A tangible connection to the ‘motherland’

IN 1838, the first group of East Indian indentured servants arrived in British Guiana, after sailing across the kala pani (black waters). They were travelling to what was termed the “New World”. Though the reality that confronted them was, perhaps, vastly different from the allure of a “better life”, those indentured Indians left the motherland and made this country their homeland.

It has been 183 years since the Colonial Office granted five-year contracts to John Gladstone, the owner of Plantations Vreed-en-Hoop and Vried-en-Stein, enabling him to introduce Indian labour. Historical accounts detail that Gladstone embellished plantation life in his bid to attract those Indian labourers.

A total of 414 Indian immigrants made the inaugural journey to British Guiana, travelling aboard the MV Whitby and Hesperus. Unfortunately, 18 died in transit. They arrived here and were met with less-than-optimal conditions, which historians have deemed just marginally more palatable than enslavement. Still, more than half of the Indian population remained in Guyana at the end of their contracts, making the best that they could on the homeland.

Arrival Day reminds Guyanese of the people who came to this geographic space, bringing their distinctive culture and heritage, and making it the multicultural society it is today.

The observance of the day in itself pays homage to where people have come from and it is not difficult to imagine (though not empirically proven) that those who came have a longing or at least a mental connection whence they came.

That connection was recognised by India, the motherland of the East Indians brought to British Guiana and their descendants. As such, in 2005, the Overseas Citizenship of India Scheme was inaugurated.

“It is not citizenship for India, but it is a life-long visa given to Indian origin people who can trace their ancestry up to the fourth generation,” High Commissioner of India to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, explained at a recent forum.

This scheme would not give someone of Indian origin the right to vote or hold public office, but, the High Commissioner explained that it does permit land purchase and ownership, investment in India and the ability to have one’s children study in India.

“It has wide advantages for any Indian origin diaspora around the world,” Dr. Srinivasa posited.

With documentation existing in the Walter Rodney National Archives, an Indo-Guyanese is able to trace his/her ancestry and explore whether he/she qualifies under this scheme. Of course, since the programme only covers up to a fourth generation descendant, it is not all encompassing.

“I am actually working on a project right now to get more eligibility for Indian diaspora people in Guyana because many of them who have traced their ancestry are fifth, sixth and seventh generation… which is currently not permitted,” the High Commissioner said.

“I’m working on that aspect to permit more people in the Indian diaspora to get advantage of this particular scheme.”

Of course, it is no replacement for the efforts crucial to nation-building. Effectively, however, this scheme allows for a tangible connection to motherland, the place where Indian foreparents were brought from and the place where much of the Indian culture known today originates.

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