Imperial Footprints

Imperial Footprints: A History of South Asian Child Migrants in Britain by Sumita Mukherjee examines the experiences of South Asian children who migrated from British India to Britain between the Victorian era and Partition. Drawing on archival records and first-hand accounts, the book brings attention to young migrants whose lives have often been overlooked in broader histories of migration, empire, and the South Asian diaspora.

The children followed different paths to Britain: some were sent to English boarding schools, some worked as servants or sailors, and others were displaced by war or Partition. Their experiences reveal how age, race, political status, and migration shaped their lives while also influencing the development of Indian, diasporic, and British identities.

About This Book

Between 1857 and 1947, millions of Indians left the subcontinent for work, education, and other reasons across the British Empire and beyond. Imperial Footprints focuses specifically on the youngest participants in this movement, tracing their journeys from British India to the imperial centre in Britain.

The book examines the different circumstances that brought children to Britain and considers how they experienced life there. Schoolchildren, servants, sailor children, and refugees encountered institutions and social structures shaped by empire, race, age, and political status.

By placing these young migrants at the centre of its historical account, Imperial Footprints offers another way of understanding migration and empire. Their stories also illuminate the formation of Indian national and diasporic identities as well as changing ideas about British identity.

What You'll Discover

• The history of South Asian child migration from British India to Britain
• Children sent to English boarding schools for education
• The experiences of runaway servants and sailor children
• Young refugees affected by war and Partition
• How race, age, and political status shaped migrant experiences
• The role of children in developing Indian and diasporic identities
• Connections between child migration, British identity, and empire
• Archival and first-hand accounts from the Victorian era to Partition

Perfect For

• Readers interested in South Asian and British history
• Students and researchers exploring migration and empire
• Readers interested in the history of the Indian diaspora
• Those studying colonialism, race, identity, and migration
• Readers looking for lesser-known perspectives on imperial history

Why You'll Love This Book

Imperial Footprints: A History of South Asian Child Migrants in Britain places young migrants at the centre of the history of South Asian migration to Britain. Through archival material and first-hand accounts, Sumita Mukherjee reveals how children experienced empire and migration while contributing to wider changes in Indian, diasporic, and British identities.