The History of the site

Site History

The Aapravasi Ghat historical site is an important symbol of Mauritian identity since the ancestors of more than 70% of present day Mauritian population arrived on the island through this immigrant depot. The depot's name was changed in 1987 from “Coolie Ghat” to “Aapravasi Ghat” which in hindi means the landing place of Immigrants.

	(a) Immigration and the Indenture system
	Mauritius is a Nation composed of immigrants who came from Europe, Asia and Africa. Successive colonial governments introduced labourers from other colonies and from countries located on trading routes to the Indies: The Dutch (1598–1710) introduced Bengalis, Malagasys and South East Asian immigrants The French (1721–1810) brought labourers from Africa and India The English (1810-1968) initiated the arrival of indentured Indians, Africans and Chinese Even before the abolition of slavery in 1835, planters called for labourers as the sugar industry was expanding rapidly. The indenture system, which began in 1834, was institutionalized in 1842. Indentured labourers were bound by a contract for a stipulated period. Several depots were used to receive indentured labourers before the erection of the Aapravasi Ghat in Trou Fanfaron at Port Louis.
	(b)The Aapravasi Ghat, a site of core indenture
	The Aapravasi Ghat was constructed in 1849 to receive the indentured immigrants. The depot was enlarged in the 1850's to handle the immigrants who arrived each year by thousands. From 1849 to 1910, the Aapravasi Ghat played a central role in the day-to-day functioning of the indenture labour system and also in the lives of those immigrants and their descendants in Mauritius .
	(c)The role of Aapravasi Ghat immigration office was to:
	Receive newly arrived labourers Perform sanitary control Register immigrants and time-expired labourers Deliver tickets and passes to immigrants Allocate labourers to sugar estates or public construction projects Supervise the return of migrants Receive vagrants Collect immigrants' payment of taxes Deliver immigrants' marriage certificates Record the purchase of land by immigrants Inspect the estates on which indentured labourers worked
	(d) Staff of the Aapravasi Ghat Immigration Office
	Protector and Deputy protector of immigrants The protector was the head of the immigration depot. His duties consisted of supervising the arrival and departure of immigrants and implementing government policy and laws at the depot. A deputy protector assisted him in these duties. Depot Superintendent He was in charge of management and discipline at the depot. He supervised the preparation of meals, cleaning of the yards and wards, reception of immigrants and other tasks related to the functioning of the Depot. Medical Officer A medical officer was appointed in the beginning of 1860 to examine newly arrived immigrants, to look after them during their stay at the depot, to vaccinate them, if necessary, and to report deaths. Clerks Clerks performed administrative tasks such as registering of immigrants, delivering immigrant's tickets or passes, etc. A photographer was appointed in 1865 to take photos of immigrants. Inspecting Officer He supervised embarkation on ships in the harbour. Distribution Clerk His role was to allocate indentured labourers to employers. Guards Guards maintained order at the depot. Peons They were in charge of cleaning and maintaining the depot.

(a) Immigration and the Indenture system

(b) The Aapravasi Ghat, a site of core indenture

(d) Staff of the Aapravasi Ghat immigration office

(e) Being Immigrant at Aapravasi Ghat

(f) Origins of Immigrants

(g) Aapravasi Ghat: A symbol of Mauritian Identity

(h) Aapravasi Ghat Conservation Project

(i) Application to the World Heritage Centre

(j) Chronology

(j) The Indenture Experience

Bibliography

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