Indo-Trinidadian
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 Indo-Trinidadians  |
|---|
 Valene Maharaj |
| Total population |
|
1.2 million |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Canada |
| Languages |
| Trinidadian Creole English, Hindi, English, Urdu, Spanish |
| Religions |
| Hinduism, Islam, Christianity |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Indo-Aryan peoples |
Indo-Trinidadian people or Indo-Trinidadians are the descendents of migrants and immigrants from the Indian subcontinent who are citizens or nationals of Trinidad and Tobago. The Indo-Trinidadian population originates from indentured labourers brought to work in sugar cane plantations in the Caribbean following the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1833. Like many Indo-Caribbeans, many have roots from from all over the Indian subcontinent, as the present-day states of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh were all part of the British Raj. Indo-Trinidadians are a plurality of the population of Trinidad and Tobago (40.3%). An additional 18.4% of the population describe themselves as being of mixed race; many of them are also of Indian descent.
Indo-Trinidadian as a term seems to acknowledge the just demands of the descendants of indentured plantation laborers brought over from India under a colonial system [1]This local term was overlooked and substituted with ethnic categories by the best-known texts of Caribbean history, and especially by anthropologists and other foreign social scientists. People of Indian descent who emphasized their Trinidad roots and contributions began writing letters to newspapers in the 1880s already, suggesting alternate terms such as "Indo-Trinidadian."
Indo-Trinidadians has now become interchangeable with Indians or East Indians. Settlers brought over by Britain from colonial India were called "Coolies", an insulting term.
The first Indians arrived in Trinidad on May 30, 1845 (see Indian Arrival Day). The immigration of indentured Indians continued until 1917 when it was banned by the government of India. Most of these immigrants came from places in the United Provinces where Bhojpuri is spoken. A significant minority came from Madras Presidency or present day Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh where Tamil and Telugu were spoken. A few are even known to have originated from what was once the North-West Frontier Province of undivided India (now a part of Pakistan), where the dominant language is Pashto.
Some Indo-Trinidadians can trace their ancestry to indentured labourers who immigrated to Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent, Grenada, or other islands in the Caribbean. A few are descendants of later immigrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka, predominantly doctors and Gujarati businessmen.
A majority of Indo-Trinidadians are Hindu; the large minorities are Muslim or belong to one of several Christian denominations. The Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago is predominantly Indo-Trinidadian. Three national holidays, Indian Arrival Day, Divali and Eid-ul-Fitr are primarily celebrated by Indo-Trinidadians. The Opposition United National Congress draws most of its support from the Indo-Trinidadian community, and the new party: The Congress of the People
A major Hindu organisation in Trinidad is the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha led by Satnarayan Maharaj. The major Muslim organisation is the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association (ASJA) led by Yacoob Ali. Although these organisations were once seen to speak for the vast majority of Hindus and Muslims in Trinidad, their membership has gradually eroded but they still remain the largest organized voice for the respective Indian communities.
Indo-Trinidadians have retained their distinctive culture, but function in a multi-racial milieu. The Bhojpuri-Hindi, Urdu, Telugu and Tamil languages of their ancestors have largely been lost, although a number of these words have entered the Trinidadian vernacular. Bollywood movies, Indian music and Indian cooking have entered the mainstream culture of Trinidad and Tobago. Chutney music rivals calypso and soca music during the Carnival season. Divali and Eid ul-Fitr are national holidays, and Hosay (Ashura) Phagwah is widely celebrated.
[edit] Notable Indo-Trinidadians
- Mervyn M. Dymally, California State Assemblyman, former U.S. Congressman and former Lieutenant Governor of California.
- Noor Hassanali, former President.
- Basdeo Panday, Trade Union Leader, and former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
- V. S. Naipaul, Nobel Prize-winning author.
- George F. Fitzpatrick, Member of Parliament.
- Dr. Deodath Ragoonanan, Physician/ Author/ Acupuncturist
- Dr. Lall Sawh, Urologist / Surgeon
- Lakshmi Persaud, novelist
- Prof Raj Persaud, eminent UK Psychiatrist.
- Sundar Popo, pioneer of Chutney music.
- Sonny Ramadhin, cricketer.
- Jean Ramjohn-Richards, current First Lady.
- H.E. Ashford Sinanan
- Mitra Sinanan
- Samuel Selvon, author.
- Kamaluddin Mohammed (politician), politician
- Chris Bisson, actor- half Indo-Trinidadian half English.
- Winston Dookeran,Economist and Political Leader of the Congress of the People.
- Devant Maharaj , writer, cultural, activist.
- Dr. Taj Anwar, hip- hop activist, model, philanthropist.
Trinidadians who are descended from the indigenous people of the region are known as Caribs or Amerindians.
[edit] See also
- Afro-Trinidadian people
- Chinese Trinidadian
- Dougla
- Indo-Jamaican
- Indo-Caribbean music
- Indo-Caribbean
- Indo-Caribbean American
- Desi
- Indian Arrival Day
- Hosay Massacre
- History of Trinidad and Tobago
[edit] References
- ^ SookDeo, Neil A. (2000). Freedom, Festivals and Caste in Trinidad After Slavery A Society in Transition.. Xlibris, Philadelphia. ISBN 1-4010-5209-6. Specifically, Trinidad Sentinel 6 August 1857. Also, Original Correspondence of the British Colonial Office in London (C.O. 884/4, Hamilton Report into the Carnival Riots, p.18).
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