Guyana Journal | Indo-Caribbean Migration

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Indo-Caribbean – Migration and Cultural Retention
Guyana Journal, November 2007

by Janet A. Naidu

The arrival of Indian culture in the Caribbean is primarily based on the transportation of indentured laborers between 1838 and 1917 from India to then European colonies of British Guiana (Guyana), Trinidad, Suriname, Jamaica, Guadeloupe and other parts of the Caribbean. In 1838, soon after slavery was abolished, Africans began their long journey out of the clutches of British and other European enslavement, and at the same time refused to work on the plantation because of the gross mistreatment they received. Plantation and other business owners sought laborers from other lands to maintain the agricultural production. Although they sought laborers from Europe, they were not successful as the workers could not stand the heat and hard work. British plantation owners also turned to Portugal and later China for laborers.

The first group of Indians (244) left India for Guyana on May 5, 1838 on a ship called “Whitby”. It took five months as they traveled from the Indian Ocean, passing around Africa and then crossing the Atlantic Ocean. While some suffered through hunger and illness, others perished. Many who came to the Caribbean region hailed from places such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Lucknow, Karachi, Lahore, Punjab, and Hyderabad with a minority from Calcutta and Madras.

With the arrival of nearly 400,000 Indians, Guyana and Trinidad received the majority, with approximately 240,000 and 144,000 respectively. With Indian migration to other parts of the Caribbean such as Jamaica (about 36,000), Suriname (about 34,000) and Guadeloupe (about 42,000), their cultural traditions are also introduced into Dutch and French culture.

While some Indians returned to India as stipulated in their labor contracts, the majority of them settled in the Caribbean. What is important to note about their presence is that, with the arrival of a small percentage of Muslims and an even smaller percentage of Christians, the majority of Indians who arrived were Hindus. Regardless of their religious diversity, they identified with being “Indians” in the Caribbean. Their unique cultural traditions as well as having different languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bhojpuri and Urdu made a strong impact in the cultural diversity of a well-established Christian and European environment. The evolution of their cultural retention can be seen as part of their struggle for survival under colonial oppression in a new place of settlement. While many of their cultural practices may have changed somewhat from the way they were practiced in India, they succeed in holding on to many traditions.

Within the scope of establishing their identity, there have been changes such as the gradual elimination of the traditional Hindu caste system, the adaptation of western attire and other modes of cultural transformation. Still, the retention of many celebrations can be seen cultural festivals such as “Phagwah” and “Diwali”, and the practice of Hindu ‘bamboo’ marriage. Regardless of religious differences, Indians participate in Indian dancing, be it Nagara or classical dances such as Kathak. They sing religious or film songs and sometimes one cannot tell that they sometimes don’t know the full meaning of the songs.

Although Indian socialized into the dominant European culture by adapting western languages and other social practices, they also engaged in resistance in order to sustain their heritage, particularly their religious beliefs and practices.

The retention of Indian culture in the Caribbean has survived in many ways as informed by Hindu religious texts such as the Vedas, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Ramayana and Mahabharata as well as by Muslim religious text, the Holy Koran. Muslims have retained such traditions as Ramadan and Eid al adha.

While Indian traditions are being implanted in the social milieu, at the same time, social interactions with predominantly Christian groups such as Africans and Portuguese in Guyana and other diverse cultural Christian groups in Trinidad paved the way for an evolution of new cultural constructions. For example, in the former French colony of Guadeloupe, while Indians have adapted to French culture and Christian space, they continue to celebrate Indian culture with a French adaptation. Similarly, Indians have integrated into the former Dutch colony of Suriname where they have maintained their Indian traditions and also embraced Dutch culture and language.

By virtue of cross-cultural contact, Indians have not only adapted to their new environments, but they have also retained many traditions that are inherent in their religious and cultural practices imported from India. While migration to other parts of the world may bring new dimensions to one’s social interaction, it is evident that Indian cultural traditions continue to be an inherent part of their existence in their new place of settlement. This is evident in Indians who have since migrated from Guyana, Trinidad and elsewhere to Canada, the UK and the US. They continue to form organizations to help retain their cultural traditions and to pass them on to their children and grandchildren.

