fbpx
  • Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Columns
  • Letters
  • Features
  • Editorials
Ravi-Dev

Indentured Immigration and its aftermath

May 2, 2021
Dool Hanomansingh

Indo Caribbean community and its vulnerability

July 5, 2022
Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

Commentary on Sea Results in Trinidad

July 4, 2022
Dool Hanomansingh

Are Hindu organizations relevant to the community?

July 5, 2022
Jai Lall

A TEAR FOR ONE SO DEAR SOMEWHERE

July 3, 2022
Jai Lall

HUM FOR MUM

July 3, 2022
Indo Caribbean wins Worldwide Pageant

Indo Caribbean wins Worldwide Pageant

July 4, 2022
Capil Bissoon

THE TRUTH ABOUT PIARCO (Part 2)

July 3, 2022
Harry Hergash, Writer of Books on Indian Guyanese

PPP not effectively Protecting Indian Guyanese

July 2, 2022
Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News

Indo Caribbean community and its vulnerability

July 2, 2022
Photo: Mr. Devon Liburd, Chief Executive Officer, Nevis Tourism Authority

New CEO for Nevis Tourism

July 1, 2022
A Judgment fled to British beasts relating to Trinidad ?

A Judgment fled to British beasts relating to Trinidad ?

July 2, 2022
Indian Company wins Contract to oversee Road Construction

Indian Company wins Contract to oversee Road Construction

July 1, 2022
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
  • Login
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News
  • Home
  • Columns
    Indo Caribbean wins Worldwide Pageant

    Indo Caribbean wins Worldwide Pageant

    Indian Company wins Contract to oversee Road Construction

    Indian Company wins Contract to oversee Road Construction

    Queens Indo Caribbeans Honor Courageous Police Officers

    Queens Indo Caribbeans Honor Courageous Police Officers

    Indians beaten & Robbed by Blacks in Guyana

    Indians beaten & Robbed by Blacks in Guyana

    Vishnu Bisram

    PNC Should emulate PPP & other Parties in accepting Outcomes of democratic Elections

    Steve Alvarez

    Embrace our good people

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Guyana Court Should raise bar on libel and slander

