Working in the Sugar Plantations

Ruth wanted to know why people came from India to settle in Fiji. When asked what she knew about sugar cane processing in Fiji, she knew that sugar cane grew on the islands. To answer her question she needed to further research the history of this industry. This is what she found out:

When and Why Did People Come From India to Fiji? Background on Indigenous People: The first people to come to Fiji were from Africa. The Lapita people settled in Fiji about 2900 years ago. Life for the Fijian people changed when British missionaries arrived. The Fijian people became believers in Christian ways. Britain colonized Fiji in 1874 but allowed Fijian chiefs to govern their people as long as they cooperated with the British Crown. It was not until 1970 that Fiji became independent.

Between 1850 and the beginning of the First World War, 60,500 Indians came into Fiji to work. The sugar refining company CSR brought Indians into Fiji to work in the sugar plantations. They worked hard for very little money. Work in the sugar plantations was tough. Many workers died of dysentery. Those who survived the first three years often died of other diseases later on. The Fijian people could not be made to work under these conditions.

When they were finished working in the plantations many workers decided to stay on and not return to India. Today, most of this country's cane growers are descendants of those early laborers.There are many Indian people in Fiji who have their own houses and businesses. In many countries around the world people have migrated in the hope of a better future for themselves and their families.