Re-Examining Indian Arrival Day
By Jerome Teelucksingh
The annual observance of Indian Arrival Day needs
to be re-examined by our society. Every year, there
is mention of the arrival of the first batch of immigrants
from the Asian continent to Trinidad. The Fatel Rozack
departed the Calcutta harbour, in India, on 16th February
1845 with 231 Indians. The correct name of this ship
is Fath Al Razak (Victory of Allah the Provider) however,
it is commonly referred to as the "Fatel Rozack".
After 103 days on the seas, the ship arrived in Trinidad
on 30th May 1845.
We need to realise that the entire Indo-Trinidadian
population did not 'arrive' on that historic trip
in 1845. During 1845-1917, scores of ships transported
thousands of Indians from India to the Caribbean.
Among the ships which docked at Trinidad were: Alwrick
Castle, Allanshaw, Grecian, Brenda, Avoca, Clyde,
Mutla, Chenab, Rhone, Hereford, Jarawar and Wiltshire.
These ships, which were mostly British, visited Trinidad
on more than one occasion. Thus, after 1845, the overwhelming
majority of ancestors of Indians in Trinidad 'arrived'
on ships other than the Rozack and at different times.
Other British colonies as Jamaica, British Guiana,
Grenada and St. Lucia also received Indians from these
ships.
Interestingly, the 'arrival' of Indians in Trinidad
was not a permanent status. Hundreds returned to Trinidad
after completing their term of indentureship. During
1904-1908, between 670 to 827 persons returned to
India.
A common misconception is that Indians transported
to Trinidad originated from the same provinces in
India and thus possessed a similar background. Nothing
could be further form the truth. Differences in caste,
religion (Hindus and Muslims), sects, age and gender
added to the milieu which was created in the new host
society. The occupations and levels of adaptation
and assimilation also varied among the indentured
immigrants. Furthermore, during the early decades
of indentureship, not all the Indians in Trinidad
originated from India. Some came from neighbouring
colonies of Grenada, British Guiana and Martinique.
Some Indians after serving their contracts in other
places as South Africa, were re-indentured to theCaribbean.
Indians worked on various sugar estates. Among these
estates were Waterloo, Woodford Lodge, Picton, Union
Hall, Bronte, Esperanza, Caroni and Canaan. Another
fallacy which should be removed is that all Indians
worked on the sugar plantations. A significant percentage
of Indians were employed on the cocoa, coffee and
coconut estates. Also, a considerable number of East
Indians sought employment as shop owners, petty traders
and as primary school teachers in the Canadian Missionary
Indian (CMI) schools (established by the Presbyterian
missionaries from Nova Scotia).
A glimpse of the population figures provides an idea
of the extent of immigration. In 1914, the colony's
Indian population was 118,822 in a total population
of 352,145 persons. By 1927, the East Indian population
in Trinidad had risen to 127, 326.
The trip across the kala pani was not merely a trade
in human cargo but also had a wider, more pronounced
environmental impact. Products from India which were
included on the ships, heading for the West Indies,
were cloves, ginger, saffron, dhall, peppers, mustard,
spices, ghee and the now infamous-- marijuana.
Our landscape provides visible evidence of the items
brought by the indentured labourers. Fruits, originally
from India, such as mangoes, guava, tamarind, ochro
and seime thrived in the tropical conditions of the
Caribbean.
Third and fourth generation East Indians need to
seriously ask themselveswhat does Indian Arrival
Day mean to me in a society as diverse as Trinidad
and Tobago and the Caribbean? Does it mean voting
for a political party, ethnic wear or listening to
a particular radio station ? Obviously, attending
a cultural programme and eating particular foods are
no longer hallmarks of identifying Indians in the
society. Today, many young Indians are unaware of
the personal and financial sacrifices of the early
immigrants to ensure a better future for their offspring.
Today, Indians should be acutely aware of the prejudiced
individuals (newspaper columnists,
religious leaders, politicians and cultural artistes)
who are intent on dividing the society and turning
back the hands of progress. These persons lusting
after power and publicity possess myopic agendas of
dividing the society, promoting isolation and racial
antagonism. It is fortunate and a blessing that the
majority of our population have chosen to deliberately
ignore the socio-political rantings, pseudo-doctrines
and frequent distortion of facts which are paraded
by these individuals. Indeed, it is the independent,
rational and logical thinking population which have
ensured the peaceful co-existence, assimilation and
interaction of individuals in our country.
1498 - Christopher Columbus claims Trinidad for the
Spanish Crown.
1592 - The Spanish Colonise Trinidad and retain
possession for two centuries.
1797 - British forces capture Trinidad and Tobago
in 1802
1814 - Tobago, which has changed hands several times,
is ceded to Britian.
1845 - First indentured immigrants from India-Continued
till 1917
1888 - Tobago is linked with Trinidad in a single
administrative unit.
1941 - US military bases built
1958 - Trinidad & Tobago joins the Federation
of the West Indies and remains a member until its
dissolution four years later.
1962 - Independence from Britian.
1970 - Black Power demonstrations cause brief state
of emergency.
1976 - Republic within the Commonwealth.
1980 - The Tobago House of Assembly established.
1981 - Dr. Eric Williams dies after being Head of
Government (as Chief Minister and Prime Minister)
for 25 years.
