasmine Samaroo I am assuming you're Sindhi.

[@TheAlmightyClipse]

A lot of people in India don't even know about this...

[@soundcheck2k7]

@@carymnuhgibrilsamadalnasud1222 No. Most likely her roots are from Uttar Pradesh (Bhojpuri). Not Sindhi.

[@richardramfire3971]

My ancestors were indentured labourers in Trinidad. But generations later many of my relatives are doing well. Some are very wealthy

[@AGentlemansJourney77]

My in-laws are from Guyana but now live in Canada. They've told me stories about Guyana and I've been looking up videos on the history. Its intriguing but sad at the same time.

[@AGentlemansJourney77]

Big Shaq You damn straight and the majority of my friends who just happen to be Black would agree with you. Thanks for trolling. Have a wonderful day and God bless ✌️

[@Melanin_Move]

AGentlemansJourney don't sweat that. Some people are bitter not realizing that everyone is not against you. Be blessed

[@AGentlemansJourney77]

Heavenly Beautifully Black thank you. I am not mad or offended as I deal with this type of stupidity and ignorance on a daily basis because of my job. I work with the general public so my skin is rather thick. Unfortunately there's a lot of angry bitter resentful people out there. I use to be a little bigoted myself until I moved from a small White town to Toronto where most of my friends just happen to be from the Caribbean. Bless you.

[@mohamedrahaman9238]

AGentlemansJourney stupidity and racism knows no colour. Ignore the fools. As you can see, I am fighting the same battle against my own kin in this blog. One day we may all look Brazilian, then we will find another reason to hate.

[@shawnjones796]

U should visit there the Canada money exchange to their money would make visiting a restaurant cheaper buying alcohol etc

[@chopisama]

May she be resting in peace, reunited with her kids 🙏🏼

[@ArchivesofHindustan]

வணக்கம் தாயே... என் தமிழ் முன்னோரின் கதைகளை கேட்கும்போது கண்ணீர் வருகிறது

[@elliella16]

Her skin 😍

[@AlphaMaverick1111]

​@rebelpodster_ aka_coonslaya God is beyond all comprehension.

[@kumar-jatin-2000]

Our people have suffered a lot. 😢

[@mverick5444]

According to family records the first people to arrive in Caribbeans were in 1830 from india. Their last name were yadao ji and persaud. Do you have any idea which part of india they originate? After almost 200 years we speak dutch and lost ancestral language

[@kumar-jatin-2000]

@@mverick5444 I think "Yadao" and "persaud" is mispronounced form of the surnames "Yadav" and "Parsad". Yadavs are the peasant-pastoral communities found all over India, they are more common in the "Hindi belt" (UP, Bihar, MP etc.) and even in some places of Maharashtra. Whereas the surname "Parsad" is mostly found in the northern part of India. The frequency of the "Parsad" surname was higher than the national average in the following states: 1. Bihar (1: 71) 2. Uttarakhand (1: 103) 3. Sikkim (1: 147) 4. Uttar Pradesh (1: 162) 5. Delhi (1: 196) Before 1840s, a large number of indentured labourers, aboriginal people from the plains of the Ganges (UP and Bihar) were hired by the Colonial government to work in the Caribbeans. So most likely their origin is from Bihar or Uttar Pradesh. Slightly more likely from Bihar...

[@mverick5444]

@@kumar-jatin-2000 oh I see, thanks. Actually not hired but some were kidnapped 😂. The grandfather of PM of Fiji was kidnapped at night and shipped to Pacific. In his interview he said he was from aheer community. I think that's why indians from india look down upon us.. my country was a colony of dutch west indies so we shifted later to Netherlands.

[@mverick5444]

@@kumar-jatin-2000 my grandmother was the last person to speak bhojpore and celebrate chath Pooja after deepauli. She was mentally toughest person I knew - surviving racism from Dutch people. Instead of garlands she welcomed guests with milk..

[@donnah5378]

😢. Very touching story. Beautiful old auntie.

