Pondichérien diaspora

ThePondichérien diasporais a demographic group of people fromPuducherry stateofIndiawho have emigrated and settled in other parts of the world, significantly inFrance,Réunionand the French Caribbean islands ofMartiniqueandGuadeloupe.There are around 300,000 of them living around the world.

Background

Main article:French India

Many left to work in the possessions of theFrench Empirevia its holdings inPondichéryinRéunionand the French Caribbean islands ofMartiniqueandGuadeloupe(SeeMalabars). Although most of the indentured labourers embarked on their journey from the overseas possessions of French India, they did not necessarily come from there. In fact, most of the workers were recruited in the hinterlands of theCoromandel Coastand even beyond it, such asArcotandChingelputfor Pondicherry orTanjoreandTrichinopolyfor Karaikal. The flow of recruits fromAndhrawas also significant, and even pioneering.

Réunion

Main article:Malbars

A Malbar temple in Réunion.

Tamil settlement in the French department ofRéunionstarted as far back as 1848 as indentured labour, mainly fromPondichéryandKaraikal,the French territories in Southern India. There are now about 120,000 Tamils living in Réunion or "Malabars" as they are known there with a large number of Hindu temples run by voluntary organisations where Hindu and Tamil cultural links are preserved well.

Seychelles

Main article:Tamil Seychellois

Tamil traders fromPondicherryused to visit theSeychellesfor purposes of timber trade followed by settlements of Tamils from Tamil Nadu for trading purposes. Later, a trading community was in place here mainly of Tamils and many of them got integrated with the local community. Now there about 4000 Tamils in the trading business as well as in other professions.

French West Indies

Main articles:Indians in French Guiana,Indians in Guadeloupe,andIndo-Martiniquais

Tamil migration to theFrench West Indieswas mainly sailings fromPondicherryandKaraikalduring the years 1853 to 1883 and since 1893 almost all of them got well integrated with the people there.

The Pondicherry diaspora community in Guadeloupe is estimated to be approximately 55,000 in a population of over 400,000.However, ethnicity statistics are not done by the French government. There are several associations to promoteIndian culturein Guadeloupe, usually run by people of Indian origin. They are fairly active in organising cultural activities in all the principal towns, namely,Pointe-a-Pitre,Le Moule,Port-Louis,Capesterre-Belle-EauandSaint-Claude.

The Pondicherry diaspora community in Martinique of majority are descendants of indentured labourers fromIndiawho were brought to the island in the nineteenth century. Between 5 and 10% of the population is ofTamilIndian origin.