By Lalwani Poonam

 

Traditionally, colonial literature has centred around the male perspective. Seen as the “weaker sex” morally, mentally and physically, women were considered inferior to men and subject to male authority—first their fathers, then their husbands. They were expected to lead quiet, unassuming lives, but those who dared to challenge gendered norms took the risk of communal censure and punishment.

Fleeting Agencies: a social history of Indian coolie women in British Malaya, is groundbreaking work, as it is the first book which examines the history of Indian coolie women who migrated to British Malaya and contributed to the success of the rubber industry. The title itself encourages us to reflect on and acknowledge the omissions and silences in official colonial records of these marginalised women. It seeks to correct the historical narrative by portraying them as bold decision-makers and daring risk takers rather than as the helpless victims they have often been depicted as.

Published in 2021, the book draws attention to the crucial roles played by coolie women as producers and reproducers in the rubber plantations. They did not consent to be helpless victims despite being exploited or oppressed by colonial planters, administrators, Indian nationalists and even their husbands or partners. Instead, these women defied the odds, and exercised ‘agencies’ in a bid to survive.

Author Arunima Datta introduced the term “fleeting agencies” by defining it as short-term behaviour situationally driven by the oppressive conditions the coolie women faced in colonial Malaya plantation societies throughout the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Besides examining archival materials, colonial records, newspaper articles and other sources, she collected oral histories of coolie women. These narratives supported her argument that it is incorrect to portray Indian coolie women as inferior workers or that they were highly dependent on their male family members or relatives.

In the epilogue, Datta points out that many former coolies, who once toiled on estates during the colonial period have left that part of their lives behind, and are now reaping the benefits of the socioeconomic mobility that they have achieved. They expressed contentment with the outcomes of the sacrifices, particularly in knowing that their children no longer need to toil under the hot sun every single day or live in fear, which brings them great peace and happiness. This part resonated strongly with me as I come from a migrant family, where it is common for our forefathers to endure hardships, paving the way for their descendants to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Fleeting Agencies offers profound insights into the narratives surrounding coolie women during both colonial rule and nationalist movements. It underscores the importance of uncovering historical secrets by juxtaposing colonial perspectives with a diverse array of viewpoints, thereby drawing evidence-based conclusions from this exploration.