Coolie Woman
| Company type | Publication |
|---|---|
| Industry | Book publishing |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Products | Biography book |
| Parent | Hurst and Company, University of Chicago Press, Hachette India, Jacana |
Coolie Woman (complete title: Coolie Woman: The Odyssey of Indenture) is a 2013 publication authored by Gaiutra Bahadur, jointly released by Hurst and Company (London) and the University of Chicago Press (United States), with subsequent editions published by Hachette in India and Jacana in South Africa.
This biography centers on Sujaria, the author's great-grandmother, while also investigating the system of indentured labor within the Caribbean. It documents Sujaria's 1903 migration as a Brahmin woman from Bihar to the sugar plantations in British Guiana. Bahadur utilizes a combination of archival documents, published materials, and oral testimonies to portray the experiences of Indian women migrating and settling in the Caribbean. The narrative delves into the caste hierarchy, Indian familial traditions, and how indenture influenced women's lives. The term Coolie Woman reflects both the derogatory label coolie historically assigned to Asian indentured workers and symbolizes the colonial hardships endured by these women.
The book fills a gap in academic research regarding Asian indentured laborers who succeeded African slaves on Caribbean estates. It also addresses feminist issues such as systemic oppression, economic hardship, and violence encountered by these women. Acclaimed for its compelling narrative and scholarly depth, the work resonates with both academics and general audiences.
In 2014, Coolie Woman was shortlisted for prestigious literary honors including the Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature and the Orwell Prize. It received the 2014 Gordon K. and Sybil Lewis Prize from the Caribbean Studies Association for its interdisciplinary contribution to Caribbean cultural studies. Additionally, in 2020, The Chronicle of Higher Education listed it among the decade’s most outstanding academic books.