“Hill coolies” in colonial Mauritius 1834 –1840

Abstract

This study explores the colonial conception, migration, and labor experiences of “hill coolies” from India to Mauritius between 1834 and 1840. Drawing on archival materials, it investigates how colonial officials and plantation owners viewed hill communities, particularly the Dhangars, as submissive, diligent, and suitable for indentured labor due to their socio-economic disenfranchisement and perceived cultural simplicity. Additionally, it delves into the challenges faced by hill coolies, such as poor working conditions, cultural dislocation, and high mortality rates, especially during sea voyages. It highlights how these factors, alongside evolving economic strategies and the need for greater social control, led to a shift in preference toward plain laborers. Positioned within the broader frameworks of global capitalism, the transformation of slavery and colonial oppression, this work underscores the resilience and agency of displaced communities in the face of systemic exploitation. By revealing the entrenched structural inequalities perpetuated by the indentured labor system, it offers critical insights into the socio-economic and political dynamics that influenced migration, labor policies, and the lived experiences of hill coolies in the colonial era.