    Mrs. Chantelle Richardson

    Anguilla has new Dep. Tourism Director

    Kamla-Persad-Bissessar

    Kamla calls for Resignation of AG in Trinidad

    NY Indo Caribbean Mandir provides Accommodations to a fire victim’s family

    NY Indo Caribbean Mandir provides Accommodations to a fire victim’s family

  • Letters
    Harry Hergash, Writer of Books on Indian Guyanese

    PPP not effectively Protecting Indian Guyanese

    Phillip Edward Alexander

    Letter to Kamla of Trinidad by PEP Leader Phillip Alexander

    Vassan Ramracha

    Unite Against Conversions

    Lester Siddhartha Orie

    No (Rain) Water No (Wheat) Flour

    Harry Hergash, Writer of Books on Indian Guyanese

    Response to Malcolm Harripaul on Guyana Sun Chapman 

    Steve Alvarez

    WHY THE PNM AND UNC MUST NOT BE THE OPTION

    Lester Siddhartha Orie

    Immortalising Mama Mia

    Lester Siddhartha Orie

    The PhD Obsession & its Relevance

    Ramdath-Jagessar

    African-Indian Relations in Guyana & Trinidad

    Leyland-Chitlall-Roopnaraine

    MUCH TIME AND MONEY ARE WASTED IN Guyana COURT; widespread land fraud

  • Community News
    NY Indo-Carib Tulsi Mandir Commemorates Anniversary

    NY Indo-Carib Tulsi Mandir Commemorates Anniversary

    Indo Caribbean Celebrates Birthday at Gurukula

    Indo Caribbean Celebrates Birthday at Gurukula

    Jessica of Richmond Hill Weds

    Jessica of Richmond Hill Weds

    Fantastic Wedding Reception for Kevin & Aruna

    Fantastic Wedding Reception for Kevin & Aruna

    Father’s Day at Indo Caribbean Trimurthi Mandir

    Father’s Day at Indo Caribbean Trimurthi Mandir

    Kevin Bisram Weds Aruna

    Kevin Bisram Weds Aruna

    Indian Arrival Day Celebrated in New York on Sunday

    Indian Arrival Day Celebrated in New York on Sunday

    Berbician Hosts Jag (Yag) at N.Y Gopal Sundar Mandir

    Berbician Hosts Jag (Yag) at N.Y Gopal Sundar Mandir

    Guyanese Diasporan, Ebony Narpatty Brijbassi, Gives Back

    Guyanese Diasporan, Ebony Narpatty Brijbassi, Gives Back

    Indian Embassy in Guyana Observes International Day of Yoga with Police Force

    Indian Embassy in Guyana Observes International Day of Yoga with Police Force

  • Editorials
    A Judgment fled to British beasts relating to Trinidad ?

    A Judgment fled to British beasts relating to Trinidad ?

    Left to right: Nicole Catherine Linton, Julie Fletcher, Alice Bigland, Lesley Gosling, Grace Fryer, Tiagan Dealey, Hannah Young, Cara Meikle, Leanne Schembri, Jenna Hurst, Suzanne Wright, Ewa Katarzyna Zachmac, Shenika Ramsay - JTB

    Jamaica Tourist Board Release

    Steve Alvarez

    THE UNPLEASANT TRUTH (of opposition coalition)

    GAWU and President public spat in Guyana

    GAWU and President public spat in Guyana

    Vice-President-Hon-Bharrat-Jagdeo

    Allegations against Guyana VP: It’s Vice and not Virtue!

    Dr. Gopaul

    Gopaul— Jagdeo served with Integrity

    Lester Siddhartha Orie

    Deja vu is in this Camille/Kamla Crossfire

    Leyland-Chitlall-Roopnaraine

    MUCH TIME AND MONEY ARE WASTED IN Guyana COURT; widespread land fraud

    Vassan Ramracha

    It is an issue of Black Bureaucracy not one on Economy

    Dr Paloma Mohamed

    Positive Remarks on UG Indian Arrival Seminar

  • Opinions
    Dool Hanomansingh

    Indo Caribbean community and its vulnerability

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Are Hindu organizations relevant to the community?

    Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News

    Indo Caribbean community and its vulnerability

    Steve Alvarez

    Hard Luck Trinidad & Tobago

    Leyland-Chitlall-Roopnaraine

    MY TWO CENTS WORTH OF INDIANNESS

    kamla-persad-bissessar

    Why do politicians reach out to supporters only for votes?

    Hariji and devotees of the Shiv Jyothi Mnadir of Las Lomas

    Weekly Satsangh honors Hariji

    Leyland-Chitlall-Roopnaraine

    THE  FAILURE  OF  INDEPENDENCE

    Ramdath-Jagessar

    Home and family Indian Arrival Day off to a great start

    Paras Ramoutar

    Outgoing Indian diplomat hails relations between both countries

  • Videos
    Dool-Hanomansingh-003

    US Congress woman Tulsi Gabbard condemns the ongoing genocide of Hindus and other minorities

    Geeta-Vaahini

    Geeta Vaahini, President of the  Hindu Prachaar Kendra speaks on the social significance of Ganga Dhara Festival.

    Geeta-Vaahini

    Geeta Vaahini, President of the Hindu Prachaar Kendra speaks on the Hindu view of the environment.

    swami-brahmadeo

    Swami Brahmadeo – Hindus are top CEOs and Medics in North America and Europe

    Gowtam-Maharaj

    Gowtam Maharaj, a farmer of Barrackpore, South Trinidad, shares his challenges being a farmer.

