India, Trinidad Sign Archival Pact to Help Diaspora Trace Ancestral Roots

India and Trinidad and Tobago signed a Memorandum of Understanding between their national archives to facilitate access to historical records, enabling members of the Indian diaspora to trace their ancestral roots, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on May 9, 2026, during a visit to Nelson Island, Trinidad. The agreement, he said, would help reconnect families separated by centuries of migration and preserve the legacy of the Girmitya, Indian indentured laborers brought by the British to colonies between the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Jaishankar highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized creating a database on the Girmitya community and establishing a dedicated Girmitya Studies Centre. At Nelson Island, a historic landing site for indentured laborers, he launched a Quick Impact Project funded by India to upgrade cultural heritage facilities, including a memorial, digital hub, and audio-visual exhibit drawing from archival data.

The Indian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago has seen a surge in Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) applications since Modi expanded eligibility to the sixth generation of diaspora. Jaishankar stated India would assist applicants lacking documentation. Approximately 143,000 indentured workers migrated from India to Trinidad between 1845 and 1917, and their descendants now make up 40–45% of the 1.36 million population.

Jaishankar made the remarks during the final leg of a three-nation tour that included Jamaica and Suriname, aimed at deepening India’s engagement with Caribbean nations. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.