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DIASPORA
The Global Indian Diaspora Heritage Society
(GIDHS) has been established and registered in Kolkata,
West Bengal. GIDHS is a Kolkata based organization to
plan, coordinate and manage a museum/resource center
to be constructed some time after the installation of the
commemorative plaque as Phase 2 of the project. An
international team of GIDHS is being formulated with
representation from all destination countries where
Indian indentured laborers emigrated from 1834 to 1920.
GIDHS membership will include prominent persons
throughout the global Indian Diaspora as patrons and
benefactors, as well as historians, researchers, planners
and supporters.
I feel so honored and privileged to be actively working
in prominent leadership role to see the Kolkata
Memorial become a reality. I have remarked previously
that, “our ancestors who left those shores truly deserve
DIASPORA — KNOW INDIA PROGRAM
As I entered the international gate at Piarco
International Airport, I realized that a memorable
journey was about to begin. All sorts
of questions ran through my mind as eagerness
and excitement empowered me. My
family and friends wished me all the best and waved in
excitement as I departed to my motherland, India.
I felt privileged because not many of my loved ones
were allowed such an opportunity in life. On my way to
India, I entered into London for the first time as well. Those
few days were remarkable, inclusive of a lot of sightseeing.
Air India was my chosen airline to India from the United
Kingdom. On entry into the aircraft we were greeted by
some lovely air hostesses adorned with beautiful Saris. At
that moment I thought to myself, “The journey now starts.”
This is when I thought of the longs days my ancestors journeyed
to Trinidad and Tobago on the Fatel Razack in the
year 1845. Thank God I had the luxury of a 9 hours flight
on an airplane. As the captain announced that we were
about to land at Delhi International airport, chills entered
my body, with eagerness to step onto the land on which my
identity originated.
As I made my way towards the arrival gate, my heart
wept with joy. My perception of India immediately
changed as I saw the real India for what it was. It was much
different from Bollywood films. The incredible experience
was overwhelming in every way that I could have imagined,
26 | YATRA | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2011
their place in the annals of Indian history and the journeys
of people of Indian origin. We owe them due
recognition and a lasting remembrance – and that is what
the Kolkata Memorial will be”. The vision of a single,
suitably significant place of emotional and physical connection
for the descendants of indentured workers is
finally becoming a reality.
The significance of the Kolkata Memorial transcends
all boundaries and can become an example for
other groups who emigrated from India during
and/or subsequent to the 1834—1920 period. The
message of the Kolkata Memorial should be disseminated
to as many as possible to inform others as well
as generate support for its museum and resource center
plans. ❖
(Mr. Ashook Ramsaran is the Executive Vice President of
Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin)
THE JOURNEY
BY TASHA KAVITA RAMNARINE
sights, sounds, smells and even emotions that ran wild
when everything around me was so different from what
I’m used to.
As I got to our hotel in Delhi, all participants were there
welcoming each other with heartly hugs and kisses. The
bond of lifetime friendships began at that moment. During
the three weeks, we all came together as one and shared a lot
of fun times filled with laughter and even sad times with
tears. The participants made the trip and experience that are
engraved in our hearts forever. We all became a lot closer to
the land of our ancestors and learnt more about ourselves.
The Programme provided a unique forum for us to
share our views, expectations and to bond closely with contempory
India. We were introduced to India’s vibrant industries,
prestigious universities, outstanding communities, rich
culture and diversity.
The industrialization of India is not really marketed in
today’s society for what it really is. These economic industries
offer a lot to the people of India and the rest of the
world. At Hero Honda, shock absorbers were mass produced
and sold globally. This product could be found on
almost every car produced by recognized companies
worldwide.
The tea gardens were the highlight of our North East
visit. The best tea is produced in Assam. Tea manufacturing
and production employed most of the population in
this region. At the factory we saw how tea was made from
The High Commission of India in Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain