INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY: INDIA AND THE CENTURY OF MOBILITY

International Migrants Day is observed every year on December 18 to recognize the contributions of migrants and highlight the challenges they face.

- TDG NETWORK

For India - home to the world's largest overseas diaspora - this day is an opportunity to reflect on a remarkable history of migration spanning centuries.From the indentured laborers of the 19th century to today's high-flying tech professionals, Indians have been on the move, reshaping societies abroad while maintaining strong links to their homeland. India's diaspora today numbers over 34 million (3.43 crore) people across the globe. Their remittances reached a record $135 billion last year, underscoring how integral these migrants are to India's economy and identity. This journey from colonial-era indenture to Gulf oil booms to the IT revolution - is a century of mobility worth exploring on International Migrants Day.

INDENTURED LABOR: THE FIRST WAVE OF INDIAN MIGRATION (1830S-1910S)

India’s modern diaspora history began under the shadow of the empire. After slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1833, colonial plantations from the Caribbean to Mauritius faced severe labor shortages. To fill this gap, the British devised the indentured labour system, recruiting Indians to work overseas under 5-year contracts often obtained by deception or coercion. In 1834, the first batch of Indian workers was shipped to Mauritius, and within a few years tens of thousands were toiling on its sugar plantations. Other European powers, like France and the Netherlands, copied this model, bringing Indian laborers to their colonies as well.