In this 1982 documentary the longest living Indian indentured labourer of Suriname, Ramlali Awadhbihari (104 years old), talks in Awadhi about how she was kidnapped by an arkāṭī (a recruiting agent for indentured labourers in Surinam, Mauritius, Fiji etc.) from her village in UP
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arkāṭī अरकाटी is an interesting word used by almost all indentured Indian diaspora. Etymologically arkāṭī is a native or inhabitant of Arcot in Tamil Nadu (India); a navigator (the ship pilots of Southern India in colonial times are supposed to have been men of Arcot).
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You can see the full documentary here 🎬💻
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@avtansa
Still recall the day on a tram in Den Haag when I overheard a lady saying " Sluitel naa lele hayin" (I dont have the keys) in what was then to me very peculiar Dutch-Sarnami combo.
Such a strange and complex history of the English-Dutch-Suriname-Awadh connections.
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@karthik_venk
Good read. I have been reading your other articles too. You stories are meticulously written and are interesting to read. Thank you!
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@avtansa
Wow! Have seen it first time on film. Thanks for sharing. We can't imagine what they went through.
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@avtansa
Thank you. 🙏🏼 Some years ago I found this film on YouTube but lost it. Have been trying to search it. The song in Bhojpuri is heart touching. Makes tears roll down the eyes. Do you have a link to the full documentary?
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@avtansa
Heartbreaking but also interesting to hear that reference to Arcot. Thanks for sharing. (It's sad that the history of Indian slave labor does not even merit a mention in our school textbooks.)
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@avtansa
Here is similay story from Guyana. These stories of colonial opression need to be told in their mother country India before this generation is completely gone
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@avtansa
Pardon my intrusion, but it looks like she's Speaking Bhojpuri of Poorvanchal (Near Awadh region )
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@avtansa
I am from awadh region. This is not awadhi. Rather mix of awadhi and bhonpuri...plz be specific regarding awadhi language..
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