Fiji

One of the countries with significant
Hindu diaspora populations. Indians
were first brought to Fiji in 1879 as
indentured laborers to work in the sugarcane fields. In the 1990s Indians comprised about 45 percent of Fiji’s
population. Despite their near parity in
terms of population, Indians in Fiji have
been legally relegated to a minority role
and for the most part have been prohibited from owning land. The split
between the Indian and Fijian communities became transparent in 1987, when
a military coup ousted a Parliament
dominated by Indians, and installed a
native Fijian as prime minister. Because
of these restrictions, many Indians still
work as tenant farmers for Fijian landlords, but they also play an important
role as shopkeepers and professionals.