A hidden history: the unknown story of 19th and 20th-century indentured labour
Discover the lives of those who were part of the British-Fijian indentured labour diaspora in this multi-sensory, immersive, and eye-opening experience.
Girmit = derived from the English word ‘Agreement’.
Slavery was abolished in 1833 and so the British, and other European powers, started the indenture system, a way to source cheap labour for their colonies. Between 1828 and 1917 over 1.2 million Indians were transported to Fiji as part of a legitimate but enforced mass migration.
‘Girmitiyas’ was the name given to the Indians who served as indentured labourers in the British colonies. Using multi-dimensional, mixed-media art forms designed to engage the eyes and the ears, Girmit aims to bring to life the stories of the Girmitiyas and highlight the history of indentured labour like never before.
“The Fijian Community, despite its contribution to UK society through the NHS, the British Army and other sectors, remains invisible. Similar to the Windrush Generation, Fijians have deep associations with the UK.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture the memories and stories of this diverse British community at an important moment of the anniversaries of the Independence of Fiji and the abolition of indentured labour.” – Ajay Chhabra, Artistic Director, Nutkhut
Aiming to educate, inspire and facilitate open conversations about an unspoken part of history, Girmit is the third project in our ‘Defining Moments’ trilogy.
Nutkhut’s ‘Defining Moments’ projects aim to mark significant historical anniversaries and moments in time that reflect the rich and complex inter-relationship between Britain and South Asian communities across the globe.
Please note that the premiere of Girmit will take place at Mozilla Festival on Thursday 11 March at 6.15pm GMT/ 7.15pm CET and then will be live to view forever online at: Girmit World, along with a host of activities.
We hope to see you there so you can see what we’ve been working on with this new arts and heritage project, and to step inside the Girmit experience!
Previous ‘Defining Moments’ projects include:
2016 – Dr Blighty – Marking the centenary of the First World War, this immersive project informed audiences of the untold history of brave Indian soldiers far from home, fighting other men’s wars. As the wounded convalesced within Brighton’s impressive Royal Pavilion, that’s where Dr Blighty was staged.
2018 – Never Set Eyes on the Land – This project focused on the anniversary of the largest mass migration in history, the partition of India. A key aspect of the project was the ambition to bring the story of partition, as well as the living legacy of those who had been through this migration, to the wider public.
Girmit aims to highlight the centenary of the abolishment of indentured labour and the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Fiji, to inform the public of this neglected part of British history, which remains relatively unknown outside of academic circles.
