Rajgir: Nalanda University in Rajgir inaugurated a two-day international conference on Saturday focusing on the history and evolving identity of the Girmitiya diaspora, bringing together scholars, diplomats and policymakers from across the world.
The conference, titled “Rediscovering Girmitiya Identity: Past, Present and Future”, is being organised jointly by the Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad and the Diaspora Research and Resource Centre, with support from the ministry of external affairs.
Opening the session, Shyam Parande, secretary general of the Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad, emphasised the need to reconnect with the heritage of indentured labourers and strengthen academic engagement on diaspora studies.
Gopal Arora, secretary of the organisation, outlined the conference theme, highlighting the historical, cultural and political dimensions of Girmitiya identity.
Addressing the gathering, Guyana’s high commissioner to India, Dharam Kumar Seeraj, spoke about the enduring legacy of indentured labourers and the contributions of their descendants in shaping contemporary societies. He described Guyana as an example of cultural resilience and diversity.
In the keynote address, Ajay Dubey, former rector of Jawaharlal Nehru University, reflected on leadership within the Indian diaspora, noting the growing global influence of Girmitiya communities.
Biman Prasad, former deputy prime minister of Fiji, and Chandradath Singh from Trinidad and Tobago joined the conference virtually, highlighting the global relevance of Girmitiya heritage and India’s evolving engagement with its diaspora.
Sarita Boodhoo, a recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award, spoke about the symbolic significance of Nalanda University’s revival in reconnecting global communities with shared histories of migration and identity.
The session was chaired by Sachin Chaturvedi, vice-chancellor of Nalanda University, who stressed the importance of research on diaspora identity and the role of technology in tracing genealogical links.
The conference aims to explore the historical trajectories and future directions of Girmitiya communities worldwide, with discussions on cultural memory, identity and contemporary challenges.
Deliberations will continue on the second day with thematic sessions focusing on history, cultural continuity and the evolving nature of diaspora identity in a globalised world.
