GRAND MEMORY
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The Kolkata Memorial plaque was inaugurated on January 11 by Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee and Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy at the Kolkata Port Trust’s Garden Reach area. No representation from the West Bengal Government was there, and it was kept away from them. The absence of West Bengal officials was not unexpected, the state Government had done precious little to give momentum to the project. For years representations were made to it to allocate a plot of land where a museum could be built in honour of the indentured workers, but they did not meet with any response. Finally, at the initiative of the central Government, the Global Indo Diaspora Heritage Society (GIDHS), and the GOPIO, the plaque got installed. A commemorative luncheon was also held in honour of the indentured workers the same day
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Seen on the dais (left to right) at Hotel Oberoi Grand are high commissioner Malay Mishra, Ashook Ramsaran, Leela Gujadhur, Minister Ravi, MOIA Secretary Didar Singh, Inder Singh and Chakravarty
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Ashook Ramsaran with Minister Ravi
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Christelle Gourdine with Leela Gujadhur |
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Author Anand Giri with Guyana’s High Commissioner J Ronald Gajaraj
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A group from
Ballia, U.P. whose ancestors used to ferry indentured workers from Bihar to Kolkata attend in white, among them is a PIO from Trinidad Dennis Ramdahin
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Ashook Ramsaran, Sayantan Chakravarty, Gilbert Canabady, Leela Gujadhur and Jean Regis Ramsamy
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An Unforgettable get together as the Garden Reach area comes alive |
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February 2011
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