Journeying 14,000 miles on the treacherous waters from Calcutta to Trinidad, over a period of just more than three months, the Fath Al Razack (Fatel Razack) finally docked at Port-of-Spain’s harbour on 30th May 1845.
During this period of indentureship, labourers were contracted to work on sugar cane fields after the abolition of slavery, between 1845 to 1917, for a period of five years. After this, the immigrants were given a plot of land in place of a return ticket to India. However, to qualify for free passage, the labourers were required to toil an extra five years. The majority opted for this and began life anew in the Caribbean Isles.
Our East Indian ancestors hailed from Northern Indian states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, as well as Bengal and Southern Indian regions. They mainly composed of the working and agricultural classes in Bharat Mata (Mother India), with approximately 85% being Hindus and 14% Muslims venturing to Trinidad, dressed in their dhoti, kurta, sari and laden with folk jewellery. They mainly spoke Bhojpuri, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic and other languages that redefined the lingual composition of the colony.
Despite their heavy sufferings during the indentureship period, their legacy lives on. They brought in their ‘jahaji bundles’ a culture that reshaped colonial society, the booming of a cultural fusion that expanded Trinidad and Tobago’s dynamism. With years of perseverance, they have stamped their name on this land.
Temples and mosques are now strewn throughout the country, not forgetting Gurudwaras for Sikhs here as well. A festoon of colours and vibrance enrapture the atmosphere with radiant colourful powders tossed into the air for Holi/ Phagwa; mesmerising grandeur of ‘theatre in the savannah’ for the performance of Ramleela productions and tassa drumming; and flames of earthen pots or deyas illuminating the moon-less night on the public holiday of Divali. One can hear the azaan being called for Jummah or Friday prayers for Muslims; delighting in halwa and sawine for the holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr, and the revelling of drummers and processing tadjahs or mausoleums through the streets to the sea for the Shi’a celebration of Hosay.
Today, as a multicultural people, we delight in sweets of laddoo, barfi, jalebi, kurma and gulab jamoon; seizing opportunities to eat paratha and dhalpuri (rotis) with curry channa and aloo (potato), not overlooking the notorious ‘doubles’. They were a people known for their oral tradition, narrating plots of history and fiction, praise and critique, through classical songs, chowtaal, chutney, bhajans and qasidahs; and the poetic dance of Bharatnatyam and others. Their instruments that accompanied them upon their anchorage included the sitar, harmonium, manjira, dhantaal and dholak drum; all of which caused the heritage to survive in singing their hardships away.
These cross-cultural experiences that began in 1845 continue to perpetually evolve and advance to the future – an undying heritage that contributes to Trinbago’s ethnic mosaic.
Happy Indian Arrival Day from RMC!