Why did Indians go to Suriname 150 years ago?

Suriname, a small country in South America with a population of mere 6,12,985 people, shares a unique relationship with India. It has been approximately 150 years since Indians for the first time set their foot on the soil of Suriname in 1873.

The Indo-Surinamese form the largest ethnic group in the country, making 27.4% of the population. 

As per records, the first group of Indians in Suriname arrived on June 5, 1873. Indian President Droupadi Murmu is in Suriname to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Suriname.

This has been the tradition which the former Presidents like Ram Nath Kovind, Pranab Mukherji and Pratibha Patil have observed.

President Droupadi Murmu and President @CSantokhi of Suriname witnessed a beautiful enactment of arrival of the first group of Indians in Suriname aboard the Lalla Rookh by local artists. The President inaugurated a simulated village with model habitats, artists and actors… pic.twitter.com/1om0AAkxyb

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 5, 2023

India and Surinamese relations

India and Suriname developed the first relations in 1976 after Suriname got independence on November 25, 1975. 

India opened its embassy in the capital, Paramaribo in 1977. Suriname opened its embassy in India in 2000. Suriname also has a honorary consul in Bengaluru and since 1998. The country also has been supporting India’s candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. 

Why Indians went to Suriname

The Indians who first set their foot in the tiny South-American country went there for a better life. The first sailing ship from India was called Lalla Rookh.  It reached Suriname on June 5, 1873. The last ship of Indian immigrants in Suriname arrived on May 25, 1916. In all, 34,304 Indians shifted to Suriname from India.

The majority of these Indians who first went there were of Bhojpuri origin and were labourers who had gone there after the abolition of slavery in India. These workers went there to work on cocoa, cotton and sugarcane plantations. 

Many of these poverty-stricken labourers left before the partition, so the Indian-origin group in Suriname lives in communal harmony. The number of people practicing Hinduism in Suriname is approximately 18.8%, while nearly 14.3% practice the Islamic faith. Christianity forms the largest religion being practiced in the country with nearly 52.3% of people following the religion.

The Indian origin people in Suriname

According to Amsterdam based academician Sharda Nandram, who is also a third generation Surinamese, Indian origin people in the Dutch country are proud of Indian culture.

Speaking with Times of India, Sharda said that Indians are thriving in trade and culture there. The community has lawyers, doctors and teachers employed in the service sector. Especially amongst the younger generation, India has become a place for leisure visit, and many Surinamese Indians shop for their weddings in India only.

Among the politicians, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular.

In cinema, Bollywood films have a different space in Suriname, and stars like Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif have a big following. 

Droupadi Murmu makes a new announcement on 150th anniversary

President Murmu has announced that India has decided to extend the eligibility criteria for Overseas Citizen Of India card of the original Indian immigrants in Suriname from the fourth generation to the sixth generation, marking their importance in the 150-year-old bilateral relationship.

“Today on this historic occasion, I am pleased to announce that my government has approved the extension of the eligibility criteria for the overseas citizenship of India. The OCI card from the fourth generation to the sixth generation. This will enable all those people whose ancestors came to Suriname on board the first ship,” news agency ANI quoted the President as saying.