Home + Land - EP1 - Indentured: The Hidden Labour Force

With Shalina Patel and Mehala Ford

What is a ‘cooli’? After the abolition of slavery in 1833, the British replaced it with a system of indentured labour, recruiting workers from India under exploitative contracts. In this episode, historian and author, Shalina Patel, explores the realities of Indian indentured labour through a selection of objects linked by the term ‘cooli.’

Shalina is an award-winning UK teacher and historian, and author of The History Lessons, which highlights stories traditionally left out of textbooks, particularly those of women and people of colour.

Find out more here: rmg.co.uk/stories/art-culture/home-land-podcast