Slave in a Palanquin: Colonial Servitude and Resistance in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka was a significant stopover for the Indian Ocean slave trade, and the British conquered the island in the late eighteenth century and began to abolish slavery. However, the continued presence of enslaved people in Sri Lanka in the nineteenth century has virtually vanished from collective memory. Nira Wickramasinghe's Slave in a Palanquin explores the traces of slavery in the history and memory of the Indian Ocean world, focusing on moments of revolt in the lives of enslaved people. She examines how color-based racial thinking gave way to more nuanced debates about identity, complicating conceptions of blackness and racialization.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 17 November 2020
Publisher: Columbia University Press

For centuries, Sri Lanka has served as a vital crossroads for people and goods traversing the Indian Ocean. In particular, it held significance for the Dutch East India Company, which played a central role in the Indian Ocean slave trade. Slavery took various forms on the island, known as Ceylon, even after the British conquest in the late 18th century. However, the gradual abolition of slavery that began under British rule eventually led to the virtual disappearance of enslaved people from the collective memory of both the Sinhalese and Tamil communities in the 19th century.

In her groundbreaking work, Nira Wickramasinghe delves into the hidden history of slavery in the Indian Ocean world. Through meticulous research and analysis, she uncovers the stories of enslaved individuals who resisted their captivity and challenged their status. Wickramasinghe's book, Slave in a Palanquin, offers a unique perspective on the lives of enslaved people during the colonial era.

By drawing on legal cases, petitions, and other colonial records, Wickramasinghe reconstructs the individual voices and daily experiences of enslaved people. She sheds light on moments of revolt, such as Wayreven, the slave who journeyed in the palanquin of his master, and Selestina, who was accused of killing her child. Rawothan, another enslaved individual, sought permission for his son to be circumcised, highlighting the complex negotiations and power dynamics at play within the colonial system.

Through her interdisciplinary approach, Slave in a Palanquin explores the complex interplay between race, identity, and resistance. Wickramasinghe challenges prevailing conceptions of blackness and racialization by examining how color-based racial thinking evolved into more nuanced debates about identity. She highlights the ways in which enslaved people, despite their subjugated status, found ways to assert their humanity and resist oppression.

Slave in a Palanquin is a vital contribution to the field of colonial history and provides a fresh perspective on the local and transnational worlds of the colonial-era Asian slave trade in the Indian Ocean. By recovering the voices and experiences of enslaved individuals, Wickramasinghe offers a powerful testament to the resilience and ingenuity of those who faced unimaginable hardships. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex legacies of slavery and the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.

Weight: 436g
Dimension: 451 x 229 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231197632