150th anniversary of arrival of Indians in Suriname
Recently the Indian President has been conferred with the ‘Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star’, the highest civilian honor of Suriname.
- Also, India has also expanded the eligibility criteria for OCI card to Indian expatriates living in Suriname. It has been decided to increase the eligibility criteria of Indian expatriates living there from 4th generation to 6th
Indian community in Suriname
- On June 5, 1873, the first group of Indians reached the sea coast of Suriname aboard a ship named Lalla Rukh.
- Indo-Surinamese is the largest ethnic community in the country. They have 27.4 percent share in the total population here.
- In the period 1873–1916, over 34,000 Indians were brought to Suriname from British India as indentured laborers to work on the plantations.
- In the 19th century, a severe famine in the Gangetic plains led to extreme poverty. Therefore, due to poverty and scarcity, the Indian laborers were forced to migrate.
- In Suriname the descendants of these workers mainly speak the surname Hindustani language. It is a language derived from the mixture of Awadhi and Bhojpuri. It is the third most spoken language in Suriname.
- India and Suriname began their relations in 1976 after Suriname gained independence.
Suriname
- The capital of Suriname is Paramaribo. It is located on the northeast coast of South America.
- Neighboring Countries: It is surrounded by French Guiana in the east, Brazil in the south and Guyana in the west.
- Geographical features: Narrow coastal plain with mostly hilly areas and marshy areas.
- Major rivers: Commewine River, Copenem River, Corentin River, Marowine (Moroni) River etc.
- Highest peak: Juliana Top.
Source – The Hindu
