FROM BHARAT TO KAMLA
As our Nation celebrates yet another Indian Arrival Day, THIS MAY PERHAPS BE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY CELEBRATIONS THAT THE NATION WILL HAVE EXPERIENCED.
Indians in this country have had a long history of engaging themselves for the purpose of redefinition of who they are.
Encounter with Europeans made more complex the challenges Indians were having with themselves as they struggled to shape an identity on the Indian sub continent.
INDIA HAD LONG BEEN A PLACE WHERE MANY ENCOUNTERS HAD TAKEN PLACE.
IN THE INDIA OF THE 1840’S, ISLAM AND HINDUISM WERE ALREADY ENGAGING EACH OTHER FOR HEGEMONY.
The fateful event manifested and Fath Al Razack embarked on a journey to the Caribbean..
Some historians claim that on May,30, 1845 , Fath Al Razack landed at the Port – of- Spain Harbour.
Records indicate that the first to disembark was Bharat.
A battle for survival and readjustment began.
The journey was not an easy one particularly where the purpose of introduction of Indian indentured labour was to weaken the new found bargaining power of the African Emancipated by Proclamation in response to the revolutionary struggle engaged in by Africans on and off the Plantation.
Plantation.relationship between the two sectors of the labour force was strained.
Fortunately for both sectors there were champions of cooperation and integration.
The prospects of cooperation meant different things for the parties involved.
One Nation was brought here as chattel and property,the other a contract worker.
Of course the conditions of the contract were more often than not violated and the conditions were just a little better than the conditions of Slavery.
The crucial and critical difference was the right to legal redress and the legal recognition of one Nation as property and the other as servant.
Indians then took the opportunity provided and attempted to negotiate their way up the social ladder of success.
The mode of manipulation of the population encouraged the magnification of differences and utilised natural differences among human beings by super imposing a Eurocentric/Asiatic value system based on these natural differences.
Among the differences that were given high value were ” straight noses “., “straight hair “, and “light complexion “, so that among Indians those with the phenotypical features mentioned were treated with more courtesy than those with “wooly hair” , “puggy nose” and ” dark or black skin and or complexion. “.
Difficulties began to diminish as a working class relationship began developing between former indentured servant and former slave.
New economic products began to supersede,tobacco,sugar cane and Caribbean spices.
Oil is discovered,and Petroleum Trade begins to take prominence.
Flag Independence comes.
Internal self governance, adult suffrage,mission schools,foreign lands all play there part and a new definition of self emerges.
There is W.F.P.
There is P.N.M
There is D.L.P.
There is Black Power
There is S.P.I.C and S.P.A.N..
There is N.J.A.C.
There is O.W.T.U.
There is N.U.F.F.
There are several factors to numerous to mention here.
They all impact on us
An orisa organization holds a Festival dedicated to OLOKUN and the country goes to the zero level where we can re-negotiate.
A Chief of OLOKUN is an agent for change.
Mistakes are made.
An Indian male Prime Minister emerges.
And now a female Indian Prime Minister.
Is this not reason to rejoice?
Are we not still negotiating our path?
Congratulations to the Indian and Hindu community on their achievement.
LET US ALL REJOICE!
May our country walk in pride and UNITY.
New sounds ,.songs , rhythms.
A PEOPLE BECOMING ONE.
A BLESSED HOLIDAY TO ALL IN OUR LAND.
HAPPY INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY CELEBRATIONS.
EGBE ONISIN ELEDUMARE 