Tamil Nadu Timeline

DiplomacyBritish Crown rule

Indentured labourers from Madras arrive in Natal on the Truro

· Durban

Indentured labourers from Madras arrive in Natal on the Truro
Htonl, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Organised Indian settlement in the British colony of Natal began with the Truro, which brought 342 indentured labourers from Madras.

Natal, a British colony in southern Africa, started taking in indentured workers from India in 1860. The Truro, sailing from Madras, delivered the first 342 of them, and the Belvedere from Calcutta came next. The majority of South Africa's Indians trace their descent to migrants who came from 1860 on. Discrimination against them later brought Mohandas Gandhi into political activity in South Africa, and Tamil satyagrahis took part in his campaigns.

Related events

  1. 1827

    1. 1827TiruchirappalliDiplomacy

      Recruitment of Tamil labourers for Ceylon plantations begins

      Labourers from the Tirunelveli, Tiruchi, Madurai and Tanjore areas were recruited for British coffee estates in Ceylon.

  2. 1843

    1. 21 Apr 1843Port LouisDiplomacy

      First emigrant ship from Madras reaches Mauritius

      Britain allowed emigration from Madras to Mauritius again in December 1842, and the first ship from Madras reached the island in April 1843.

  3. 1860

    1. 1860Fort St. GeorgeGovernance

      Governor Charles Trevelyan recalled

      Madras Governor Sir Charles Trevelyan was recalled after his government publicly opposed James Wilson's new taxation proposals for India.

    2. 1860OotyAgriculture

      Cinchona introduced to the Nilgiris

      Cinchona plants brought from South America by Clements Markham's expedition were planted at Ootacamund as a source of quinine.

  4. 1861

    1. 1861ChennaiLegislation

      Indian Councils Act restores Madras legislative powers

      Through the Indian Councils Act 1861, the Madras Presidency regained law-making powers and gained an advisory Madras Legislative Council.

  5. 1926

    1. 1926 to 1972Chennai PortDiplomacy

      SS Rajula begins the Madras to Penang and Singapore service

      The steamer SS Rajula ran a fortnightly Straits Service from Madras to Penang, Port Klang and Singapore from 1926 to 1972.

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