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Indo-Caribbean – Migration and Cultural Retention
Guyana Journal, November 2007

by Janet A. Naidu

The arrival of Indian culture in the Caribbean is primarily based on the transportation of indentured laborers between 1838 and 1917 from India to then European colonies of British Guiana (Guyana), Trinidad, Suriname, Jamaica, Guadeloupe and other parts of the Caribbean. In 1838, soon after slavery was abolished, Africans began their long journey out of the clutches of British and other European enslavement, and at the same time refused to work on the plantation because of the gross mistreatment they received. Plantation and other business owners sought laborers from other lands to maintain the agricultural production. Although they sought laborers from Europe, they were not successful as the workers could not stand the heat and hard work. British plantation owners also turned to Portugal and later China for laborers.

The first group of Indians (244) left India for Guyana on May 5, 1838 on a ship called “Whitby”. It took five months as they traveled from the Indian Ocean, passing around Africa and then crossing the Atlantic Ocean. While some suffered through hunger and illness, others perished. Many who came to the Caribbean region hailed from places such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Lucknow, Karachi, Lahore, Punjab, and Hyderabad with a minority from Calcutta and Madras.

With the arrival of nearly 400,000 Indians, Guyana and Trinidad received the majority, with approximately 240,000 and 144,000 respectively. With Indian migration to other parts of the Caribbean such as Jamaica (about 36,000), Suriname (about 34,000) and Guadeloupe (about 42,000), their cultural traditions are also introduced into Dutch and French culture.

While some Indians returned to India as stipulated in their labor contracts, the majority of them settled in the Caribbean. What is important to note about their presence is that, with the arrival of a small percentage of Muslims and an even smaller percentage of Christians, the majority of Indians who arrived were Hindus. Regardless of their religious diversity, they identified with being “Indians” in the Caribbean. Their unique cultural traditions as well as having different languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bhojpuri and Urdu made a strong impact in the cultural diversity of a well-established Christian and European environment. The evolution of their cultural retention can be seen as part of their struggle for survival under colonial oppression in a new place of settlement. While many of their cultural practices may have changed somewhat from the way they were practiced in India, they succeed in holding on to many traditions.

Within the scope of establishing their identity, there have been changes such as the gradual elimination of the traditional Hindu caste system, the adaptation of western attire and other modes of cultural transformation. Still, the retention of many celebrations can be seen cultural festivals such as “Phagwah” and “Diwali”, and the practice of Hindu ‘bamboo’ marriage. Regardless of religious differences, Indians participate in Indian dancing, be it Nagara or classical dances such as Kathak. They sing religious or film songs and sometimes one cannot tell that they sometimes don’t know the full meaning of the songs.

Although Indian socialized into the dominant European culture by adapting western languages and other social practices, they also engaged in resistance in order to sustain their heritage, particularly their religious beliefs and practices.

The retention of Indian culture in the Caribbean has survived in many ways as informed by Hindu religious texts such as the Vedas, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Ramayana and Mahabharata as well as by Muslim religious text, the Holy Koran. Muslims have retained such traditions as Ramadan and Eid al adha.

While Indian traditions are being implanted in the social milieu, at the same time, social interactions with predominantly Christian groups such as Africans and Portuguese in Guyana and other diverse cultural Christian groups in Trinidad paved the way for an evolution of new cultural constructions. For example, in the former French colony of Guadeloupe, while Indians have adapted to French culture and Christian space, they continue to celebrate Indian culture with a French adaptation. Similarly, Indians have integrated into the former Dutch colony of Suriname where they have maintained their Indian traditions and also embraced Dutch culture and language.

By virtue of cross-cultural contact, Indians have not only adapted to their new environments, but they have also retained many traditions that are inherent in their religious and cultural practices imported from India. While migration to other parts of the world may bring new dimensions to one’s social interaction, it is evident that Indian cultural traditions continue to be an inherent part of their existence in their new place of settlement. This is evident in Indians who have since migrated from Guyana, Trinidad and elsewhere to Canada, the UK and the US. They continue to form organizations to help retain their cultural traditions and to pass them on to their children and grandchildren.