NCIC
Issue 1
The 143,939 Indians who arrived as indentured immigrants to Trinidad
during the period 1845-1917 came from a society that was elaborately
organised since ancient times. The period of Indentureship was not like
African slavery, with commencement and termination dates; instead
after 1850, indentured and time-expired Indians co-existed, each contributing to and affecting the other’s lifestyle. Some lifestyles that were
brought by the Indians to Trinidad are agriculture, food, religion and
education.
When the first group of indentured Indian immigrants numbering 213
came to Trinidad in 1845, they entered a cosmopolitan society, which,
according to a Secretary of State, ‘was divided into castes as strongly
marked as those of Hindustan.’ It consisted of people of English, French,
Spanish and Portuguese descent in the basic three-tier structure of 19th
century Creole society, stratified according to the color and ethnicity as
well as wealth.
East Indians faced many challenges in the West Indies. Although the
Indentureship system was not supposed to mirror that of slavery, it did
in many ways. The Indians were now faced with a language barrier.
Many were converted to Christianity. Living conditions were poor and
life was generally difficult.
However, this did not stop East Indians from making their mark on the
culture of Trinidad. Many held on to their traditions and customs with
their families. They persevered, toiled the land and ensured that their
children were educated. Today, Indo-Trinidadians are professionals in
the fields of Business, Science, Medicine, Law, Culture, Economics, Education and even Politics.
While the occasion of Indian Arrival has been celebrated amongst the
East Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago for many years, it was
not until 1994 that it was made an official public holiday. It was called
Arrival Day. In 1995, it was re-named Indian Arrival Day.
May 2012
From the ancient and ascetic India
a hundred and sixty-seven years ago;
leaving home and comfort,
to a land of promise they would go.
Hare, Bhai aur Behin, tum kahan ja rahii ho?
they would ask curiously,
Ham Trinidad ja rahii hain!
as they packed anxiously.
But the journey they had hoped for
was more than they could bear;
Beaten, starved and scarred,
not a night without a tear.
In the next seventy-two years
they continued to arrive,
bringing bhojan, capra aur geet,
while struggling to survive.
The Fatel Razack anchored
and to the fields they were led;
Although they were ill-treated,
their culture and tradition spread.
Kandhaa, haath, paiir aur talvaa,
our ancestors worked to the bone;
They ploughed, harvested and toiled
‘til the land became their own.
1995 was especially significant to the East Indian Community since it
marked the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the very first group of
indentured labourers from India to our shores.
Many years our forefathers endured
Since then, massive celebrations are held throughout the country to
celebrate the arrival of East Indians to our twin-island Republic on this
day with cultural programs, parades and other social events.
They overcame obstacles and were emulated.
May God bless our ancestors for toiling and paving the way for our lives
to be as beautiful as it is today - a rich and vibrant culture fusing with
many others to make what we know as, Trinidad and Tobago.
til finally being liberated;
Yeh vakiil, daaktar aur adhyapak!
Aaja, Aaji, Nana aur Nani,
we say to you, Dhanyavaad!
Long live our Indian heritage,
in this great land of Trinidad!
AAS
We salute the brave men and women of our ancestry. It is through their sacrifice, their suffering, their hard work and
most of all, their vision and dreams, that we now have a life with modern comforts and conveniences, a place that we
can occupy in society and respect and tolerance amongst our Trinbagonian society.
3