OVER the years a lot has been done during the period of Indian Immigration commemoration celebrations and activities in highlighting Indo-Guyanese culture and history. The meals held around Arrival Day by the Indian Arrival Committee and the Hindu Dharmic Sabha are both commendable in highlighting Indian cultural heritage. (I would do a great injustice, if I do not mention the name Ravi Dev also in connection with Indian Arrival melas, as I could remember it was Ravi Dev and Salahudeen Nausrudeen along with others who initiated and gave impetus to the festivity and especially with regards to its cultural and social hebaviour, in particular – ‘no alcohol’. Alcohol happens to be the number one destroyer of Indian culture).

But in both of these melas the most significant commemoration by our fore-parents is either brought to insignificance or nothingness. TADJA was the most important commemoration of the indentured labourers. Yet it is featured very little and the majority of Indians in Guyana today probably have not heard the word.

Hugh processions accompanying Tadja drums were held in many villages in British Guiana. Though it was a Muslim commemoration, it has the support and participation of Hindus, Creola Africans and Chinese and became the most important event of the Indentured labourers. TADJA was a procession by the Muslim Indian immigrants who were sentimentally attached to the Holy Prophet and his noble family. It was the commemoration of the Martyrdom of Hussayn the grandson of the Holy Prophet of Islam and 72 members of his close relations, who stood up against the despotic ruler of his time to protect the religion if Islam. The small band of noble men stoop up against an army of over 100,000 and fought bravely to their last, in the most dramatic event in human history penned by many great men as ‘The Tragedy of Kerbala’. Many great poets, leaders and philosophers of the Indian sub-continent, including Mahatma Gandhi, Serojinee Naidu and Iqbal wrote in touching words about the Tragedy of Kerbala.

TADJA came from India with the Muslim indentured labourers. Processions carrying flags, tadja drums and replica of the coffin and shrine of Hussayn (a.s.) and accompanying with sword fighting displays, acrobats, stick fighting, wrestling and special songs in Urdu language known as Marsiyas and Nohas, were made through many villages. At intervals, the procession would stop and the story of “The Tragedy of Kerbala’ would be related in touching tones, both in words and in songs. As TADJA made its way through the villages, it gathers supporters in great numbers. Every year TADJA became bigger until the British Plantation owners, fearing this would spark revolution, banned the procession.

“The Mohurram or ‘Jadja’ festival of 1866 was one of the biggest ever. Larger numbers of Creoles took part and churchmen and Christian priests feared that their folks were being gradually converted to the Hindu and Muslim faiths. Suggestions were freely made that “Creoles who took part should be jailed and whipped” and greater efforts were made by the churches and even government to prevent ‘Creoles’ from joining in Hindu and Muslim festivals…” (Guyana in 1866: by PP. Dial) Chronicle 1966

It was also banned in Trinidad

TADJA was still practiced in some form in villages in the Corentyne even in the 1970’s. It is still evident in some form in Trinidad, Suriname and Jamaica.

Whilst Al-Creighton called for the preservation of the commemoration in the form of drama in the new theatre of acting, I, a Muslim will call for the ‘real’ revival of TADJA in Guyana, which is very much alive all over the Indian sub-continent and parts of Middle East.

TADJA is a most important commemorative heritage of the Indian indentured immigrants.
ASHRAF ALLI