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Showing 50 of 350 matches — scanned Natal, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad + Sri Lanka registers
Father: Samman
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Subban Alla
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Radhoo
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 27781 | Father: RADHOO | Sex: G | Caste: Lodh | District: SHAJEHANPORE
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Father: Ghaffur
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Bhota
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Bankay
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Birbal
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Shabrati
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Naraina Raju
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Ally Mahamud
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 114507 | Father: ALLY MAHAMUD | Sex: M | Caste: Muslim | District: PUNJAB
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 150188 | Father: GULAM HUSSAIN | Sex: M | Caste: Muslim | District: BIJMAND
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Father: Gulam Hussain
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Dhanre
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Kalloo
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Niamatulla
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 148343 | Father: BANDOO | Sex: M | Caste: Muslim | District: DELHI
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 25964 | Father: KHODABUX | Sex: M | Caste: Muslim | District: DELHI
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 97417 | Father: KALLOO | Sex: B | Caste: Nau muslim | District: MUTTRA
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Father: Fatteh Khan
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Manla Bux
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 142184 | Father: HAIDER | Sex: M | Caste: Muslim | District: MEERUT
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Father: Bhuray
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Piro
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Diljan
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 103447 | Father: BUDHU | Sex: M | Caste: Muslim | District: MEERUT
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Father: Budhu
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Bandoo
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Lucknow
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Haider
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Khodabux
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 11408 | Father: DHORAY | Sex: M | Caste: Muslim | District: GONDA
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Father: Dhoray
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Nahi
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Munsadh
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Khada Bux
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 103382 | Father: KHADA BUX | Sex: M | Caste: Muslim | District: BASTI
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 12419 | Father: MUNSADH | Sex: M | Caste: Muslim | District: GORUCKPORE
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Father: Nuru
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Khodabux
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Penamghur
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Ramzan
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 30333 | Father: OTTAMUTTU | Sex: F | Caste: Muthria | District: SOUTH ARCOT
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 30332 | Father: AMMASI NAIDU | Sex: M | Caste: Muthria | District: SOUTH ARCOT
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 143301 | Father: KHUDA BUX | Sex: M | Caste: Muslim | District: HISAR
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Father: Khuda Bux
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Listed in the GLDC archive.
Indenture No: 132894 | Father: SADAYAN | Sex: B | Caste: Paria | District: SOUTH ARCOT
Source: Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal — Ships' List of Indentured Indians to Natal, 1860–1911 (opens in new tab) — Academic database — attribution required
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Father: Wazir
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Father: Bhundu
Listed in the III archive.
Source: The Indentured Indians (theiii.in) — indenture ships' lists (South Africa, Fiji, Suriname) (opens in new tab) — Community indenture database — attribution
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Or add a village, ship, or year filter to narrow further
Tamil indenture records are historical documents from 1834-1920 that tracked Indian laborers who migrated to British, French, and Dutch colonies under contract (indenture) labor systems. After the abolition of slavery in 1833, colonial plantations needed workers — over 1.5 million Indians, including approximately 500,000 Tamils, migrated as indentured laborers to sugar estates, tea plantations, and infrastructure projects across the world.
These records include ship manifests, immigration passes, arrival registers, and employment contracts. They typically contain the migrant's name, father's name, age, caste, village of origin (often in Tamil Nadu), physical description, ship name, departure port, arrival date, and destination.
241,000+ recordsvia III (Indentured Immigration Index)
Largest Tamil diaspora destination. Ships departed from Madras and Pondicherry every 2-3 weeks during peak migration (1860-1890). Voyage duration: 6-8 weeks.
12,000+ recordsvia Girmitiya Madras
Tamil migrants from Madras Presidency. "Girmitiya" (from English "agreement") refers to indentured laborers. Voyage: 8-10 weeks via Colombo.
152,000+ recordsvia GLDC (Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre)
Natal sugar estates. The Truro (1860) — the first indentured ship — departed from Madras. Voyage: 10-12 weeks via Cape of Good Hope.
6,000+ recordsvia TNA (The National Archives, Kew)
UK outward passenger lists (Board of Trade BT 26/27) — ships leaving British ports for India and the colonies. Catalogue-level: useful for provenance, not per-person names.
Archives in progress
Dutch Guiana plantations. Tamil migrants via British India. Ships departed Madras and Calcutta. Voyage: 8-10 weeks.
Madras (Chennai) — Primary Departure Port
The vast majority of Tamil migrants departed from Madras Harbor. Recruitment centers (depots) operated in Madras city where migrants underwent medical examination, received travel documents (immigration pass), and boarded ships. Common routes: Madras → Mauritius (6-8 weeks), Madras → Fiji (8-10 weeks via Colombo), Madras → Guyana/Trinidad (10-12 weeks via Cape of Good Hope).
Pondicherry (Puducherry) — French Territory
French colonial port serving migrants to French colonies (Reunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique) and some British destinations. Smaller volume than Madras but significant for southern Tamil Nadu districts (Tanjore, Tiruchirapalli).
Hundreds of ships transported Tamil migrants between 1834-1920. Major vessels include:
Truro
Madras → Guyana (1860s), Natal
Sheila
Madras → Mauritius (1850s-70s)
Hesperus
Madras → Mauritius & Caribbean
Atlas
Madras → Fiji & Mauritius
British Empire
Madras → Natal, South Africa
Ganges
Multiple routes from Madras
Main
Madras → Trinidad (1870s-90s)
Syria
Madras → Mauritius & Réunion
Fath Al Salem
Early ship to Trinidad (1840s-50s)
Ship manifests list each passenger with detailed information, making them invaluable genealogical sources. Search by ship name above if you know your ancestor's vessel.
Typical fields in Tamil indenture records:
Full name of migrant
Often transliterated from Tamil
Father's name (patronymic)
Critical for Tamil identification
Age at departure
Usually 18-35 years old
Caste / community
E.g., Pariah, Vellala, Naidu
Village of origin
District and taluk when recorded
Physical description
Height, marks, complexion
Ship name
Vessel that transported them
Indenture/pass number
Unique identifier
Departure & arrival dates
Exact dates when recorded
Destination & estate
Colony and employer assignment
Family relationships
If migrating with spouse/children
Note: The level of detail varies by colonial archive, time period, and record type. Earlier records (1840s-1860s) tend to have less information than later ones (1880s-1920).
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