Rinderpast of the Cattle Plague

Rinderpest or the Cattle Plague: In Africa, in the 1890s, a fast spreading disease of cattle plague or rinderpest destroyed a large number of cattle. It had an immense effect on the livelihoods of the local people. Africa and their relations with the rest of the world Historically, Africa had abundant land and a relatively population. For centuries, the local people had no need work for wages as land and livestock sustained livelihoods.

Europeans Came to Africa: In the late 19th century, Europeans came to Africa They were hope to establish plantation and mines to produce crops and  minerals for export to Europe. But they faced the problem of  shortage of labour as local people were unwilling to work

Employers used many methods to recruit and retain labour. They imposed heavy taxes, changed inheritance laws (only one member of a family was allowed to inherit land), confined the mine workers.

Rinderpest Spread in Africa: In the late 1880s, the devastating cattle disease, rinderperst arrived in Africa. It was carried by infected cattle imported from British Asia to feed the Italian soldiers invading Eritrea in East Africa.

The disease spread like 'forest fire' in the whole of Africa and killed 90 per cent of the cattle. It reached Africa's southernmost tip 'Cape' five years later. The loss of cattle destroved the livelihood of many Africans and they were forced into labour market. Planters, mine owners and the colonial governments successfully monopolised the remaining cattle resources.

Indentured Labour Migration from India: Indentured labour means a bonded labourer under contrat to work for an employer for a specific amount of time, to pay off his passage to a new country or home. In the 19th century, lakhs of Indian and Chinese laboures went to work on plantations, in mines and in different construction projects around the world. In India, indenture labourers were hired for 5 years.

Most Indian indentured workers came from the presentda regions of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Central India and Tamil Nadu. In mid-19th century, these regions of India experienced many social changes like cottage industries declined, land rents rose and lands were cleared for mines and plantations. All these forced the poors to migrate in search of work.

Destinations of Indian Indentured Migrants: The main destinations of Indian indentured migrants were the Caribbean Islands (mainly Trinidad, Guyana and Surinam), Mauritius and Fiji besides other places near home. Tamil migrants went to Ceylon and Malaya. Some indentured workers were recruited in Assam's tea plantations.The Condition of Indentured Labourer: Recruitment of these labourers was done by agents engaged by employers and paid a small commission. Agents recruited indentured labourers by promising them better living conditions, more money and other benefits. However, when they arrived at the plantations, labourers found conditions different from what they had imagined. Often they were not told about the long sea voyage. Sometimes, unwilling migrants were forcibly abducted by the agents.

Changes in Cultural Scene in 19th Century: 19th century indenture has been described as a 'new system of slavery'. Although, living and working conditions were harsh, workers discovered their own ways of surviving. Many of them tried to escape and if caught they faced severe punishment.

These migrant labourers developed new forms of festivals and other forms of entertainment by blending their different cultural forms. Riotous carnival (Hosay) in Trinidad, the protest religion of Rastafarianism, which was made famous by Jamaican singer Bob Marley, Chutney music of Trinidad and Guyana are all examples of cultural fusion. Things from different places got mixed, lost their original characteristics and became a completely new thing.

Descendants of Indentured Labourers: Many indentured workers permanently settled in the countries where they had gone after their contracts ended. So there are large communities of people of Indian descent in these countries. For instance, Noble Prize winner writer like VS Naipaul, some famous West Indies cricketers like Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan are descended from indentured labourers from India. The system of indentured labore was abolished in 1921 afrer many years Indian nationalists opposed the system. Even now, some descendants of Indian indenrured workers are thought of as coolies as they are an uneasy minority in the Caribbean Islands.

#Hosay :- A riotous carnival in Trinidad when workers of all races and religions join to celebrate . 

#Rastafarian :- A Member of a Jamaican religious group which worships the former emperor of Ethiopia , Halie Selassie . 

#Tariff :-  Tax imposed on a country's imports from the rest of the world . Tarrifs are levied at the point of entry like at the border or the airport .