[@richieperry6129]

You can hear the emotions in her voice. Heart breaking ❤️ as a Guyanese we need these stories tho

[@deborahbyom929]

The British did really bad things in this world.

[@evilazulan]

Tearing up listening to her life. So full of pain and suffering yet. Poor lady. She reminds me of my nani. Wish I could give her a big hug

[@cgsingh1]

And this is why I will never switch my religion for western / modern teaching. Our tradition is being challenge but only the strong will share our ancestors beliefs and be proud of it .

[@Joleyn-Joy]

You should change your thought/religion by theological and/or philosophical inquiry. Anything other than that will simply lead you to illusions.

[@notcannon2.224]

Nah I'm Christain idc if it's a white man religion

[@vegnes79]

my great grandparents were brought by the British to work in the rubber plantations in Malaysia from South India

MY Grandma was mostly Indian part white in Grenada. Her maiden name was an Indian name. She cooked Indian food such as Dahl, dahl poori, Roti, Channa, currys as well as national Grenadian dishes. Kali panni was evil. But I would not be here if my Indian, African and Caucasian ancestors didn't cross that same Kali Panni

[@AyanAli-py7ci]

Slaves

[@tahliah6691]

Real Indians look like her originally 🎉

[@siusaidhchaimbeul5499]

The last indenture ship arrived in Trinidad in early 1917. In Jan. 1920 remaining contracts were cancelled. Presume same in what was then 'British Guiana'.

[@melodypala5460]

She is my family .I love you grandma and miss you.

[@soundcheck2k7]

What part of Guyana was your grandma from?

[@emmanualsundarsinghj3663]

I am from south India , getting goose bumps … she looks like my relative own grandma

[@realvipul]

she looks like from tamil nadu. they also took some people from tamil nadu those days. her English is fascinating

[@soundcheck2k7]

The first set of Indians to arrive in Guyana were indeed from the Madras Presidency (Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh, south Kerala and a small part of Karnataka), but primarily, the people were mainly Tamils and some Telugus. When the British realized that the Madrasi folk were not easily controllable and were hot-blooded, the next batch of Indians came from Uttar Pradesh & Bihar via the Calcutta port (Bengalis too).

[@rahulrai3938]

Lot of from TN, but mostly r from east india i.e east up, bihar etc

[@carymnuhgibrilsamadalnasud1222]

@@soundcheck2k7 yup

[@carymnuhgibrilsamadalnasud1222]

@@soundcheck2k7 hot blooded? What do you mean by that??

[@soundcheck2k7]

@@carymnuhgibrilsamadalnasud1222 Tamil people are not pushovers. They rebelled against British control. Some of the best freedom fighters of India were from the south.

[@croneyr]

Thx. Im Guyanese, born in America. Looking to learn more about my history. Thanks so much for your work.

[@rishishukla130]

Mama... somehow she made me cry

[@nikhilsukumar23]

Rishi Raj Shukla thank you. Atleast some Indians recognize different shaded women. Thank you.

[@rishishukla130]

Nikhil Sukumar please sir..

[@zartoshtsassani9844]

@@nikhilsukumar23 you are so right.

[@kraiden3]

laughing because the subtitles confuse me and I understand her better without them

[@wayne556]

Lol me2 im guyanese

[@thetorch5147]

Right.lol

[@thetorch5147]

I'm not even guyanese

[@RajKumar-dn6yp]

Old lady speaking native english

[@OszieDe]

Just a note...its not Guyanan but rather Guyanese..

[@RajaVinayChandra]

OszieDe Ah okay, sorry, my mistake!

[@zamzammrfixit3113]

what is ur point mr correct.. its a typo .. you damn rass hole nasty popo head

[@matthewdarby9290]

@@zamzammrfixit3113 haha

[@mrt8944]

One thing that did work in favour of Indian coolies were most retained their culture and religion... The evangelists were not able to succeed initially, though they could later thanks to demonising indian religions and customs with the help of converts. Irony is in places like Fiji where there is friction with natives and descendents of coolies, the indian converts take side of fijians or other natives coz they are Christians 🙄. Unlike african and east asian religions, abhrahmic religions means to wipe out your past

[@butterpecan5814]

What is African religion that wants to wipe out your past?

