The book tries to explain the socio-economic adversities of the workers, which forced them to leave their mother-land. The story talks about the recruitment of girmitiya mazdoor (slaves) and coolies from the rural belt of Western Uttar Pradesh and Bengal, which were also the central location of the labor out flow from India. The book traces the historical records of indentured labour migration from the rural villages of Bengal and Western Uttar Pradesh to the sugar estates of Mareechhi (Mauritius) in the early 18 th century during the colonial reign of British in India. The book is divided into three parts: land, river and sea. ‘Sea of Poppies’, a novel written by Amitav Ghosh in the year 2008, discusses the trajectory of a ship named ‘Ibis’.

‘Sea of Poppies’ is one such masterpiece which constitutes an important reading in the area of migration studies and Diaspora. Considering the complex structure of Indian diaspora and its settlement in the host land, a significant scholarly literature has tried to understand the historic sequence, socio-cultural and linguistic heritage, of the diasporic community. The settlement of Indian Diaspora abroad has a long history with various typologies and categories, and each category has different sociological attributes and significance. There has been a constant connectivity between past and present of the migrant society. The movement and settlement of PIOs and NRIs must not be seen in isolation. Over the time, the issues related to People of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non Resident Indians (NRIs), who have settled in various parts of the world since early 19 th century, have gained salience in this debate. The physical boundaries have blurred between people, societies and nations. With the advent of an open economy and technological advancement, the entire world remains strongly connected.

Sea of poppies author