It is time for Indian Arrival Day in Guyana, go the whole nine yards

Apr 27, 2023 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Dr. Baytoram Ramharack made a convincing argument to append ‘Indian’ in front of Arrival Day (May 5 national holiday) in recognition of and in tribute to the enormous contributions made by the indentured (girmityas) Indians and their descendants in Guyana (in KN letter dated Apr 23). For decades Indians constituted a majority of the population; it remains the largest ethnic group in the country. Indian cultural influence permeates virtually all aspects of socio-economic and political life in the nation. The Indian Arrival Day (IAD) holiday in Guyana, as it is in several other countries, is to recognize the Indian presence and their remarkable contributions to society as well as to make the community feel they belong in the nation.

As we celebrate IAD, we should salute those who actively championed the movement (struggle) for this long overdue recognition that was opposed by succeeding governments till 2004. Till this day, ‘Indian’ has been missing in front of Arrival Day although the date is identified with the first arrival of Indians on Guyana’s shores. Indian Arrival Day has been observed in Guyana at various locations for a century, since the abolishment of the oppressive indentureship system in 2020. Lack of recognition from the colonial authority and succeeding governments did not deter celebrations or observances to mark or commemorate Indian arrival and the contributions to the territory. Indian politicians going back to the 1930s partook in observances and cultural events to commemorate the day but no politician advocated for or championed a holiday for the arrival of Indians or the abolition of indentureship of Indians.

Indentureship of Chinese and Portuguese and Africans ended decades earlier. Scholars described Indian indentureship as another form of slavery. African politicians justifiably advocated and championed for a holiday for the abolition of (African) slavery – Emancipation Day (August 1) for Africans in recognition of their significant contributions (provided for free) to the land which a holiday was granted. No similar recognition was granted for an end to Indian indentureship in spite of repeated requests and petitions by various prominent individuals and cultural organizations.

The mantle for the recognition of the Indian presence in Guyana and their survival of the travails of indentureship with a national holiday was led by non-politicians.  Apart from Ravi Dev of ROAR, virtually no politician advocated for a holiday. This quite unlike in other countries (Trinidad, Grenada, St. Vincent, Jamaica, Suriname, among others) where politicians played a leading role to recognize or quickly granted approval for Indian Heritage Day or Indian Arrival Day in tribute to the pioneering indentured Indian ancestors for their contributions to their nations. In Fiji, for the first time, Indian Arrival has been approved as a national holiday, with May 14 known as Girmityas Day.  The Prime Minister Rabuka promised during the campaign that if elected, he would grant a holiday for the Indian arrival in the territory. He has kept his word when petitioned by civic groups and Indian politicians affiliated with his party. The holiday, and the recognition in Fiji, is clearly stated and associated with the Indian presence, as it is also in other territories that have given such recognition. Only in Guyana, the recognition of the Indian presence and the triumph over the oppressive Indian indentureship system is ambivalently stated although the day is associated with the historic presence of the Indian community.

It has been a long struggle for the recognition of the presence of the Indian community and the contributions made by their pioneering ancestors. I would like to recognize and salute those advocates, albeit a small number, who championed the holiday.  Countless letters were penned since the 1990s by Rhyaan Shah, Ravi Dev, Baytoram Ramharack, Swami Aksharanand, myself and others to politicians and in the press to pressure succeeding governments to grant a holiday — Indian Arrival Day (IAD) on May 5. We await that name acceptance and recognition! The present Guyana parliament should honour the work of those who advocate for IAD and make haste to correct an error in 2003 when the holiday was approved to commence in 2004.  The parliamentary committee approved IAD in its report to parliament in 2003. It is inexplicable why Indian was removed from IAD at the full parliamentary vote. It should be restored now!

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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• Dr. Baytoram Ramharack, Dr. Vishnu Bisram, Guyana, Indian Arrival Day, National

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