5 June
Hindustani Immigration Day: 5 June 1873
On 5 June Suriname commemorates the arrival of the ship Lalla Rookh in 1873, carrying 399 Hindustani indentured labourers from British India. It is a national public holiday, and the Lalla Rookh monument on the Waterkant marks the spot.
On 5 June 1873 the Lalla Rookh reached Paramaribo with 399 indentured labourers from British India. Between 1873 and 1916 roughly 34,000 people came in total; about a third later returned.
The cause was the abolition of slavery: the plantations needed new labour, and indenture was the answer. The conditions were harsh and the difference from what preceded it was smaller than the name suggests.
The Lalla Rookh monument on the Waterkant commemorates that arrival.
Frequently asked questions
When did Hindustani people arrive in Suriname?
The first Hindustani indentured labourers arrived on 5 June 1873 aboard the ship Lalla Rookh, carrying 399 people. Between 1873 and 1916 roughly 34,000 indentured labourers came from British India in total.