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Airport exhibition on Indian Arrival opens
A passenger is delighted at being offered an Indian delicacy at the opening of the Arrival Exhibition at the airport.
The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) on Thursday launched a weeklong exhibition at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport yesterday, offering a glimpse into the lives of the East Indians who came to these shores under indentureship.
To coincide with the launch of the exhibition, passengers on an early morning Caribbean Airlines flight were greeted by the sounds of tassa drums and were offered Indian delicacies, including Pholourie and Mittai.
The exhibition includes a replica of one of the many logies (estate dwelling houses) in which approximately 239,000 Indian labourers lived during the period of indentureship.
May 5 marks 171 years since the arrival of the first East Indians to what was then British Guiana and information boards at the exhibition seek to chronicle the arrival of the Indians and also those who broke new ground in various professions.
The first ship to arrive was the Whitby, which docked at Plantation Hilbury, East Bank Berbice with 266 workers. They were sent to Plantation Waterloo and Belle Vue. On that same day, another ship – the Hesperus – also arrived. It docked in Demerara and the 157 workers were sent to plantations at Vreed-en-hoop, Vreedestein and Anna Regina.
During the period of indentureship, 245 ships sailed to British Guiana, making a total of 534 voyages. The last ship to bring workers from India was the “Ganges.” It docked in Georgetown on April 18, 1917, bringing 437 persons.
Amongst the East Indians who broke new ground was Benjamin Saywack. He was the first Indian from British Guiana to obtain in degree in the Arts. He graduated from Cambridge in 1907.
Executive Member of the IAC, Evan Persaud, said that until now, Saywack’s achievement was unknown.
Among those highlighted for breaking new ground are John Aloysius Veerasawmy, who was the first Indian Magistrate; Dr. William Hamley Wharton, who became the first Indian physician having graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1899; Solicitor Edward Luckhoo, who qualified in 1899; Joseph Luckhoo, the first Indian Barrister and Puisne Judge; and late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan, the country’s first and only Premier under British rule, and eventually the country’s first Indian Executive President.
A replica of a logie which housed Indian labourers
The exhibition also highlights Indian wear, musical instruments, delicacies and the cultural and humanitarian work of the IAC.
Neaz Subhan, executive member of the IAC, said this is the first exhibition to be put on by the IAC in collaboration with the airport. The exhibition is mounted in the arrival and departure lounges and will move to the National Park on May 10.
Subhan said that after 171 years of the arrival of the first East Indians, it was difficult to collect materials to make the exhibition larger. However, he said that in the future the goal of the Committee is to expand the scope of the exhibition and to host it at other venues.
Persaud said that the exhibition is important in highlighting the history and culture of the East Indian immigrants and their descendants.
He said that while those who came were primarily Hindus, Muslims and Christians also came, and he was also able to pinpoint the arrival of some Buddhists, Jainists and Sikhs.
Mr. Bharat Kumar Tayal, the Second Secretary of the Indian High Commission and Executive Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, extended congratulations to the IAC on mounting on the exhibition.
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