Some of us are truly offended by the continuous usage of this word

Oct 03, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
That PM Moses Nagamootoo openly used the “Coolie” word in Parliament and that the Speaker of House did not utter a comment against such wanton use of a despicable word not only to Indians but also to all peasant-oriented Guyanese reveals how rancorous politics has become in Guyana. That some sections of the media have just ignored such a reckless use of language demonstrates that Guyana has hit a new low.
To recall, I criticized Guiatra Bahadur for the loose usage of the ‘Coolie” word in her book in the dailies and I thought that would have sent a message that some are truly offended by the continuous usage of the word. I was totally mistaken, although I must admit that Bahadur, among others, have started to put the C word in quotation. A small step forward, nevertheless.
In November 2014, I was in the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius and I had a long conversation with Dr. Khal Torabully, one of the soundest minds in understanding of the Indian indentured experience following slave emancipation in former European colonies. I asked Dr. Torabully if he would be interested in doing a published interview on the concept of Coolitude, which he developed some twenty-five years ago.
He agreed and that interview will be published by the Caribbean Writer (August 2016), a peer-reviewed journal from the University of the Virgin Islands. Below are two excerpts from that interview on his take on the usage of C word. Dr. Torabully writes: “I also thought it was important to redefine this colonial slur, coolie, to make a new semantic and semiological appropriation of the word in a creative way. Indeed, why should we still suffer when people, sometimes, purposely use this word in an insulting or derogatory way?
What would prevent us from re-appropriating it, as a kind of creative vision allowing us to be, as poets and semiologists, masters of language, capable of infusing new definitions in language, and not to be only the subaltern of the word/world, the indentured one who is always obliged to carry the meanings the Other forged upon our memory and History.” What Dr. Toabully is saying is that we should not be forced to define and describe the word “coolie” only through the restrictive prism and derogatory connotation.
Dr. Torabully adds: “the necessity to address the human complexity, the transcultural facets, among other factors, led to this humanism of diversity so important in reactivating indenture in modern perspectives based on historic accuracy, economic reality and a redefined status in History.
Thus, we proposed new semantic definitions to the word kuli/coolie, to express that none should feel offended when one explores the new poetics derived from the term “coolie”, a new perspective of work on memory and History elaborated from an “offensive” slur.
My point is that one has to be happy to find new promising venues in the humanism of diversity the whole coolie experience has construed. And move away from any mental or sociological trap the past has forced on us. We are free to envisage a new discourse on our retrieved and reconstructed past and trauma.”
The intention of the aforementioned quotes is obviously to bring solace to those who continue to feel the burden of the C word. That to think that Nagamootoo’s usage of the C word is restricted to Bharat Jagdeo is absurd. It is directed to those Indians who support the PPP particularly since Nagamootoo never acknowledged that he has offended anyone.
In a highly charged, deeply divided post-election atmosphere, it is not uncommon to hear remarks like “dem coolie stupid”, “dem coolie na want change” “no matter wha to tell dem coolie dem gonna still vote fo PPP.” May I ask: Are these remarks a show of loyalty to leaders and superiors? Recently, some openly declared that the people of Berbice are ignorant, among other things.
That maybe accurate but how ironic it is that the coarse hands and callous feet in Berbice continue to feed Guyana through industrious habits and unwavering dedication to family and community. How ironic it is that Berbice has produced some of the greatest minds in academia and sports! How ironic it is that a generally peaceful county has now been mired in crime where violence on Indians from Indians, in particular, has reached disturbing heights. I say no more.
Lomarsh Roopnarine

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Some of us are truly offended by the continuous usage of this word

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