Fijian Indian Diaspora

# Fijian Indian Diaspora: A Journey of Identity The story of the Fijian Indian diaspora is one of resilience, adaptation, and cultural evolution. Beginning with the arrival of indentured laborers to Fiji in 1879, this community has navigated complex challenges of identity, belonging, and cultural preservation across multiple continents. ## Historical Context Between 1879 and 1916, approximately 60,000 Indians were brought to Fiji under the British colonial indenture system. These laborers came to work on sugar plantations under harsh conditions that would shape their collective identity for generations to come. ## Cultural Evolution What emerged in Fiji was not simply a transplanted Indian culture, but something entirely new - a unique Indo-Fijian identity. This identity blended traditional Indian customs, Fijian influences, colonial legacies, and evolved into a distinct Fiji Hindi dialect. ## Research Focus My research explores intergenerational identity transmission, language evolution, transnational networks, and cultural innovation in diaspora communities.