Two days ago, March 13, we celebrated the 100th anniversary (centennial) of the ending of Indian indentureship in Guyana and other countries around the world. It comes at a time in Guyana when we celebrate the life of Dr Cheddi Jagan, a descendant of indentured labourers, a Guyanese hero and regarded by many as the Guyanese man of the 20th century. Cheddi Jagan was a fierce freedom fighter who fought against colonialism and for the freedom and dignity of all Guyanese. Yet even as we celebrate the centennial of the end of indentureship, many Indian-Guyanese are often made to believe that to be fully accepted as a Guyanese, they must disavow their Indian heritage.
In Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, Mauritius, Fiji, and many other countries, People of Indian origin came as indentured labourers more than 175 years ago and stayed. Their children were born in these countries and for generations now have contributed to the economic, social and cultural development of their countries. They are equal citizens, no less than people with other ethnic origins. But people of Indian origin continue to struggle for acceptance. While full citizens by birth in these countries, there are those who still unfairly and unjustifiably question the legitimacy of Indians as full citizens; treated often as imposters and interlopers.
In fact, in countries like Guyana, some people of Indian origin go to extreme lengths to deny their Indian origins in a false narrative they will gain full acceptance. Recall less than two years ago, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo stood in front of people in New York and disavowed his Indian heritage when he defiantly proclaimed he is a Guyanese and not an Indo-Guyanese. He rejected being an Indian-Guyanese when President David Granger and other Guyanese of African descent not only rightfully refused to disavow their African heritage, but celebrate their African ancestry. In the uproar that followed in Guyana, Nagamootoo stood his ground and insisted that he is a Christian Guyanese, not an Indo-Guyanese. In his eagerness for acceptance, Nagamootoo convinced himself that unless he firmly repudiates his Indian origin, he cannot fully be a Guyanese. But he saw no contradiction in being a Christian Guyanese.
I am a Madrasi Indo-Guyanese. Being a Madrasi Indo-Guyanese does not make me less a Guyanese. The Madrasi culture is a rich part, an enhancing fabric of the tapestry that we all celebrate as Guyanese. I will always reject any notion which suggests that embracing my Madrasi Indo-origins with fervour and passion somehow makes me less a Guyanese. Any demand that I relinquish my origins in order to stamp my legitimacy as a Guyanese is antiquated nonsense.
We have different heritages and racial make-ups, but we are part of a rich tapestry that has become the Guyanese people. The true Guyanese spirit demands that we acknowledge and celebrate the rich diversity of our individual heritages. I can be proud of Cheddi Jagan and Walter Rodney, and the fact that Cheddi was an Indo-Guyanese does not make him more or less a hero than Walter who is an Afro-Guyanese. Rohan Kanhai did not have to disavow his Indian origin to be a Guyanese hero, and similarly Clive Lloyd did not have to diminish his African origin in order to be celebrated as a Guyanese hero.
As we celebrate the centennial of the ending of indentureship in Guyana, it is disappointing that in spite of the many achievements in all walks of life in Guyana, people of Indian origin are made to feel they cannot be fully integrated Guyanese citizens while fully embracing and celebrating their Indian heritage. The centennial celebration of the ending of indentureship arrives at a time when Indo-Guyanese feel discriminated and under political assault as the foreshadow of dictatorship looms. The civil service is closed to them and sugar, rice and business where people of Indian origin have excelled face uncertain future in the hands of a government determined to restrict their growth. (Send comments to [email protected])
