Hindoestanen

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The Hindoestanen are an ethnic group of South Asian origin in the Netherlands and Surinam. The Hindoestanen started migrating to Surinam since 1873 from the then British India. After Surinam gained independence, many Hindoestanen emigrated to the Netherlands.

[edit] Etymology

Hindoestanen is derived from Hindustani, a Persian word for someone from Hindustan (northern India). In ancient times, the dwellers of the Indus Valley Civilization were known as Hindus by Persians. The word Hindu is derived from Sindhu which means River Indus in Sanskrit. Stan is a Persian word for land or a region.

With the arrival of Islam and in India, the ancient Vedic religion came to be known as Hinduism and its followers as Hindus. During the rule of the Mughals, northern India was widely known as Hindustan and the language of the Mughals was known as Hindustani. Hence, when Indians migrated to Suriname they were referred to as Hindoestanen, a corrupt form of Hindustani, by the Dutch.

[edit] Religion

Hinduism is practiced by the majority of the people (83%) followed by Islam (17%). Among the Hindu Hindoestanen, 15% belong to the Vaishnav sect while 25% are followers of the Arya Samaj, a spiritual movement started by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. Other major Hindu denominations include the Sai Baba sect and the Brahma Rishi Mission.