    BAMBOO #1 Flooding – Frustrated Residents

    BAMBOO #1 Flooding – Frustrated Residents

    NATIONAL-LOTUS-THEATRE

    NATIONAL LOTUS THEATRE – Performance of Niyantran

    radica-jairam

    Story of RADICA JAIRAM from Orange Valley

    fisherman-trinidad

    Families of Orange Valley felt neglected by PNM Government

    Dr Subramanian Swamy

    Dr Subramanian Swamy – Dharma Rising London April 2015

  • Features
    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Commentary on Sea Results in Trinidad

    Jai Lall

    A TEAR FOR ONE SO DEAR SOMEWHERE

    Jai Lall

    HUM FOR MUM

    Capil Bissoon

    THE TRUTH ABOUT PIARCO (Part 2)

    Photo: Mr. Devon Liburd, Chief Executive Officer, Nevis Tourism Authority

    New CEO for Nevis Tourism

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Guyana Opposition Figures Upbraided for Silence on Racial Violence

    Lester Siddhartha Orie

    Ousting a Leader in Absentia

    Capil Bissoon

    THE TRUTH ABOUT PIARCO (Part 1)…

    Nalanda: India’s ancient university rising from the ashes

    Nalanda: India’s ancient university rising from the ashes

    Capil Bissoon

    Now that the time has come to review the workings of this Anti-Gang legislation…

No Result
View All Result
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News
No Result
View All Result

Indentured Immigration and its aftermath

by Ravi Dev
May 2, 2021
in Columns
0
Ravi-Dev

Photo : Ravi Dev

0
SHARES
85
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

On Wednesday May 5, we will be commemorating “Indian Arrival Day” – which is still officially dubbed “Arrival Day”, supposedly because the government wants to acknowledge the contributions and impact of all indentured labour on the incipient Creole society formed after the abolition of slavery in 1838. There would be a total of 341,500 indentureds consisting of 239,756, Indians; 30,585 Portuguese/Madeirans; 42,512 West Indians; 13,355 Africans; 14,189 Chinese; and 1282 “others”. Below we expand on the economic impact

The movement for the abolition of slavery and the agitation (in Guyana and in India) for humane working conditions for the indentured labourers left a legacy of sensitivity to the exploitation – economic and otherwise – of labour. In fact, the trade union movement, was conceived to agitate for economic justice on behalf of workers and was launched Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow in Guyana as far back as 1919, long before political parties appeared on the scene. Most of our modern politicians came out of the trade union movement. The ethnic organisations – BGEIA, LCP, NPC, etc., formed coterminously by mostly middle-class elements, were also concerned about the economic status and progress of their members. This was truer of the nascent Indian middle-class, which had a greater number of members from the world of business, than the African/Mulatto Middle class that had sought improvement of their lot through education for jobs in government services and the professions.

 Specialisation

The historical development of the colony, by and large, led to ethnic economic specialisation and this was to have far reaching consequences. Within a decade of the abolition of slavery, the large swathe of Africans who had left the plantation to found the Village Movement were channelled into becoming an urbanised workforce of lower civil service clerks, messengers, transport workers, dock workers, shop assistants, artisans, masons etc. The unbroken wave of internal migration, continuing to the present, soon created a large African urban underclass that could be used to depress urban wages.

 Many Africans went into the hinterland to prospect for gold and opened up a new industry. Those Africans who remained on the sugar plantations constituted the major of factory workers who were then locationally separated from the mostly Indian field workers. When the bauxite industry was developed following WWI, the workers recruited were primarily Africans. The Portuguese and Chinese, small in numbers, also gravitated to the urban centres directly after serving their indenture contracts, with some remaining as shopkeepers in the newly formed villages. The majority of Indians, even after indentureship, remained on the plantations or formed rural settlements near the plantations – focusing primarily on rice (which became an industry) and vegetable cultivation and cattle rearing.

Indian Indentured Labourers

Economic competition was sustained with the rural-to-migration continuing as a constant feature of the colony’s development, since the towns were promoted as the centre of “civilised” life and higher standards of living. This rural African migration precipitated severe contradictions in Georgetown as the  newer arrivals depressed wages – producing an African underclass that grew sharply as economic opportunities stagnated. The early success of the Portuguese migrants in business, which squeezed out many Coloured/African entrepreneurs, led to several African–Portuguese riots, notably in 1848, 1856 and 1888. The Portuguese were adjudged to be granted special privileges and to be unfairly moving ahead, by the Africans.

