The Ameena Gafoor Institute

The Ameena Gafoor Institute for the Study of Indentureship and its Legacies

www.ameenagafoorinstitute.org

The Ameena Gafoor Institute for the Study of Indentureship and its Legacies is dedicated to advancing the understanding of indentureship and its profound global impacts.

The study of indentureship is largely unrepresented throughout academia, with universities in the West paying little or no attention to the history, lives and efforts of indentured labourers and their descendants. The Ameena Gafoor Institute aims to remedy this through publishing, scholarships, professorships and conferences.

By fostering academic research and dialogue, the institute seeks to illuminate the complex histories and enduring legacies of indentureship, providing a platform for scholars and descendants to share their stories and insights. This comprehensive approach not only enriches the academic discourse but also ensures that the contributions and experiences of indentured communities are recognized and valued.

The Ameena Gafoor Institute, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, has established what is believed to be the first-ever visiting fellowship dedicated to the study of indentureship. This groundbreaking programme offers a scholar the opportunity to spend eight weeks at the University, focusing on research in this field, and is set to run for an initial period of five years.

In 2023, Professor Gaiutra Bahadur, renowned author of Coolie Woman: The Odyssey of Indenture, was appointed as the inaugural visiting bye-fellow in Indentureship Studies. Coolie Woman, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize, is a significant exploration of the experiences of Indian women who were subjected to indentured labour on colonial plantations in the nineteenth century.

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