[@timdivine]

But unlike African slaves in Trinidad if they chose to stay they were given a plot of land of their own.

[@mayena]

0:10-0:24 according to some other historical documents the Girmitiyas.Indian indentured service emigration amounted to 1.587 million (1834-1924). The largest receiptient countries was Fiji, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Suriname, Uganda,

[@nerdcampmedia]

Thank you family for sharing this Raja

[@PanchoChiekrie]

I live in the UK and I have to hear things like "The British empire did more good things in the world than bad things". As a descendant of coolies it's like they are spitting in my face and denying history and truth. Welcome to Brexit Britain.

[@pimppositive4117]

Shes so pretty & her voice is so cute

[@rajiiyadav8888]

A really sad story. I'm from Delhi India and I know that we have Indians all over the world. The smartest humankind of all time. I'm proud to be an Indian. Hopefully one day this world will become discrimination free.

[@butterpecan5814]

You are discriminating by saying that you are the smartest human kind of all. You only want the whites to stop discrimination against your people. There are smart people everywhere.

[@AyanAli-py7ci]

They're not Indian

[@VK-zc2un]

I wonder what memories of India they have. It was a different world then.

[@deedee8043]

so sad 😢😢😢😢 do you all know indentured labor was a name/ cover up because slavery was illegal these people suffered they were tricked into thinking they were going for a better life and in turn was just used 💔, just like the indigenous peoples and africans they were all used and abused 😭😭😭

[@DomP1989]

Wow her accent is a mixture of Caribbean and Indian

[@zenornot9949]

Thank you for posting this.

[@manishrawat3201]

Poor lady. She has suffered so much in her life.

[@ab-nr9nw]

Thanks for adding subtitles. We hardly understand her language

[@julianramnarine1101]

Wym? It’s easy to understand but maybe that’s because I am Guyanese

[@mawdyardie]

As Jamaican I can hear many Similarities between Patwa and Guyanese Creole

[@soundcheck2k7]

It's all broken English from the same stock. Many similar words within all the British colonized countries in the Caribbean.

[@julianramnarine1101]

@@soundcheck2k7very true but because this lady was born in India her creolease sounds a lot more Indian than usual

[@vijayaraja346]

she is tamil ..u can see her ear...that ear ring hole big its a traditional method follow in Tamil Nadu still...to make it big call as " kathu valakkurathu "

[@devanharripersad5730]

Ppl i really don't like the bible verses , so you born Indian and praying to a Jewish/Spanish god . Look stop fooling allyuh self , you cant be Indian and forgetting the rich culture and heritage yuh have. Change yuh name to smith yes

[@DeepVerma728]

I stay true to my Punjabi Khatri roots.

[@peterfreeman3181]

But you are worshiping a pagan God.

[@soundcheck2k7]

@Devan Harripersad Hinduism is NOT an indigenous religion to India; it was brought there by the Aryans from Europe. As far as Christianity is concerned, one of the 12 Apostles that was with Jesus Christ went to India in A.D. 52 and his name is St. Thomas. Christianity was not brought to India "by the white man" as you all think. You really need to learn some history bro.

[@donnybiggzz9339]

soundcheck2k7 you sir are a very intelligent man

[@uncletheoneshotkid3001]

@@soundcheck2k7 no lol hinduism is a mix of multiple vedic and indic beliefs thrown into one. The Kailash people for exaple, follow one of these ancient beliefs due to their isolation. it's vedic in nature but not necessarily hinduism in that it doesnt blend in other beliefs

[@roseannaallen2440]

It’s very heartbreaking to hear the sadness in her story. My grate grandparents also came to Guyana as an Indentured Servant, under the British. I was told many stories from my grandmother (nanny). She never held any grudges against the British. My heart goes out to this wonderful grandma. I hear the pain in her voice… touched my soul. Only when we know where we came from, can we appreciate who we are. Thank you Mr. Debidin ( forgive me if I misspelt your name) for this documentation. My maiden name is also Debidin.

