After indentureship, many East Indian immigrants preferred to pursue which occupation?

Many East Indian immigrants, after the end of indentureship, often chose to pursue farming on crown lands as their preferred occupation. This preference can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, many of the East Indians who arrived in the Caribbean were already experienced agricultural workers due to their backgrounds in India, where they were engaged in farming. The skills they brought with them made them well-suited for agricultural work.

Additionally, the colonial governments recognized the ability of East Indians to farm and thus made crown lands available for this purpose. They facilitated land distribution policies that allowed these immigrant communities to access land that had been previously unused or underutilized. This not only provided a means for the East Indian immigrants to sustain themselves and their families but also allowed them to contribute to the agricultural productivity of the region.

Choosing farming on crown lands also afforded them a level of independence and autonomy that was often not available in other industries, such as mining, factory work, or shipbuilding. These other occupations typically involved working under the control of employers or managers, whereas farming allowed them to work for themselves. Consequently, the connection to land and self-sufficiency made farming the most appealing occupation for many East Indian immigrants after indentureship.