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GOPIO hosts lecture series on Indian Arrival
Dr. Yesu Persaud, President of GOPIO, delivers his lecture
A series of lectures themed around the arrival of East Indians in Guyana but stretching to include historic multiethnic relations kicked off yesterday at the Pegasus Hotel.
Hosted by the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) the event occurs every year during Indian Arrival Month. The series got off to an impressive start with the opening lecture given by GOPIO President, Dr. Yesu Persaud, titled ‘The Contribution of People of Indian Origin in the Diaspora.’
Opening to a brief history of the pre-colonial days, Dr. Persaud spoke of the means that the practice came about. He spoke of the British Act of Parliament that abolished slavery in 1834, noting that the slaves had to work until 1838. Thereafter they bought their lands and began to lead free lives, but the demand for workers created yet another class of labour – Indentureship. He noted that it was slavery and Indentureship that helped to build the major cities of the United Kingdom.
Dr. Persaud said that the local contributions included the digging of the canals and construction of the major infrastructure of the canefields. The immigrants were able to keep body and soul together throughout the hardship facing them. There was great unity among persons – when there were deaths, everyone regardless of religion lent a helping hand. They worked and lived frugally, and saved every cent that they could. In time, the East Indians started to educate their children and over time they began to leave the fields behind to become the Indian middle class as professionals such as doctors and lawyers.
In 1988, it was decided to do something in memory of East Indian Indentured Labourers, hence the birth of the Indian Arrival Gardens. Of note was the fact that the monument, which was chosen through a competition, was designed by a Guyanese mixed with Amerindian and a number of other ethnicities.
There will be three additional lectures in the series; these will be hosted by Dr. Prem Misir, Vice President of GOPIO, Vice Chancellor of the University, Tota Mangar and Petamber Persaud. According to Petamber Persaud, he will be using literature such as the Anansi Stories to speak on the dimensions of the multiethnic relationships that came into being at that time. Also present at the lecture was Professor David Dabydeen who noted after the lecture that the dynamics of relationships between the races were fascinating. As he put it, there are indications that upon arrival, a number of East Indian males were quick to strike up relationships with African women. Calling for a focus on the future, Dr. Yesu Persaud also asked listeners to not forget that we live in a multicultural and multiethnic society and to take the information in that context.
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