By Priya Nauth
HEAD of State President Bharrat Jagdeo has noted that it is important to know the history of the struggles of our ancestors and has urged Guyanese to work together to help build the country.

-He made this remark yesterday when he joined scores of Guyanese to celebrate the 171st anniversary of the Arrival of East Indians to Guyana at the Joe Vieira Park, West Bank Demerara.

The traditional event hosted by the Indian Religious Cultural and Social Organisation of West Demerara for the 22nd year featured a display of various aspects of Indian culture on stage, including tassa drumming, Indian traditional and film songs and dances, and viewing of floats depicting the rich cultural heritage of East Indians, with booths displaying a variety of Indian dishes and clothing, and other items along with other attractions for the entire family.

The Head of State said, xI hope as we get together and enjoy this beautiful culture that was brought from a distant part of the world, from India by our ancestors, that we take time to appreciate this gathering and all that the culture demands of us.x

Noting that it is not just about song, dance and music, he stated, xIt is also about the inner strength of the people who first came to this country, because they had to have that inner strength to survive the ravages of the difficult path that they undertook.x

He said that many of the East Indian immigrants who were very young left India not knowing what they would face.

He said, xThey struck out in search of a better life and it is that same xpioneering spiritx that today helps our country to move forward,x he said.

He went on, xSo I want you as we celebrate to never forget that spirit and to never forget what happened to those people when they came here because they were treated like second class and third class citizens in this country.x

xThe white planters who ruled Guyana locked them away in their xslave-likex conditions on the estate through indentureship,x Jagdeo emphasised.

Alluding to the hardships and difficulties endured by the Indians, he declared, xxbut they did not give up.x

President Jagdeo said these indentured labourers persevered and finished their contracts and built a life for future generations, noting, xIt is much better than theirs, so we must not take for granted their struggle.x

He further reiterated, xThey struggled for freedom to raise their children in a society that will give them opportunities.x

xThere was one time when the British sent someone here to Guyana to do a report and they said that the Indians who were living in the colony at that time did not value education, so you should not build schools in areas where the Indian immigrants live – that is totally untrue,x he refuted.

He also noted, xThere was a time when if you were a Hindu or Muslim, you had to convert to Christianity to get a job in the public service.x

xAll of these assaults on the culture of the people who came did not succeed, because today, as we have seen, the culture is strong and it is preserved and people are proud of it,x he observed.

xWe live in a very unique country, a wonderful country. We have many people of different races and we have different religions and that is our strength,x he advocated.

xWe have to learn to live together, to build this country together so that all of the children of Guyana, regardless of their religion or race, can enjoy a prosperous and brighter future than we have had,x he noted.

He encouraged the gathering to respect the culture of all the groups who came to Guyana and the indigenous peoples as well.

xWe all contributed to this Guyanese culture. We are not better or worse than any other group – we are all Guyanese together and this is the attitude that we have to instill in everyone and our children especially. Among those present were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Chairman of the Indian Commemoration Trust, Mr. Yesu Persaud; Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Regional Chairman, Mr. Julius Faerber; and representatives of the Indian High Commission.