Why are many people in Fiji of Indian descent?

The presence of a large population of Indian descent in Fiji is primarily the result of British colonial policy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

When Fiji became a British crown colony in 1874, the first governor, Arthur Gordon, sought to protect indigenous Fijians from the pressures of commercial development by limiting their involvement in plantation labor and banning land sales. To facilitate the economic development of the colony, specifically the sugar industry, the colonial government introduced indentured labourers from India.12

These migrants were encouraged to remain in Fiji as permanent settlers after their contracts concluded, even though they faced significant restrictions on land ownership and political rights. While the majority of the Indian population descended from these laborers, a smaller number of free migrants also arrived, eventually establishing themselves in commerce and various professions. Following the end of the indenture system in 1920, the Indian community became a significant demographic force, though many later emigrated following political instability in the late 20th century.213