Slavery, a concept anathema to our great nation Bharat, was introduced by Mughals & the Deccan sultanate, later by the white imperialistic European colonial powers, especially the British & Dutch. It was never a part of our Bharatiya sanskriti.
Slavery was the precursor to indentured labourers system. On May 30, 2025, the Indian Girmitiya descendants, part of Bharatiya Diaspora, commemorated 180 years of their arrival in Trinidad & Tobago. The first Indentured labourers – Girmitiya – Coolie ship to leave Calcutta was Fatel Razak, (Fath Al Razack) built in Aprenade for a trader named Ibrahim Bin Yussef, an Indian Muslim merchant in Bombay. The ship left Calcutta on February 16, 1845, landed in the Gulf of Paria, Trinidad on May 30, 1845, with 225 Indian immigrants as part of the indentured labour system, which was originally propounded by John Gladstone, as part of a Great Experiment, in the British Parliament, an indirect form of slavery, to satiate the greed of the white imperialistic colonialists in Britain.
A New Chapter In History
This marked a new chapter in history with the arrival of Indians in this British Island nation. This system continued until 1917, upto World War I, which ensured that a total of 1,43,939 Indians including from Madras were shipped as indentured labourers. Thousands of them died in the brutal 90 days voyage & even more in the plantations that they were employed, due to harsh conditions of employment. They were essentially recruited through brokers in Bharat, after artificial famines were created in Bengal & Madras. Left with no other alternative efficacious remedy, they were forced to sign a contract, which stipulated 5 years of toil, sweat, labour & work in these plantations in brutal inhuman conditions.
Despite all of these obstacles, after facing phenomenal monumental untold human rights violations of all kinds, these Girmitiyas, rose from the heaps of darkness due to their sheer determination, hard work as their companion, in a foreign island completely cut off from Bharat. There were certain aspects of our sanskriti that they endeavoured to maintain despite all of the aforementioned apart from cooking & clothing. It is the Astha, Asmita & pride that they belonged to one of the oldest civilisations in the world, belonging to Sanatan Dharma. Many tall leaders emerged, including freedom fighters & trade union leaders, who fought for what is right against the tyrannical oppressive white imperialistic colonial regime.
However, despite all of the above, the danger of Christian conversion loomed large. To overcome this, many Hindu Swabhiman organisations were formed, which consolidated into a single cohesive unit called Sanatana Dharma Maha Sabha.
Today, the SDMS, operates 150 mandirs, 50 Hindu schools, 43 primary schools, 5 secondary school, Ved Pathshalas, radio stations & Pandit Parishad with 200 affiliated to them headquartered in St Augustine, only due to the efforts of a true Swabhiman Karmayogi -Bhadase Sagan Maraj. This received further legislative approval, after World War Two, when the historic Act 41 of 1952, was passed by the Legislative council of Trinidad & Tobago.
It was clear that the foremost of the agenda was education, which its members saw as the key to promoting Hindu unity in all parts of the country, to promulgating the faith among future generations of Hindus and to provide Bharatiyas with greater opportunities for social advancement.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned, there was a further need for establishment of a Council to promote arts and culture which led to the formation of National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC).
The NCIC, established in 1964, the principal organisation for the development and promotion of East Indian and Indo-Trinidadian Culture in Trinidad & Tobago. NCIC conducts numerous events including the famous annual Global India Diaspora Conference. NCIC, in 1986, established the Divali nagar, in a mall car park, which has now grown to a confluence which sees the largest gathering of Hindus in Trinidad for celebrations of Diwali. The festival itself is declared as a major government public holiday. Divali Nagar was born out of a concept enunciated by Hans Hanoomansingh, the then President of the National Council of Indian Culture and was organised by a team of dedicated individuals, led by Rampersad Parasram, first chairman of Divali Nagar, Deokinanan Sharma, previous president of NCIC. This is now being carried by Deoroop Teemal, the present President of NCIC.
Contributions of Girmitiyas
Girmitiyas have shined in public life & politics too. The Late Honourable Basdeo Pandey, was the Fifth Prime Minister from 1995-2001, being the First Hindu to hold the office of the Prime Minister & leader of opposition after becoming a republic on August 1, 1976. The United National Congress of Trinidad was founded by Late Pandey, in 1989, which propelled into being one of the largest parties on the island, where it has governed on many occasions. This legacy is now proudly carried forward by the present elected leader Kamla Persad Bissessar, who was the First Female Hindu Prime Minister in 2010 & has now won a second term.
There are numerous nagars & streets named after descendants of the Indian labourers which is a testament to their rise in power & position of responsibility through their dint of hardwork. Businesses of descendants of Girmitiyas are found in every walk of life, starting from Shopping complex, car showrooms, hotels, restaurants, heavy vehicle & equipment service & support, hospitals, textiles, travel agents to authors, they have grown & risen to a monumental extent.
A Historic Visit
The dark chapter of white imperialistic colonial era, was completely eradicated in Trinidad mostly because of the sheer willpower, determination, fighting spirit & resilience of the Indians, a feeling which is echoed & shared by the current president of NCIC Deoroop Teemal, a senator himself in his own right.
Thus, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a visit to Trinidad, it was not a mere ordinary statement or visit. It was a historical one, that respected the roots of these Bharatiyas which lie in the villages of Bharat in UP, Bihar & Tamil Nadu. When our Prime Minister was bestowed with the Highest award of Trinidad, uncontrollable emotional tears of joy were seen, especially in the eyes of the first generation descendants of the Girmitiyas, as it was not an Award to the PM, it was finally a closure & recognition given to their Aja from Bharat, who sacrificed significantly to reach their current position in life. The speech of PM Modi, was preserved in the hearts of these descendants emotionally, owing to the great significance it contained, historically attributing to the sacrifices of their ancestors.
Who are Girmitiyas?
Girmitiyas were Bharatiya indentured labourers who left Bharat in the mid to late 19th century to work in British colonies, where many eventually settled. The word ‘girmitiya’ is etymologically derived from ‘girmit’, meaning ‘agreement’. Bharatiyas then pronounced ‘agreement’ as ‘girmit’, so indentured labourers who were transported to work in places like Fiji and Mauritius, became known as ‘girmitiyas’. Bharatiya labourers signed indentureship contracts with the British in hopes of higher wages and better employment opportunities. However, they made long treacherous journeys on old ships and upon reaching foreign lands, were made to live in barracks.
The Bharatiya diaspora has proven to be the most resilient of all in that tiny island nation. It is not a coincidence that Kamla Persad Bissessar as the Hindu Beti (Daughter) of Trinidad welcomed Prime Minister Modi at the Airport Tarmac in a traditional Saree with the Ram Leela Troupe. PM Modi has signed various agreements highlighting the shared values, commitment to democratic institutions, respect to religious organisations, promotion of trade, commerce & development of Bharatiya Sanskriti & Sanatan Dharma. This umbilical cord with motherland Bharat further reaffirmed the pride in every Trinidadian of Bharatiya descent that they are a part of one of the oldest & greatest civilisation in the world.
In conclusion, one has to invoke the poetry of legendary Tamil poet Kaniyan Poongundranar, as highlighted by PM Modi in UN General Assembly, which is apt for the present occasion, Yadum Oore Yavarum Kelir –All nations are one & all people are our kin, affirming the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
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