Is Indian Arrival Day just another holiday?

To some Indo-Trinidadians, Indian Arrival Day is just another public holiday.

They are aware of the significance of the arrival of the first Indian indentured labourers on the Fatel Razack ship in May 1845, and of the thousands that arrived from India in the proceeding 175 years. However, to them it is history, something that happened over a century ago, a simple fact.

Yet others have stronger feelings, both positive and negative, about the commemoration which takes place annually on May 30.

Pundit Roshan Marajh said in Hinduism, honouring their ancestors was important so Indian Arrival Day held special significance in their lives.

He said those ideas were expressed at the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha function every year, and that the current Dharmacharya, Dr Rampersad Parasram, was a storehouse of information on the topic.

“It’s not just a random holiday. Indian Arrival gives us a chance to remember and respect our ancestors for all they have done for this country and in its development and their descendants.”

Former senator and transport minister Devant Maharaj recognised that Indian Arrival Day held no real meaning to many Indo-Trinidadians.

He said, “It should be significant, but it only appeals to people with a sense of living history. And some would diminish it by calling it Arrival Day. The fact of the matter is Indians have been the only community in TT to recognise their arrival in society. They are one of the few groups that consciously trace their ancestry back to their ancestral homeland.”

He noted that not all Indians came to TT and other Caribbean countries because they were impoverished. He said after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 some were forced to leave while others left India to escape the British and for various reasons.

He said he had participated in Indian Arrival Day events for years in a personal capacity and as former chairman of the Indian Caribbean Museum, and that sense of history did not mean that their nationality should be questioned as people could be equally proud of being a Trinidadian and an Indian regardless of their religious background. Due to the covid19 restrictions, there were no public events to commemorate the occasion.

Saira Ali, of Santa Cruz, said, to her, Indian Arrival Day was a chance to reflect on the rich history and opportunities created by her ancestors who wanted better lives. She said she appreciated that they were able to prosper in TT and impact the lives of those who came after them.

Tamara Jagroop, of Tabaquite, said her great grandfather came from India so Indian Arrival Day was something she held very close to her heart. She said she was grateful to her ancestors for working hard and struggling so that she could have a better life.

Freeport resident Praveen Ramdeo said as a teacher in a Hindu school, she appreciated how far Indians have come from the days of working on plantations.

“It resonates with me in a deeper way because around the celebration we reiterate so many stories and facts about that time. I truly see what our forefathers faced to give us the freedom we now enjoy and to emerge from that lifestyle to have all that we do now.”

However, not everyone agreed with those sentiments.

Parvati Maharaj from Chaguanas said while she was glad her ancestors came to TT, Indian Arrival Day meant nothing to her. “Despite all the wonderful things that India has given to the world it remains a sh*th*le and that’s mainly because of a backwards culture. I love Indian music, movies, clothing, etc but I’m not going to pick up arms for it or allow myself to be moulded by it. My personal ideology has moved. I’ve become a cynic and I’ve lost my sense of patriotism as well.”

Anil Singh of San Fernando too said Indian Arrival Day did not mean much to him. He said while he was happy that his ancestors came to TT, he felt no real connection to them. “My family and I are Trinidadians and have been for generations. TT is more important to me than India. One place is where I was born and raised and the other is a place I’ve only ever seen on TV.”

Anita Khan of St James added that too many people used religious and ethnic holidays and events, not just to celebrate their ancestry and beliefs but to spread hate against anyone who were not like them. She said she either loved or lived well with all her friends and neighbours, so she distanced herself from any divisiveness, including “TT’s brand of politics.”