UPSC Mains 2018 GS1 Q13 — Modern History
Why indentured labour was taken by the British from India to other colonies ? Have they been able to preserve their cultural identity over there ? (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Why
- Scope keywords
- indentured labourtaken by the BritishIndia to other coloniespreserve their cultural identity
- Implicit sub-parts
- The push factors in India (economic distress, famine) and pull factors in colonies (abolition of slavery, plantation needs).
- The 'Girmitiya' system and the nature of the migration process.
- Specific examples of cultural preservation mechanisms (language, religion, festivals, food).
- The evolution of a 'syncretic' identity (e.g., Chutney music, Bhojpouri influence in Fiji/Suriname).
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing too much on the horrors of the voyage rather than the 'why' of the British policy.
- Neglecting to mention the abolition of slavery in 1833 as the primary driver for labor demand.
- Providing a generic 'yes' to identity preservation without citing specific regions like Mauritius, Guyana, or Fiji.
- Ignoring the 'creolization' or blending of cultures, assuming identity remained frozen in time.
- Dimensions required
- HistoricalEconomicSocio-culturalGeopolitical
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate approximately 100 words to the 'Why' part, covering the economic shift from slavery to indenture. Use the remaining 150 words to analyze cultural preservation, ensuring you balance specific examples of Indian traditions with how they adapted to the new colonial environment.
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