[@michaelsamuel9917]

Yes Indians only like to kiss British @..s since they thankfully got out of India, but have hatred for black ppl everywhere they go as if they caused their suffering.

[@winstondonald3979]

THE EVIL OF BRITAIN

[@rudeintallect9489]

My grate Grantparents came from Calcutta India to Paramaribo, Suriname , brought under the British simular story. I wish these stories would be told more often so we don't take for granted what we have now, where we are now ♥️♥️♥️♥️✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

[@mohanlal-tw5lp]

Fate some times can be sooooo cruel ... Poor old woman ... feels saddend for her ...

[@kyeashwilson7616]

Its sad that indo guyanese lost there ture language 😭 guyana is so diverst is amazing I cried just watching her weap its sad how slavery took form here and us black ppl but we will stay over coming

[@peterfreeman3181]

It's true the British took advantage of the East Indians from India but if I hear you correctly, I guess you are black, you have to blame Islam for the slave trade, the started it and the Europeans were opportunists in the slave trade. I bet you never heard about that one, yes it all started with Islam. It was called the Sahara slave trade, it is going on to this day in most African countries, lybia and other Arab nations.

[@lovelymix8056]

@@peterfreeman3181 lies !!!stop bringing up other people when this about slavery in America.

[@butterpecan5814]

They also took away our languages ans customs as well. Mr. Freeman is partially correct. Eventhough the Arabs started with the Trans Sarah slave trade that doesn't excuse the Europeans in any way. Slavery is not occurring in most African countries. It is happening in some North African countries where the people do not fo the look like people below the Sahara with eth exception of descendants of slaves or very few native to that area.

[@celiabiem7287]

Coolie in Tamil means Daily wage labourer

[@C159-q3f]

🇮🇳🤝🇬🇾🇸🇷🇹🇹

[@skyblueluck]

What a beautiful lady your great grandmother to hear her speak. I had to replay it a few times. She is so cute, you want to hug her and show her love after her hard life. I would've liked to make a donation to her or family in honor of her name for who took care of her in her old age if there is a link. May she rest in peace and thank you for her contribution to share with the world to know her personal story so it would not be lost

[@RajaVinayChandra]

what a beautiful comment! Thank you, I also found her story so incredibly moving and beautiful, that's why I made this video.

[@skyblueluck]

Raja Vinay Chandra please let me know who i can donate something to in her honor as she had such a hard life and is no longer here at least i help her descendants that when she cry out it is not in vain. Thank you so much for taking time to make this video

[@HanifBarnwell]

I burst into tears at the end, what a life.

[@farookjahoor4977]

Most of the early indentured people came from the Bhojpur UP and Bihar. Later ones came from Tamil Nadu (Madras). She seems to be of Tamil ancestry. My aajah and aajee were from UP and my great Nanee also came as a child from UP . My Nana was from Bengal.

[@admagnificat]

Wow. Thank you for sharing this.

[@MoncœrCoyoteSmith]

I bond with this woman. I am trying to find out which member of my family came to the US as an indentured servant. It assumes to have been hidden -- they must have been listed as black on the census.

[@zedono1391]

the strong will always rule over the weak, the literate will always rule over the illiterate.

[@harshrai840]

Going by this india will pay back everything in few years

[@safiamohammed8286]

This made me sad to watch...made me think of my dads great grandma who was taken from india to trinidad....made me think of what her experience was like

[@gequitz]

Rare to find stories like this, but I'm *really* glad I heard her story. I'm glad you're not forgotten now, even though your children were taken from you.

[@rdooky]

Same story in my country mauritius .....

[@jayanramkissoon7206]

Carbon copy

[@shretakumar7817]

Here in Fiji Islands too!!

[@petterderter6354]

Every race was a slave got abused and killed etc am not saying it’s ok but always when a more advanced or stronger country invades or takes over that happens regardless of race but they develop the country and put new tech what would we be of no one left there borders

[@exiledbantuking]

We're thier names stripped away, native languages ? Well this doesn't compare to Slavery !

