From Bengal to the Cape
From Bengal to the Cape by Ansu Datta, published by Xlibris Corporation in February 2013, presents a detailed exploration of the transoceanic slave trade between southern Bengal and the Cape in the Republic of South Africa. This edition spans 180 pages and is written in English. The book delves into the historical context of Bengali slaves from the 1650s to the mid-nineteenth century, examining their conditions and the societal changes they experienced in the Cape following their dispersal.
Readers will find an insightful account of the lesser-known aspects of this migration, including the formation of new social structures among the Coloured community in South Africa. Datta’s research involved extensive archival work and interviews with descendants of Bengali slaves, highlighting the significance of this topic in both Indian and South African history. The book emphasizes the importance of further investigation into this overlooked area, making it a valuable resource for those interested in history and the complexities of migration and identity.
Official synopsis Publisher
In From Bengal to the Cape, Professor Ansu Datta opens up a hitherto little researched topic of transoceanic slave trade between mainly southern Bengal and the Cape in the Republic of South Africa. This migration took place between roughly the 1650s and about the middle of the nineteenth century when the slave trade was finally abolished. The book offers a short account of the condition in which the Bengali slaves found themselves and in the Cape peninsular society following their dispersal during these early times. It highlights new social formations in the Cape society, especially among the Coloured in South Africa.
Few are aware of this export trade principally from Bengal, the Coromandel Coast, and Malabar. Datta’s researches took him to the National Archives of Cape Town, and to some universities in South Africa. He obtained records from Municipalities and interviewed people who today claim descent from Bengali slaves. The book underscores the need for further research on this unexplored issue in India and South Africa.
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