Dear Editor,
I stumbled onto the meaning of Indian Arrival Day circuitously, after a friend asked me to write a commemorative piece for Indian Arrival celebrations in Jamaica. I learnt then that although I have deep Jamaican pride, I also have an emotional attachment to my heritage.
History would record that the first East Indians to Jamaica landed on May 12, 1845 in Old Harbour, St Catherine. They came as indentured labourers with the condition that at the end of their indentureship they could return to India. Many did, while others settled in villages in parishes such as Clarendon, St Catherine, Westmoreland and other parts of Jamaica.
History would also record that the East Indians who came to Jamaica brought with them their culture, flora, traditions and religion in the form of Hinduism and Islam. One hundred and sixty-eight years after landing on Jamaican shores, many festivals such as Diwali, Phagwah and Hosay are celebrated annually at Club India, Sanatan Dharma Mandair Temple, as well as private residences in Westmoreland and St Mary; these festivals were later celebrated by Indian villages in Clarendon. Indian Arrival Day remains preserved in a time capsule, which is commendable.
In 2010, India was the world's fastest-growing economy — driven by shipping, pharmaceuticals, textiles and an IT industry permeating every sector from telecommunications, manufacturing, agriculture, education, natural resource extraction, to banking, finance and health.
In her budget presentation last week, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller underscored Jamaica's historic ties with Venezuela and the African continent, while stressing Jamaica's intention to deepen economic ties with several countries, including India. However, with ICT and tourism high on government's priority list, it is extremely disappointing that as we celebrate 168 years of Indian arrival in Jamaica, little effort has been made by successive governments to strengthen diplomatic, cultural, technical and educational collaboration with our good sister India. This lack of cooperation is frustrated by Jamaica not having a High Commission in that country.
For over 50 years, Jamaica's cultural and religious space has been dominated by one ethnic group. As descendants of Indian indentured workers commemorate the arrival of their ancestors, we urge that the neglect of minority ethnic and religious groups be replaced with cultural inclusion.
As a nation on a mission, let us build a country characterised by equality of opportunity, fairness, respect, freedom of expression, no matter the ancestry.
Happy Indian Arrival Day 2013!
Odaine Thomas
thomas.odaine@gmail.com
Jamaica-India relations lacking
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I stumbled onto the meaning of Indian Arrival Day circuitously, after a friend asked me to write a commemorative piece for Indian Arrival celebrations in Jamaica. I learnt then that although I have deep Jamaican pride, I also have an emotional attachment to my heritage.
History would record that the first East Indians to Jamaica landed on May 12, 1845 in Old Harbour, St Catherine. They came as indentured labourers with the condition that at the end of their indentureship they could return to India. Many did, while others settled in villages in parishes such as Clarendon, St Catherine, Westmoreland and other parts of Jamaica.
History would also record that the East Indians who came to Jamaica brought with them their culture, flora, traditions and religion in the form of Hinduism and Islam. One hundred and sixty-eight years after landing on Jamaican shores, many festivals such as Diwali, Phagwah and Hosay are celebrated annually at Club India, Sanatan Dharma Mandair Temple, as well as private residences in Westmoreland and St Mary; these festivals were later celebrated by Indian villages in Clarendon. Indian Arrival Day remains preserved in a time capsule, which is commendable.
In 2010, India was the world's fastest-growing economy — driven by shipping, pharmaceuticals, textiles and an IT industry permeating every sector from telecommunications, manufacturing, agriculture, education, natural resource extraction, to banking, finance and health.
In her budget presentation last week, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller underscored Jamaica's historic ties with Venezuela and the African continent, while stressing Jamaica's intention to deepen economic ties with several countries, including India. However, with ICT and tourism high on government's priority list, it is extremely disappointing that as we celebrate 168 years of Indian arrival in Jamaica, little effort has been made by successive governments to strengthen diplomatic, cultural, technical and educational collaboration with our good sister India. This lack of cooperation is frustrated by Jamaica not having a High Commission in that country.
For over 50 years, Jamaica's cultural and religious space has been dominated by one ethnic group. As descendants of Indian indentured workers commemorate the arrival of their ancestors, we urge that the neglect of minority ethnic and religious groups be replaced with cultural inclusion.
As a nation on a mission, let us build a country characterised by equality of opportunity, fairness, respect, freedom of expression, no matter the ancestry.
Happy Indian Arrival Day 2013!
Odaine Thomas
thomas.odaine@gmail.com
Jamaica-India relations lacking
-->