Indian immigration to Fiji began in 1879 under indenture system after the abolition of slavery in 1832. In total 87 voyages around 60553 Indian indentured laborers immigrated to Fiji islands. Under the system of indenture agreement it was provided that the indentured laborer was free to repatriate after the completion of ten years including five years as indentured laborer and were eligible for free passage. Majority of them had immigrated temporarily to Fiji with the objective of returning back to India after earning sufficient money. After abolition of indenture system in 1920 the deadline of ten years was no more existent and number of them applied for repatriation. However, a number of indentured Indian laborers had already repatriated during indenture period but were disappointed because of the treatment meted to them in their villages. The repatriated Indians after 1920 also found themselves in the similar situation after coming back to India. It is not surprising that number of them were now interested in coming back to Fiji forever and not to return back to India. They went Fiji for a temporary period of ten years but now were forced to accept Fiji as their new home. In fact, this was the time when Indian indentured community began transforming into an Indo-Fijian community. Immediately after abolition of indenture system there were two strikes in Fiji Islands consequently in 1920 and 1921. Generally the historian gave the social, economic and racial causes behind these strikes. But the strikes were the fall out of the process of an attempt of assimilation of Indian community into Fijian society as a new adopted home in place of India. The Indians were treated not equal to European community, the ruling race of Fiji. So the foremost objective of the strikes of 1920 and 1921 in Fiji, the abolition of “Master-Servant Ordinance”, was a step forward in the direction of achieving the equal treatment by their European masters.
Fiji Islands, Indenture system, Indo-Fijian, Strike
