Experts call for Girmitiya heritage and diaspora studies

Biharsharif: A two-day international conference organised at Nalanda University (NU) concluded on Saturday. The programme titled “Rediscovering Girmitiya identity: Past, present and future,” brought together scholars, diplomats, policymakers and community leaders to examine the historical and contemporary significance of the Indian indentured labour diaspora.

The conference, held in a hybrid format, was jointly organised by the Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad (ARSP) and the Diaspora Research and Resource Centre (DRRC), with support from the ministry of external affairs, in collaboration with Nalanda University.

The inaugural session was set in motion with a welcome address by Shyam Parande, secretary general of ARSP, who stressed the need to reconnect with Girmitiya heritage and deepen global academic engagement on the Indian diaspora. The chief guest, H.E. Dharam Kumar Seeraj, high commissioner of Guyana, paid tribute to the enduring legacy of indentured labourers, calling Guyana a living symbol of unity, diversity and Girmitiya resilience.

Ajay Dubey, former rector of Jawaharlal Nehru University, delivered the keynote address, reflecting on how descendants of indentured labourers have risen to become influential contributors across global political and cultural spheres. Biman Prasad, former deputy PM of Fiji, joining online, called for sustained academic and institutional support to amplify Girmitiya narratives worldwide.

H.E. Chandradath Singh from Trinidad and Tobago highlighted India’s growing emphasis on cultural reconnection and heritage preservation, while Sarita Boodhoo, recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, drew a powerful parallel between the revival of Nalanda University and the broader journey of Girmitiya identity.

The session was chaired by Sachin Chaturvedi, vice-chancellor of Nalanda University, who underlined the role of technology in tracing genealogical roots and reconnecting diaspora communities with their Indian heritage.