Migration of Maharashtrians to Mauritius (1834 - 1968)

Dr. Martha Sreenivas

Abstract: The present study is confined only to Marathi people, who migrated to Mauritius for the sake of employment economy in the sugar plantations. In this study, the mobility of the Marathi people to Sugar industries in Mauritius recruitment of Marathi workers their standard of wages and their relationship with the local people and authorities will be examined during the period. Nevertheless, their role in the socio-economic development and cultural transformation of the local society was quite significant. Therefore, their study highlights the specific nature and pattern of evolution of an immigrant community overseas. Their involvement and contribution to the socio-economic development and cultural assimilation of the host country need to be studied in detail.

Keywords: Migration, Maharashtrians, Mauritius, Sugar Plantations, Indenture Labour, communities