Competition

On the sugar plantations, the interminable flood of new immigrants – including from the West Indies and Africa – depressed plantation wages. Contrary to what some ideologues in the present are preaching, there was no significant economic competition between Indians and Africans in the 19th century. It was the beginning of the movement of Indians into the elite, urban-centred occupations after the end of indentureship in 1917 however, that precipitated the greatest stresses in the society – some of which are still to be resolved. The Indians, building on their successes in rice, cattle rearing and petty retailing began to open businesses in Georgetown by the 1920’s and also to enter the independent professions of medicine and law. These were very highly prized occupations in colonial society that helped to define status and when some Indians began to percolate into the Civil Service by the 1930’s, the Coloured/African elite began to feel threatened.

The Indians were seen as a threat for a variety of economic reasons – in addition to the cultural and political ones. These were pointed out by the Mulatto/Africam middle class. Firstly, the government had financed part of the cost of bringing indentured immigrants to Guyana from the national treasury, into which the Africans had paid taxes. This was akin to rubbing salt into an open wound, since the many African leaders had convinced the average African that the immigrants – but especially the more numerous Indians – had undercut their leverage to bargain for greater wages on the plantations after the abolition of slavery. In fact, however, the majority of Africans had decamped the sugar plantations by 1848, after the failure of their 1846-47 strike for higher wages at a time when there were more Portuguese, West Indian Africans and Africans from Africa as indentureds, than Indians. We have also written before of the cost-constraints on the Guyanese sugar planters.

Secondly, Africans feared that the Indians, with their immigrant drive for economic advancement coupled with their greater numbers (by the end of indentureship) would become so economically dominant that even if they were to occupy only their proportionate share of the valued economic platforms, Africans would be overwhelmed. This fear increased as the Indians slowly began to follow the path earlier trod by the rural African to the urban centres. Unlike as with the earlier African migrants, because of their distinctiveness, the Indians stood out for continued comparison. The fear was mixed with the scorn of cultural superiority: the African resentment against the Portuguese was turned on to the Indian.

This resentment in the African/Coloured population was very entrenched by the beginning of modern political mobilisation in 1950 and exploded in the 1960’s, when Martin Carter, channeling Fanon, claimed, “a city of clerks turned a city of men’.

Tags: GuyanaImmigrationIndenturedIndian diasporaIndian GuyaneseIndian Indentured Labourersindo-caribbeanIndo-GuyaneseTrinidad and Tobago
ShareTweetShare
Ravi Dev

Ravi Dev

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Indians beaten & Robbed by Blacks in Guyana

Indians beaten & Robbed by Blacks in Guyana

June 30, 2022
Queens Indo Caribbeans Honor Courageous Police Officers

Queens Indo Caribbeans Honor Courageous Police Officers

June 30, 2022
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Guyana Opposition Figures Upbraided for Silence on Racial Violence

June 30, 2022
Indo Caribbean wins Worldwide Pageant

Indo Caribbean wins Worldwide Pageant

July 4, 2022
Jai Lall

A TEAR FOR ONE SO DEAR SOMEWHERE

0
Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

Commentary on Sea Results in Trinidad

0
Dool Hanomansingh

Indo Caribbean community and its vulnerability

July 5, 2022
Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

Commentary on Sea Results in Trinidad

July 4, 2022
Dool Hanomansingh

Are Hindu organizations relevant to the community?

July 5, 2022
Jai Lall

A TEAR FOR ONE SO DEAR SOMEWHERE

July 3, 2022

The most important world news and events of the day.

Get ICDN daily newsletter on your inbox.

Indo Caribbean Diaspora News

© 2020 Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News. All rights Reserved

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Donate

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Columns
  • Letters
  • Community News
  • Opinions
  • Videos
  • Features
  • Editorials

© 2020 Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News. All rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
wpDiscuz