| I recall the visit by C.F. Andrews, a well-known confidant of the genius, apostle of peace and father of the Indian nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who visited the Caribbean in the early 20th century to look at the conditions of the Indian indentured labourers. That was the indentureship period. Today, we are at the beginning of the 21st century and are faced with a similar challenge, even though the rationale might be different. The Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago has graduated from indentureship to entrepreneurship. We are business magnates, entrepreneurs, manufacturers in all the professions in great magnitudes—politics, law, medicine, university professors, education, transport and the like.
We notice a second wave of Indians settling in Trinidad and Tobago through business and professional reasons, and their presence is not as humiliating, degrading as our forefathers endured. We are assembled to record our progress and even challenges, and also to chart a new paradigm in relationships between Trinidad and Tobago, and India, as the Indian diaspora’s contribution synthesises with every facet of its politics and sociology.
When our forefathers set foot in Trinidad and Tobago on May 30, 1845, that initiative can be summed up as “Arrival”. Since then, Indo-Trinidadians have continued to make an indelible, constructive and critical support and direction to the socio-economic, cultural and political development of this twin-island oil rich nation.
Just as Essar Steel, Mittal Steel, New India Insurance, and Berger Paints, all of which have had Indian genesis, and are now playing major roles in our economy, we look forward to such Trinidad and Tobago conglomerates like Angostura Bitters, S. M. Jaleel Soft Drink Products, Ansa Mcal Group, Petrotrin, Neal & Massy Group of companies, banks and other financial institutions setting up on Indian soil.
A similar approach with greater propensity is being manifested on the cultural stage, and the most recent being the staging of the international Bollywood Musical Awards in Port-of-Spain last December.
Former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee told this said assembly: “Friends, if we look back, there are various forces of history that prompted our people to leave India and settle abroad. This kind of trans-national movement of people will only accelerate in the increasingly inter-dependent and inter-connected world of the 21st century… The expansion of the Indian Diaspora in the new century and the new millennium however, will follow a very different trajectory.” Before concluding here are some of my strategies for enhanced co-operation:
- Direct bilateral air links between BWIA (British West Indies Airways Ltd. and India).
- Construction of the Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Centre for Co-operation will ignite a newer kinship.
- Scholarships in such areas as IT, culture, Arts, Hindi will continue to engender an aura of mutuality.
- The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) must continue to play a more proactive role in cultural matters.
- The works of India’s greats-Gandhi, Nehru, Tagore,
Vivekananda, Radhakrishnan among others should become more accessible and scholarships and awards should be given in their names in various jurisdictions.
- India can assist Trinidad and Tobago in the development of the movie/film industry.
The Indian diaspora has made a serious statement via the political arena. After 150 years of struggle, trade union leader and attorney-at-law, Basdeo Panday came into power and became the first Indo-Trinidadian and Hindu Prime Minister from 1995-2001.
The surge continues towards another ascendancy into the corridors of power. Former governor of the Central Bank, the first Indo-Trinidadian to hold such a position, and now political leader of the Opposition United National Congress, Winston
Dookeran, focuses on this new strategy: “Our vision is for one single, indivisible people that still maintains the cultural and religious integrity of the diverse groups that make up Trinidad and Tobago.”
The people of Trinidad and Tobago, and indeed, the Caribbean take special pride in welcoming the Indian cricket team to our shores in May. But more specifically, our beautiful country will host India among several other countries for the cricket World Cup next year. I can assure that the Indians, and indeed, all peoples would be received and treated with our infectious human kindness, royalty, hospitality and reverence.
-The author is a reputed journalist in
Trinidad and Tobago. This is his speech at the Pravasi
Bhartiya Divas 2006 at Hyderabad
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