Maharani's Misery

by Shepard, Verene

• ISBN13: 9789766401214
• ISBN10: 9766401217
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-10-01
• Publisher: Univ of West Indies Pr

Summary

Following the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean, a concerted effort was made to replace enslaved labor with indentured Indian labor, and this book recounts the story of one woman's tragic experience in trying to immigrate to the Caribbean in the nineteenth century.

The book combines documentary evidence with a surrounding narrative interpretation in order to highlight the experiences of the young Indian woman, Maharani, who was allegedly raped and died subsequently on board the ship Allanshaw that sailed from Calcutta to colonial Guyana in 1885. The work sheds light on the general history of bonded labor migration as well as "sexploitation."

Maharani's death gave rise to an extraordinary nine-day investigation involving some twenty-two witnesses, including some of the emigrants themselves. By making use of the emigrants' depositions, the book projects the voice of the indentured servants from India on their long voyage to the Caribbean. The events on this passage from India provide further evidence that 19th-century labor "migration" replicated several

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
List of Tables	x
Cast of Characters	xi
Preface	xiii
Introduction	xvi
PART I
Indian Women and Labour Migration: Background to Maharani's Passage from India	3	(30)
Journey Interrupted: Maharani's Death on the Allanshaw	33	(12)
Investigating the Complaint of ``Criminal Assault''	45	(29)
Conclusion	74	(80)
PART II Appendices: Minutes of Evidence Taken before the Commission of Enquiry in Colonial Guyana
Appendix 1 Surgeon-Superintendent Dr E.A. Hardwicke	83	(5)
Appendix 2 Captain Frederick C. Wilson	88	(3)
Appendix 3 William Urquhart (Sailmaker)	91	(2)
Appendix 4 Mohadaya (Return Emigrant)	93	(2)
Appendix 5 Moorti (Return Emigrant)	95	(1)
Appendix 6 Golap (Nurse)	96	(1)
Appendix 7 James T. Grant (Assistant Compounder)	97	(4)
Appendix 8 Robert Ipson (Able Seaman)	101	(5)
Appendix 9 John Smith (Able Seaman)	106	(3)
Appendix 10 James T. Grant (Recalled)	109	(1)
Appendix 11 G. W. de la Mare (Chief Officer)	110	(5)
Appendix 12 Alexander Bain (Able Seaman)	115	(4)
Appendix 13 William Lee (Able Seaman)	119	(3)
Appendix 14 Walter R. S. Stokes (Third Officer)	122	(4)
Appendix 15 August Makohl (Engineer)	126	(2)
Appendix 16 Joseph Warner (Able Seaman)	128	(2)
Appendix 17 Captain F. C. Wilson (Recalled)	130	(2)
Appendix 18 Lutchmun (Return Emigrant)	132	(3)
Appendix 19 Heerdayaram (Hospital Attendant)	135	(2)
Appendix 20 William Clintworth (Cabin Boy)	137	(1)
Appendix 21 James T. Grant (Recalled)	138	(1)
Appendix 22 William Leslie (Steward)	139	(3)
Appendix 23 Ramkhelawan (Sirdar)	142	(2)
Appendix 24 Dr Finlayson (MD)	144	(2)
Appendix 25 Chitamun (Passenger)	146	(1)
Appendix 26 James T. Grant (Third Deposition)	147	(7)
Notes	154	(11)
Bibliography	165	(9)
Index	174