The 'new system of slavery' that shaped a nation

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1873, the first ship of Indian labourers arrived in Suriname. While intended as a contract-based replacement for abolished slave labour, the journey and its origins reveal a complex, often brutal struggle for human dignity and survival.

Following the end of the Dutch slave trade, the Dutch government entered into a treaty with the United Kingdom to recruit contract workers from British India. This migration, which began in 1873, brought people from diverse regions including modern-day Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu, as well as individuals from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. These labourers, often called 'girmityas' or 'kantraki' due to the agreements they signed, were essentially indentured workers.

The arrival of the Lalla Rookh in Paramaribo was met with skepticism by newly freed slaves, who famously remarked that the white man remained in control. Initially, the conditions for these Indian migrants were arguably worse than the previous era of slavery. The British Viceroy of India even went so far as to label the arrangement a 'new system of slavery.' To protect their international reputation, the British and Dutch governments eventually enacted strict regulations in the 1870s to improve transport safety and plantation working conditions.

These new laws mandated specific medical and logistical standards, such as requiring a European doctor on every ship and the presence of an Indian translator. Ships were also required to carry apparatus capable of producing 500 litres of fresh water daily from seawater. These interventions had a measurable impact: while the mortality rate for slaves between 1680 and 1807 averaged 50.9 per thousand, the rate for Indian workers following the 1873 regulations dropped significantly to 7.1 per thousand.

Today, the Indo-Surinamese, or Hindoestanen, constitute 27.4% of Suriname's population, making them the largest ethnic group on an individual basis. Their heritage is a tapestry of religious traditions, with 78% practicing Hinduism and 13% practicing Islam, alongside Christian and Jain communities.

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