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Clarifying Apaan Jaat

Dec 22, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – I write to give some clarity to introduction and usage of the phrase “apan jaat” in Guyana’s politics as used by Clement Rohee in missive “Religious Persons welcomed in PPP” (KN Dec 21). Eusi Kwayana stated in one of his writings in response to Kean Gibson’s book, who had ascribed the term’s usage to Cheddi Jagan, that it was Daniel Debidin who coined the phrase. Others attributed it to J.P Lutchmansingh in 1957.

Jagan had praised Debidin for his support in the legislature (post 1947) for social welfare benefits for the working class. The other Indians in the legislature did not support Jagan on championing workers’ rights. The PPP was founded in 1950 and won the 1953 elections. Debidin founded the Workers and Farmers Party in 1953 and contested the elections. It is believed he first used the phrase (apan jaat) telling Indians to vote for your own race.

Debidin was not fluent in Hindi or Bhojpuri and mis-pronounced as well as misspelt the phrase. The correct spelling is aapan jaat (vote for your own). The Hindi and Bhojpuri spelling as well as pronunciation are slightly different. Aapan is Bhojpuri and apan is Hindi. Cheddi never used the phrase and opposed its usage. He disassociated himself from it.

Lutchmansingh, who broke with Cheddi in 1955 and went with Burnham in the split, used the term apaan jaat in the 1957 elections. He told Indians not to vote “apan jaat” (your own kind but to support Burnham), and the introduction of usage of the term is also attributed to him.
One John Da Silva writing in 2009 in KN stated that he first heard the term “aapan jaat” at a political campaign meeting for John Fernandes (who had his own party) on the East Coast uttered by an Indian speaker; no year was given. The speech led to furor and the speaker was not allowed to continue after the term was translated to the crowd by an Indian in the crowd. Fernandes defeated Janet Jagan in 1947 in a seat in Georgetown. Fernandes also contested in 1953, ’57, ’61 elections. It is not stated in what election campaign the term was used.

Rohee also stated that aapan jaat was also used in opposing Guyana’s linkage with the West Indian Federation. Lionel Luckhoo led the charge against The Federation. He opposed Cheddi but was not known to use the term apaan jaat. He supported Burnham. Hindu, Muslim, and Christian Indian leaders opposed the Federation. The same was true for Indian religious figures in Trinidad. Other race groups from a Christian background also opposed the Federation. Jamaica led the opposition to The Federation and several prominent political figures around the West Indies was also opposed to it.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram

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