The South Asian diaspora came into being with the end of slavery in the British Empire. Huge numbers of labourers were recruited in the Indian sub-continent for indentured labour schemes, notably in Southeast Asia, South and East Africa, Mauritius, Fiji and the Caribbean, and also in French colonies. Later there were waves of 'free' immigration to these and other countries, including, in the last generation, Britain itself and North America. This set of essays by scholars from several different disciplines offers detailed accounts of the experience of the migrant communities, and the editors contribute valuable overviews. Originally published in 1990, it is an indispensable resource for scholars interested in the diaspora, or concerned with problems of migration.
