#indocaribbeanculture

[zeebartels]

Wishing all my Trinidadians and ancestors a Happy Indian Arrival day 🔁 • @cutlassmagazine This picture captures the first Indian Arrival Day celebration in Trinidad on May 30th, 1945. The “East Indian Centenary” marked the 100th year of Indian presence in the nation. It took place in Skinner Park, San Fernando, and local leaders like Adrian Cola Rienzi (Krishna Deonarine) were present. Written statements from public figures, such as Gandhi, were read. But the festivities soon waned. By the 1970s the Divine Life Society, a Hindu sect, was the only group continuing the practice. It was named “Indian Emigration Day” and found little attention beyond the town of Chaguanas. There was a shift after the Indian Revival and Reform Association (IRRA) was founded in 1976 to tackle racism towards Indians and promote the culture. In 1977, an IRRA panel was assembled with Rajiv Sieunarine, Azamudeen Jang, Khalique Khan, Ramdath Jagessar, Anand Rameshwar Singh, Rajesh Harricharan, and Michael Shankar. The next year Rajnie Ramlakhan, Ashok Gobin, and Anand Maharaj joined. They issued a pamphlet in 1978 outlining the very beginning of Indian indentureship in 1845. It listed the names of the “jahajis” aboard the Fatel Razack ship and covered their history. The Trinidad Express newspaper promoted the document while The Guardian published an article by Kusha Haracksingh about the journey on the “kala pani” (black water). San Fernando Secondary School also held an event and the television show Mastana Bahar aired an Indian Emigration Day special. The IRRA worked with the Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), Satnarayan Maharaj, on a showcase at Lakshmi Girls Hindu College, an SDMS-founded school, on May 27th, 1979. To recognize Indians as citizens, and not just emigrants, they jointly agreed to adopt the title “Indian Arrival Day” from then. Source: Scott He and Project Gutenberg #indocaribbeanculture #indocaribbeanhistory #hindi #urdu #hindiurdu #bhojpuri #hindustani #caribbean #westindies #westindian #southasia #southasian #desi #indian #eastindian #india #trinidad #trinidadandtobago https://www.instagram.com/p/CeL0Ssho-f4ZgBwR4qXDzSCY6BB3b8TEw5NPzg0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=