INDIA, JULY 25, 2017 (Empire’s Last Casualty, by Dr. Akkaraju Sarma): One of the legacies of Colonial Empire with unfortunate consequences has been the practice of “indentured laborers.” In a nutshell, British recruited a batch of Indian citizens, based on a typical rural structure based on local traditions based on jati (ethnic, caste, tribe or linguistic community.) This subject has been well written on with an overall picture of thriving fellow citizens, whether it be Fiji (with half the nation is Indian Origin), much of South African legendary success of Asians (with business acumen) and of course since 1965 of remarkable achievements of Indians – otherwise known as Non-Resident Indians or NRI’s – in the continental United States.
Leaving this aside for the moment, did you know that about 1,200 or so of Telugu speakers have been struggling in Bangladesh? An enterprising Bangladeshi Muslim Scholar-Investigative Photo Journalist Mr. Khamin Cu has documented in 1970s the highlights of the small pocket of Telugus. They were living in a colony for methors, Bengali equivalent of low social status of sweepers/cleaners. While many Bangladesh communities were identified and given recognition, Telugus remain an “invisible” community, denied of rights of a Bangladeshi citizen unable to franchise their rights.
Full article at “source” above.