Commemoration tribute to strength of forefathers ― Granger
Abolition of Indian indentureship
Closure of sugar estates, parking meter burden should have been avoided ― Ali
Guyana continues to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Abolition of Indian Indentureship with another grand cultural showcase on Sunday evening.
Opposition MP Irfaan Ali delivering remarks at the Commemorative Mela
Hundreds flooded the Lenora stadium as Hindus for Selfless Service (HSS), partnered with the Guyana Indian Indentureship Abolition Association (IIAA), to honour the roots of our Indian ancestry while celebrating the strides made by not only the single ethnic group, but Guyana as a nation.
The Mela utilised various cultural platforms to highlight the transition which began with the coming of the East Indians as indentured servants to their evolution as a significant fraction of modern Guyanese society.
(Second from left) Indian High Commissioner V Mahalingam; President David Granger; a young guest; Ravi Dev and his wife; Ryhaan Shah; Dr Seeta Shah-Roth; Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton at a Mela organised in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Abolition of Indian Indentureship in Guyana
The well-organised pieces were crafted to recognise the inhumanity of the indentureship era and to commemorate the ending of this oppressive scheme. Through music, dance, fashion and delicacies, the forefathers of Indo-Guyanese society were honoured and their sacrifices celebrated for forging a civilisation which their descendants were able to inherit.
President David Granger delivering the feature address at the Mela
The cultural evening focused on unity and diversity with the participation of representatives from each of the three major religious groups. The presentations were directed towards growth with emphasis on the significant accomplishments made by Indo-Guyanese when compared to the devastating state in which they were brought. Their contributions to the well diversified society in the form of culture, economic practices and social development were highlighted and celebrated.
This event was attended by several noteworthy figures such as the Head of State, President David Granger, who was delighted to be in attendance at this event which acknowledges a great part of our country’s history. The President, in his remarks, deemed the affair a timely tribute to the strength and resilience of our forefathers, and further noted it was a fitting foundation on which a more cohesive nation can emerge.
“The abolition of Indian indentured immigration bequeathed a rich legacy of resilience, of the retention of cultural values and of the recognition of the need to live together in a shared, a common space on the basis of mutual respect. We celebrate the contributions of persons of Indian ancestry to the development of our country,” the Head of State said.
Joining the festivities was Opposition People’s Progressive Party Member Irfaan Ali, who pointed out that the late Cheddi Jagan was a descendant of this callous system but exemplified the evolution by contributing significantly to the development of the nation. He, however, expressed disappointment in the existing disunity, despite the strides made over the past 100 years. Ali also alluded to the recent closure of sugar estates and the parking meter burden as shortcomings which should have been avoided given the growth from plantocracy to democracy.
Meanwhile, Head of HSS, Ravi Dev acknowledged the youths for their dedication in the organising of the night’s activities and thanked the Disciplined Forces for adding to the festivities with an outstanding air show and display of fireworks. He provided a historical summary of the horrors of the indentureship system, and stressed the importance of commemorating the momentous 100th anniversary of the end of the exploitation of Indian nationals as servants on West Indian plantations.
