THE commissioning of the much-talked-about Indian Arrival Monument that was built in commemoration of the arrival here in 1838 of the East Indians, will now take place on May 5, at 10:00hrs, according to a public notice issued by the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport.

The rescheduling of the activity will now coincide with the observance of Indian Arrival Day, normally celebrated as a public holiday on May 5, annually.

According to the notice, the mounted bronze memorial consists of artistic sculpted metalworks depicting the routine everyday life of the immigrants, with each figure carrying something of importance to them, such as a jahaji bhandal (ship bundle) loaded with items of food they’re accustomed to back home in India; spices and herbs; clothing and jewellery; their deities, religious texts and drum; cooking utensils like the karahi (cooking pan) the tawa (a flat circular piece of metal for cooking roti); grass knives (particularly the scythe); a cutlass; and rice plants.

“The figures,” it says, “are presented in a straightforward realism with the human factor ever present.

“The monument features six bronze statues depicting three men, two women and a child, and was designed by local sculptors, Winslow Craig and Philbert Gajadhar.”

After the initial monument, which was constructed under the previous administration, fell into disrepair, the ministry says, the Indian Government offered to lend financial support to have it restored.

The reconstruction process was spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI).
The Ministry of the Presidency has extended an open invitation to the general public to attend the event.