Veena

The Journey to Mauritius: The Mirage of Marich Desh

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Welcome to the pilot episode of The Journey to Mauritius . Join us as we uncover the truthful yet uplifting history of the 700,000 Indian indentured labourers who crossed the Kala Pani (Black Water) between 1834 and 1920. In this episode, we explore the "Mirage of Marich Desh"—the deceptive promises made by recruiters ( Arkatias ) in the villages of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. While many were tempted by dreams of gold hidden under stones, they arrived at the Aapravasi Ghat to find a life of gruelling labour in the sugar cane fields. We honour the immense strength of these pioneers who, despite br...

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Veena

Episodes

Episode 3: The Journey of the Girmityas | Building Modern Mauritius 08.05.2026 53:52

"From five-rupee monthly contracts to the leadership of a nation." In the final episode of our Girmitya series, Hosts trace the path of resilience from the sugar estates to independence. Discover how the indentured population of Mauritius fought for labour rights, political representation, and the right to call the island home. Episode Highlights: The Rise of the Diaspora: How the Girmityas moved...

Episode 2: How Mauritius Turned Names into Numbers | The Story of the Girmityas 08.05.2026 17:16

Episode Summary: What happens to the human spirit when an identity is replaced by a serial number? In the second installment of our series on the Indian indentured labourers of Mauritius, we move from the deceptive promises made in rural Indian villages to the cold, stone reality of the "Great Experiment". Podcast Hosts walk through the arrival process at Aapravasi Ghat—the "landing place"—where n...

Episode 01 (Pilot): The Mirage of the "Deals" 06.05.2026 9:05

In this debut episode, the migration of Indian labourers to Mauritius. We uncover the deceptive "deals" made in Indian villages and the stark reality faced by those who arrived on the island’s shores. Key Chapters: The Mirage: Understanding why labourers from Bhojpuri-speaking regions like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh signed these five-year contracts. Kala Pani: The emotional weight of crossing the "Bl...