Hinduism in Madagascar
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The history of 'Hinduism in Madagascar dates back as far as 1900. Madagascar was known as Malagache when it was a French colony. Predominantly Gujarati Indians from the Saurashtra region had arrived in small sailing boats at the port of Hahajanga, located in the northwestern part of this island. Some of them had also gone there from Zanzibar. The initial influx into this island was predominantly Muslim, consisting of Khojas, Ismailis and Daoudi Bohras. A small number of Hindus also followed them, but they went to other parts of Madagascar[1].
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[edit] Indian community by 1950
By 1950, the community had spread to practically every nook and corner of the country. Apart from five families who had carried their prosperity with them, most of the others were initially just about able to make both ends meet as traders and general merchants. After the country’s independence in June 1960, the French bureaucracy stayed back and so did their commercial enterprises. With the whole sale nationalisation of private industries after the revolutions of 1972-75, they were compelled to leave. A gaping void ensued in the country’s bureaucracy, its trade and its commerce. But the local Indian Diaspora was in no position to step in immediately, as most of the Indians were then illiterate. Nevertheless, they were gradually able to seize the opportunity that had come their way and, in time, they became a force to reckon with in the trade and commerce of Madagascar[1].
[edit] Economic status of Indians in Madagascar
It is generally believed that approximately 50-60% of the country’s economy is in their hands. The unfortunate consequence of this prosperity is that, whenever there is political or social unrest in the country, PIOs become an easy target for unruly demonstrators.
With little interest in the bureaucracy or local politics, the Indian community maintains a low profile socially, while zealously guarding its culture and languages. It has no other problems in this country. But those members of the community who are stateless persons constantly pressurise the government of Madagascar to grant them local citizenship. Foreign nationals can easily acquire Malagasy nationality if they are married to a local citizen, whereupon their children automatically acquire local citizenship. But this regulation provides little solace to stateless persons[1].
The International Religious Freedom Report 2006 reported that there is small number of Hindus in Madagascar[2].
[edit] Languages spoken by Hindus
The majority speak Hindi or Gujarati, although some other Indian languages are spoken. Nowadays the younger generations speak at least three languages including French or English, Gujarati and Malagasy.
[edit] Life status of Hindus
Hindus and Pakistanis run the retail sector of this country, and together with the Chinese, are sometimes called the 19th tribe of Madagascar.
A large number of Hindus are highly educated in Madagascar, particularly the younger generation, who try to contribute their knowledge to the development of Madagascar.
Some ethnic Malagasy have resentment against the ethnic Indian community, primarily due to perceptions that the relative prosperity of the ethnic Indian community, is due to the corruption of government officials and the economic exploitation of ethnic Malagasy customers.
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