The South Asian diaspora came into being with the end of slavery in the
British Empire. Huge numbers of labourers were recruited in the Indian
sub-continent for indentured labour schemes, notably in Southeast Asia,
South and East Africa, Mauritius, Fiji and the Caribbean, and also in
French colonies. Later there were waves of 'free' immigration to these
and other countries, including, in the last generation, Britain itself
and North America. This set of essays by scholars from several different
disciplines offers detailed accounts of the experience of the migrant
communities, and the editors contribute valuable overviews. Originally
published in 1990, it is an indispensable resource for scholars
interested in the diaspora, or concerned with problems of migration.