Empire of Tea

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Sathnam Sanghera tells the story of our national drink and its imperial past.

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Empire of Tea: 6. Tough, Tiring, Difficult

6. Tough, Tiring, Difficult

BBC Radio 4 - Empire of Tea, 6. Tough, Tiring, Difficult

Are the modern-day problems faced by tea workers a legacy of British imperialism?

Sathnam Sanghera looks at the system of indentured labour that was used to staff Indian tea plantations in the 19th Century. Are modern problems in the industry a legacy of it?

The introduction of industrial tea production in India in the 19th Century created huge demand for tea pickers. Many were employed under a system of indenture. These contracts often meant five years of work in return for bed and board. Jo Sharma of the University of Toronto tells Sathnam Sanghera about the harrowing conditions people found themselves working in. He also considers claims that some of the modern problems in the industry, like low wages and poor health and safety conditions, are a legacy of that imperial system.

Produced by Paul Martin for BBC Audio Wales

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Empire of Tea

6. Tough, Tiring, Difficult

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