Public should support call to combat racism at CXC

Dear Editor,

I applaud Dr Kumar Mahabir (GT Feb 28) for exposing racism against Indians in the Literature Syllabus of CXC. Mahabir himself is a terrific writer, with several books to his name, and is an exceptional Professor of English and Anthropology. Mahabir provided incontrovertible evidence to support what a few of us have been complaining about for over 25 years — Indian writers and poets are not fairly represented in the syllabus of literature which Caribbean students are proscribed to study at the CXC and CAPE levels.

Worse, Indians are ridiculed, belittled and marginalized in CXC literature, and even in Caricom itself. Indians are also not fairly represented in the Caricom Secretariat and the CXC Secretariat itself, based in Barbados. Indians are also not fairly represented in the subject committees that prepare examination questions in all subjects, or in the grading of students’ exams. Ditto Amerindians, who are also marginalised.

CXC is an entity of Caricom. Can you imagine that no Caricom government, or even its Secretary General, finds it prudent to see that CXC fairly represents all ethnic groups? No government! Neither has the SG condemned the CXC for its racist policy, nor demanded ethnic inclusion in all aspects of the operations of that regional educational entity. Neither Cambridge nor Oxford nor London has ever marginalized Indians the way CXC has done.

Can you imagine that the greatest writer of fiction or the novel as history, Dr VS Naipaul – a Nobel Laureate and a Caricom son of Indian extraction – is not included in the list of works of some 35 writers prescribed for study by CXC? Naipaul’s works are studied in every university around the globe, even in Germany and France. Complaints have been made about the exclusion of outstanding Indian writers in CXC, but these have not been addressed. Who responds to Indian complaints demanding equality and fairness? Who cares, except a few of us, who expose Caribbean racism?

I approached the PPP and UNC governments about the marginalization of Indians in the curriculum of several disciplines at CXC and at UWI and UG. Those governments were not interested in problems and challenges facing the Indian community. They would prefer not to hear about Indian issues, except when they are in opposition – to use Indians as a rallying cry for support.

When in government, they neglect Indians. “How it guh look if we raise these issues about marginalization of Indians?” they asked. My response was it looked fine, as the government would be correcting a history of racism perpetrated against Indians. Indian leaders always worry what non-Indians would think about their actions, even when those actions correct a history of injustices against Indians. African parties or governments had or have no problems addressing issues impacting their supporters. Just look at the actions and policies of the PNC government – ethnic nationalism and neglect of Indians. So why should Indian leaders or parties have a problem addressing complaints of racism being perpetrated against Indians?

I remember that, over a decade ago, a prominent Indian activist wanted his children to write Common Entrance at age nine; they and some others were seen as exceptionally bright and their teachers felt they were ready for CE. The Minister initially objected and denied the request of the parent and recommendation of teachers. When I approached the Minister on the matter, he asked, “How it guh look if (I) allowed Indians to take the exam at that age?” My answer was it looked fine – allow any talented, gifted student, regardless of ethnicity, to take the exam at any age below the maximum. The Indian kids were eventually given permission, and they excelled, enrolling in high school at a tender age and obtaining more than fifteen subjects at age 14. One was a Caribbean scholar passing the most subjects at CXC and CAPE. Both enrolled at universities at age 15.

In another case, I approached the PPP and UNC governments about including Rhyaan Shah’s books as well as works of others – like Mahadai Das, Sasenarine Persaud, Ramabai Espinet, Bal Naipaul, David Dabydeen, Lakshmi Persaud – in the syllabus of CXC, but there was no support from PPP figures; they gave words of comfort, but took no action. Historian Pat Dial knows about the gallant effort I and others have made to win over political figures to endorse corrective measures of marginalization of Indians at CXC. Sat Maharaj of SDMS in Trinidad was supportive, but not PPP and UNC– bane of Indian community. Rupert Roopnaraine has been approached to address the racism and marginalization of Indians in CXC. Request was made to petition CXC to include Indian writers in readings.

Legal recourse against CXC and Caricom is being pondered. This could lead to billions of dollars in compensation being paid out to correct racism against Indians and Amerindians. The public should support efforts to combat racism at CXC.

Yours truly,

Dr Vishnu Bisram