This, in turn, involved the question of how far the immigrants should
be tied by contract, if at all.
There was the matter of wages and perquisites, which must be added
to the capital cost in assessing the true cost of immigrant labour
and then the state of the sugar market and the success of the crop.
The alternative to immigration appeared to be the abandonment of
sugar cultivation.
All possible sources were tried with varying success until India
above all seemed to answer the need.
While this momentous event has been celebrated among the East Indian
community in Trinidad and Tobago for many years, it was only in
1994 that it was made an official public holiday.
It was called Arrival Day.
In 1995 it was re-named Indian Arrival Day.
Indian immigration to Trinidad spanned the period 1845-1917. During
this period over 140,000 Indians were transported to the island.
The journey was long and arduous and living conditions were deplorable.
The Indians were subjected to abuse, poor food, and dangerous weather
conditions. Nevertheless, these adverse conditions enabled them
to form a bond, which overcame their differences of language, caste
and regionalism.
After disembarking at Nelson Island, the arrivals were fed and rested
for a couple of weeks and then sent to the various estates that
had requested them previously.
When the Fatel Razack sailed into the Gulf of Paria in 1845, it
brought not only a new labour force, but also a new culture, because
the Indians brought with them their food, dress, language, music,
dance, religion and customs.
The Indians brought to Trinidad a wide range of festivals and religious
observances.
For the Indians -- both Hindus and Muslims -- these celebrations
were important. They allowed the immigrants to hold on to the values
and principles, which had sustained them for centuries. They also
served to make the harsh daily life more bearable.
Events such as Divali, Eid-ul-Fitr, Phagwa and Hoosay have over
the years become part of the cultural fabric of TnT.
The Indians who came to the Caribbean initially came from various
regions in India, each with its own language and customs.
However, by the late 19th century there was less diversity in language
as the majority of immigrants originated from Uttar Pradesh.
The inhabitants of this region spoke Bhojpuri, a Hindi dialect,
which became the shared and unifying language for Indians in Trinidad.
The indentured labourers brought not only their religion, food and
clothing, but also the names of the places from which they came.
They gave to the places they settled in Trinidad, the place names
with which they were familiar.
Hence the reason for village names such as Fyzabad, Barrackpore,
Chandernagore, and many others.
Family and community were very important to the immigrants. They
brought with them their family values as well as their naming convention
of family members.
They also brought with them panchayat system, which was a way of
dealing with inter-communal conflicts and family problems.
One ancient practice that has recently become a western phenomenon
is the mehndi (or Henna), which is the ancient art of body tattooing.
Mehndi powder is made out of dried leaves from a shrub.
Traditionally, mehndi is used to decorate the hands and feet of
a new bride.
The East Indians introduced new fashions and clothing such as the
sari, choli, kurtah, orhni, salwar kameez, garara, dupatta, gangri,
pagri and dhoti.
Jewelry included the nakphul, bera, churia, and baju band, to name
a few.
The sari is an unstitched length of fabric up to nine yards in length
and 18 to 60 in width with a decorated end panel draped in a wide
variety of styles.
It is perhaps the item of clothing most familiar to westerners,
and is part of ancient tradition culture.
The shalwar/kameez (salwar kameez) is a knee-length dress worn over
tight-fitting trousers and dupatta.
This is the second most popular dress in most parts of Indian and
was brought to the West Indies by the Indian immigrants.
The dupatta is a long veil.
The gangri is a long, full skirt reaching down to the ankles.
The choli is a short blouse worn with the sari, and the orhni is
a veil, which covers the upper part of the body.
The kurtah is a long loose shirt, and the dhoti is a cotton loincloth.
The kurtah is also worn by women in combination with the garara.
The indentured labourers who came to Trinidad brought with them
their own East Indian cuisine, complete with traditional seasonings
and ways of cooking. Most important of their spices were the curries.
Foods such as roti, doubles, saheena, katchowrie, barah, anchar
and pholourie have become part of the national cuisine of Trinidad
and Tobago.
The Fatel Razack brought not only a new labour force to assist in
the economic development of Trinidad, but also a new people with
a new culture.
On May 30, each year, Indian Arrival Day commemorates this momentous
occasion. The event is celebrated by staging a re-enactment of the
arrival of the Fatel Razack at various beaches, as well as with
music and dance ceremonies.
Outstanding members of the community are also honoured for their
contributions to society.
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