[@MrTonytocs]

Bob Bobbalina Name and language stripping is not a criteria to qualify as slavery dumbass

[@donnybiggzz9339]

The fuck? Is this a contest? The fuck is you on fam? Yes chattel slavery and indentured slavery were different but very much similar at the same time, instead of makin stupid comments and making shit a contest do some research bob

[@zu5277]

Some had their names taken, yes. There are pictures of them with only numbers underneath. And yeah they were punished for speaking their languages as well.

[@julianramnarine1101]

How are so ignorant to compare other people’s suffering. Yuh dunce.

[@akankshajoshi8788]

Its so painful to see that not many people acknowledges the persecution of native indians and the torture they went through

[@AlatOnDemand]

she’s a descendant of indians from india, not the native americans/carribeans.

[@lizmoon6374]

Please let me know where I can find these old people in Guyana who were indentured slaves so I can help them.

[@bhaigowtam3612]

NYC- Richmond Hill; Toronto- Missasauga, Winnipeg-Manitoba, ..more call me 954 553 9671

[@canucutitnoucant3351]

Liz

[@cramkisson9709]

Whether you can help or not is immaterial. It shows that your heart is in the right place.

[@rahulgm1685]

India is a very rich country and world knows..Only because of British we made slaves to work in other country..

[@egosatwork3255]

In good time ⌚,, Britain 🇬🇧 will pay for its deeds in the past,,,,, 🤔 🤔

[@kelvinshajejwu4128]

Will want pay am a human being am British your not a human?

[@carymnuhgibrilsamadalnasud1222]

@Beatles . Umm yes they do. A lot still have this colonial mindset.

[@rupaabhi]

All those new Indian billionaires are hopefully watching this.

[@NaushadHarji]

The whole world should bring these terrible bosses to class law suit action and make them pay huge sums of money to the surviving grandchildren of the poor peasants who were taken as slaves. The world should not keep quiet.

[@joshuaguillory1070]

God bless her soul! I love you, Ma'am! You are royalty! And you deserve the best in this world ❤😀🤗👍😍😊🙂😙😚😗

[@RearViEwmirror-3]

West enslaved the word to become what it is today. - Fact However, humans make mistake. Hope the we all accept and never ever dream of doing these things ever ever again!!

[@anil7581]

Mistakes are different from crimes. The former can be rectified but the later needs repent or punishment if not apology.

[@Jenesaiqoui]

❤❤❤❤❤❤ thank you for your story Ma

[@ShamieShaw]

I am forever thankful that my foreparents suffered and sacrificed so that i can have a better life. India is one of the last place on earth that i wish to live in. There, the men treat women like slaves and servants. Today noone is migrating to India but indians are coming to Guyana to do business and to work.

[@ronakpopat9008]

It is your misconception that Women's are treatee badly... U should really be visiting India. It's was years ago which was a global cause to treat women with inferiority. Now India is much advanced and world's 5 biggest Economy in the World.

[@syedmaricar9946]

She endured all turmoils gave better future to us.

[@matthewmann8969]

Many South Asians look similar to Australian Aboriginals

[@yahunx7142]

They are mixed with Aboriginal and Caucasoid blood.

[@rahulrai3938]

@@yahunx7142nope, Only 30% of South Indians

[@vineetasjourney8017]

Becuz they are Australian aboriginals, they all left east Africa and then split, some stayed in India and some continued onto Australia

[@uncletheoneshotkid3001]

@@rahulrai3938 nah australian abos can trace around 11% of their genomes to the subcontinent

[@carymnuhgibrilsamadalnasud1222]

@@yahunx7142 lies

[@carlosvelasquez9922]

The British empire caused an Effect that will never end. So much greed and Egoism.

[@bharatshah9092]

My heart aches while listening 😢😢 to her troubles....!! Her ancestors must be very close to my village !!

[@rnjan99]

I met this lady and had a similar interview with her a few years before she passed away. Bless her soul...

[@mariap.5368]

Incredible! Don’t forget where you come from!

[@mspremalatha5721]

Its so sad. British brght them as coolies.