Indo-Caribbean thought
OBJECTIVE
Students will be able to explain the Indo-Caribbean thought and highlight the contributions of Indians to the Caribbean.
INDO-CARIBBEAN PEOPLES are those who can trace their ancestry to the subcontinent of India. Today, many of the Indo-Caribbean natives still practise the rich heritage of India in relation to cuisine, religion, dance, music and customs. Between 1845 and 1917, Indians came to the Caribbean after the abolition of slavery to work as migrant labourers, based on contracts stipulated through the Indian labour migration trade. Professor Verene Shepherd (1999, page 123) alluded that the majority of migrants came from impoverished agricultural castes and the lower castes in general. She further noted that only a minority came from the higher castes of the Brahmins and Kshatriyas.
INDIANS IN THE CARIBBEAN
It is a known fact that Indians have made significant contributions in the areas of Caribbean culture, economy and politics. Though some scholars such as Dr Sultana Afroz would probably disagree, Indians are known to bring not just the Hinduism religion to the region, but also Islam. Certain succulent foods that many of us enjoy even today, such as jackfruit, betel nut, coolie plum, mango, tamarind, curry, daal and roti were all introduced to the Caribbean by the Indian indentured servants, according to historical accounts. Furthermore, Hosay, which is a Muslim Indo-Caribbean commemoration that is popularly observed in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, and Jamaica, was also introduced by the East Indians who came. This festival is annually celebrated by the Shiite Muslims in the Caribbean, commemorating the death of Husayn, grandson of Muhammad. Diwali/Divali, which is a Festival of Lights, is a legacy of the Indians who came, thus it is celebrated in the region, particularly Trinidad. With one of the largest East Indian populations in the entire Caribbean region, Divali is the biggest and brightest of all Hindu festivals celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, with the country boasting one of the largest sites for lighting of diyas outside of India. At dusk, families and friends come together in the tradition of lighting diyas around the home, in yards, open spaces, staircases, and on bamboo stalks bent into innovative shapes and fantastic designs. It is observed and celebrated as a national holiday which unifies the nation in the multicultural, multi-ethnic and multireligious Trinidadian society.
Other religious festivals are Ramadan, Phagwa, and Eid.
In terms of sports, Professor Verene Shepherd noted that Indians have also contributed to the development of cricket and horse racing (from grooming to breeding and riding) in Jamaica. She further noted that the best known Indian-Jamaican-owned stud farms is that of Henry Jaghai in Bushy Park, St Catherine. As it relates to politics, in countries such as Trinidad and Guyana, Indians have formed their own political parties and have been successful during many elections.
SOURCES:
https://caribbean.britishcouncil.org/programmes/ society/divali-trinidad-tobago The Caribbean, the Atlantic World and Global Transformation. Editors: J. Jemmott, A. Josephs & K.
Monteith. Women in Caribbean history, Shepherd, V. (1999).