On May 5, 1838, the S.S. HESPERUS and the S.S. WHITBY arrived along the shores of Berbice and Demerara in BRITISH GUIANA. Together they carried 396 Indians, referred to as “COOLIES,” from CHOTA NAGPUR, then BIHAR, 300 miles from KOLKATAK. Since slavery had recently ended and African-descended people had been emancipated in the British colonies in 1833, the British needed CHEAP LABOR after SLAVERY was abolished.
With HIGH RESPECT, there is NO REASON for CELEBRATION for A WEALTH DRIVEN BRITISH ACTIVITY with LIVES from INDIA which involved MANY DEATHS during the long journey and in the plantations in BONDAGE.
What SHOULD be CELEBRATED is the STRUGGLES for SURVIVAL in BRITISH GUIANA.
AUTHOR Gaiutra Bahadur in her ground-breaking BOOK “ Coolie Woman: the Odyssey of Indenture,” the fact that WOMEN are often HACKED to DEATH in Guyana today IS NOT SURPRISING. According to Bahadur, this VIOLENCE is also a COLONIAL LEGACY.
When the British began IMPORTING people into the Caribbean, the proportion of WOMEN to MEN was imbalanced. With FEWER WOMEN there was greater COMPETITION among MEN for their affections. This included PLANTATION OWNERS, MANAGERS, and MAGISTRATES who preyed on the vulnerability of Indian women in their colonies. Indian men retaliated against women’s “infidelity” with machetes—that tool of the indenture laborer to cut canes.
https://aaww.org/coolie-woman-
Currently in Guyana, May 5, is “ARRIVAL DAY.” The AFC, PNC, and Many Guyanese including the Diaspora, ELDER His Excellency Hamilton Bilal Green, O.R.,CCH, JP., COA ,and Dr. Vishnu Bishram, OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTS the RENAMING to “INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY” for MAY 5th.
May 5 is Indian Arrival Day, and nothing else – Kaieteur News
The Struggle for Indian Arrival as a Holiday – Kaieteur News
In 1838, East Indian indentured laborers arrived in British Guiana, bringing with them not only a new culture but also various PRACTICES, CULINARY and HOUSEHOLD items.
The arrival of East Indians in British Guiana in 1838 marked the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s history, as they were brought as indentured laborers to replace the workforce after the abolition of slavery.
The British brought Indians to work the plantations. Slavery was recently abolished, and the British would rather pay Indians fractions of what they would pay Afro-Guyanese, shaping the RELATIONSHIP between the FREED PEOPLE and the NEW EAST INDIANS.
In her essay “The Indo-Caribbean Experience: Now and Then” Elizabeth Jaikaran writes about this parallel racism between ETHNIC INDIAN and AFRICAN. She wrote that, This racism, was a way for the BRITISH TO KEEP the
TWO MAJOR ETHNIC GROUPS DIVIDED, so that they WILL NOT UNITE against their COMMON OPPRESSOR, the BRITISH, BRITISH to the AFRICANS: “Do not speak to the Indians,” and “They are vile and carry diseases.”
and BRITISH to the INDIANS :“Do not speak to the Africans,” and “They are vile and carry diseases.”
Beyond the labor force, they brought with them their rich cultural heritage, including their cuisine and household practices. Their culinary culture is reflected in dishes like CURRIES, CHUTNEYS, ROTIS, RICE, and CHOKAS, which continue to be enjoyed in Guyana today. The GHOTNI, a traditional tool used for MASHING DHAL, is a testament to their culinary practices. The PHOKNEE, a fire-stirring tool, highlights their methods for cooking.
LORHA and SILL. LORHA a flat stone. SILL a smaller stone. BOTH were used TO CRUSH onions, garlic, ginger, pepper, and thyme leaves.
COOKING : Correct ANSWER is D “pooknee”
50 WORDS and MEANINGS:
INDIA is a HIGHLY MULTILINGUAL NATION with over 19,500 DIALECTS and 121 LANGUAGES. While 22 of these languages are OFFICIALLY recognized by the Government, many more are SPOKEN across the country.
The East Indian influence has enriched Guyanese culture, and many WORDS and ITEMS continue to be an integral part of daily life and celebrations.
1. KALA PANI for BLACK WATER , India to the Caribbean Sea
2. AJI or DADYA for GRANDMOTHER
3. BETA meaning SON
4. LOGIES and RANGES: Houses on the plantations and sugar estates.
5. DHOLAKA: type of drum used in Indian music.
6. JAHAJI:A term used to refer to indentured laborers who traveled across the seas.
7. SARIS: Traditional Indian garments worn by women.
8. DHOTI: A traditional garment worn by men.
9. TABLA: A traditional Indian percussion instrument.
10. JHANDI: A type of prayer flag used in Hindu ceremonies.
11. KAREEN: A term used to show respect, similar to “SIR” or “MR.”
12. TULSIDAS RAMAYANA: A Hindu epic poem that is widely revered.
13. DIYA: A traditional oil lamp used in Hindu ceremonies.
14. TILAK: A mark worn on the forehead, often as a symbol of spirituality.
15. SITAR: A traditional Indian stringed instrument.
16. TABLA and HARMONIUM: Musical Instruments
17. POOJA: A Hindu prayer ceremony or ritual.
18. CURRY: A popular dish made with meat, fish, or vegetables in a spiced sauce.
19. PHOLOURIE: A snack made from fried dough balls served with a sweet and spicy sauce.
20. BARA: A donut type snack made from flour.
21. SAMOSA: A crispy fried or baked pastry filled with spiced potatoes and peas.
22. PERA: a snack like fudge could be round or square.
23. DOUBLES: A popular street food made from fried dough and curry Channa.
24. BAIGAN: A type of eggplant curry.
25. ALOO PIE: A snack made from potatoes, peas, and spices wrapped in dough.
26. ROTI: A type of flatbread popular in Guyanese cuisine
27. WRAP ROTI: A popular dish made with roti wrapped around curried meat or vegetables.
28. FRIED BAKE: A type of fried dough often served with saltfish or other fillings.
29. SWEET RICE: A dessert made with rice, milk, and sugar, often flavored with cardamom or other spices.
30. CHAT MASALA: A type of chopped salad.
31. BHAAJI: A type of spinach-like leafy green vegetable.
32. CHUTNEY: A spicy condiment made from fruits or vegetables.
33. GHEE: Clarified butter used in Indian cooking.
34. DIWALI: The Festival of Lights, celebrated by Hindus to mark the triumph of light over darkness.
35. PHAGWA: The Hindu festival of colors, celebrated to mark the arrival of spring.
36. NAVRATRI: A nine-day festival celebrating the divine feminine.
37. MAHA SHIVRATRI: A festival honoring Lord Shiva, marked by fasting, singing, and rituals.
38. GANESH CHATURTHI: A festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha.
39. RAMADAN: Observed by Guyanese Muslims of Indian descent, with a MONTH of fasting, communal prayer, and reflection. The 9th. Month of the Islamic Calendar.
40. EID ul FITR: Celebrates the end of fasting.
41. EID ul ADHA: The festival of sacrifice, with a time for Faith, Obedience and Devotion
42. BHANGRA: A fashionable style of music and dance from the Punjab region of India.
43. CHUTNEY MUSIC: A genre of music that originated in Guyana and combines Indian and Caribbean rhythms.
44. BOLLYWOOD FILMS: Popular in Guyana, with many Guyanese Indians enjoying Indian movies and music.
45. INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY : Celebrated on May 5th, marking the arrival of Indians in Guyana.
46. HINDU FESTIVALS: Various festivals like Holi, Navratri, and Diwali are celebrated with great enthusiasm.
47. GUYANESE HINDUSTANI: A unique dialect that has evolved over time, blending Indian and Guyanese languages.
48. URDU: A language with influences from Persian and Arabic.
49. INDIAN LITERATURE: Influential in Guyanese literature, with many Guyanese writers drawing inspiration from Indian themes and motifs.
50. CHUTNEY SOCA: A fusion of Indian and Caribbean music styles.
The CASTE SYSTEM.
The CASTE SYSTEM in India is a complex social hierarchy that has been in place for thousands of years. The caste system has had a profound impact on Indian society, and its legacy continues to shape SOCIAL DYNAMICS today.
The FOUR Main CASTES.
1. BRAHMINS: Priests, teachers, and scholars.
2. KSHATRIYAS: Warriors, rulers, and administrators. (A HIGH GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY OFFICIAL , in Guyana BOASTED in the MEDIA, that HE is in this CLASS to RULE Guyana)
3. VAISHYAS: Merchants, traders, and artisans.
4. SHUDRAS: Laborers and service workers.
The UNTOUCHABLES
– DALITS: Considered outside the four main castes, often facing social and economic marginalization.
KEY ASPECTS of DALITS
1. HEREDITARY OCCUPATION: Caste often determines one’s profession.
2. SOCIAL HIERARCHY: Castes ranked in order of perceived purity and status.
3. RESTRICTIONS: Social interactions, marriage, and access to resources often limited by caste.
MODERN DEVELOPMENTS for CASTE
1. CONSTITUTIONAL ABOLITION: India has officially abolished caste-based discrimination. BUT, In practice this is continuing, silently, on a need-to-know basis.
2. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: Policies aim to promote social and economic equality.
3. ONGOING CHALLENGES: Caste-based disparities and biases persist. This is continuing, silently, on a need-to-know basis.
GUYANA “OUTCAST” IN THE EAST INDIAN COMMUNITIES especially in BERBICE.
This is a VERY DARK PAST, that FEW, IF ANY, of the PROLIFIC EAST INDIAN MEDIA WRITERS, SOCIAL Commentators, SCHOLARS and POLITICIANS, choose NOT to WRITE ABOUT or DISCUSS, the HUGE INTERMARRIAGES DIFFICULTIES between EAST INDIANS and AFRICANS, especially in the BERBICE Area.
An OUTCAST is someone who is REJECTED, EXCLUDED, or OSTRACIZED by society, a group, or COMMUNITY. This can be due to assorted reasons such as:
– Social status
– Race
– Religion
– Beliefs
– Background
Being an OUTCAST, especially for WOMEN, LED to feelings of ISOLATION, LONELINESS, MARGINALIZATION and SUICIDES, due to their RACE, ETHNICITY, OR SOCIAL STATUS.
The URGENT NEED for PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE Between the USA and CHINA.
GUYANA >>> Onward & Upward towards, One People, One Nation, One Destiny.
REMEMBER >>> We are ALL Connected.
