GOPIO International President Ashook Ramsaran, along with GOPIO of Guyana, Guyana's Indian Commemoration Trust, Indian High Commissioner Puran Pal Meena and senior Guyana Government officials, joined together at a historic ceremony to unveil the new Indian Arrival monument on May 5, 2013 at Highbury marking the 175^th Anniversary of the first arrival of Indian indentured laborers in Guyana. In fact, it was the first such arrivals in the entire Western Hemisphere. This historic event was commemorated with a series of other activities in Guyana, including re-enactment of the arrivals, cultural performances, and a conference on arrivals and contributions of various ethnic groups in Guyana. GOPIO's role, leading up to and including the commemoration, was significant. India's Ministry of Overseas Affairs provided significant support for the arrival monuments and cultural pavilion and stage at Monument Gardens. see detailed article with photos by clicking GOPIO PROMINENT AT THE 175th INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY COMMEMORATION IN GUYANA.

Since that historic arrival of indentured Indian laborers in 1838, people of Indian origin in Guyana have observed Indian Arrival Day as a significant date in their history that connected them to India, same as those in other countries where Indian laborers were taken and later domiciled. The commemoration of 150^th Anniversary of Indian Arrival Day in Guyana was a major event held on May 5, 1988 with a large contingent from India comprising officials, artists, academicians and others. Then Vice President of India, the late Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, led a delegation of over 200 VIPs, artists & performers, academicians, historians and journalists from India to participate in the 150^th anniversary. Planning for 175^th Anniversary of Indian Arrival Day in Guyana was done to be an equally significant and historic commemoration. The Indian Commemoration Trust, under the expert guidance of Dr Yesu Persaud, planned the highly successful 150^th anniversary and employed the same skills and determination to make the 175^th anniversary another tremendous success.

Situated on the northern coast of South America, Guyana is the former British Guiana colony of Britain where indentured Indians were brought to work on the plantations starting in 1838. Most have remained and settled in now independent Guyana, forming a significant percentage of the present 800,000 population and contributing to its economic development and growth. Other ethnic groups comprise descendants of former African slaves, Portuguese and Chinese laborers, and native Amer-Indians. From the first arrivals in 1838 until the end of Indian indenturedship practice in 1917, a total of 238, 309 Indian laborers arrived in Guyana to work on the plantations under 5-year contracts. Approximately 85% of the arrivals originated from the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Western Bihar, while approximately 7% originated from the South India (primarily Tamil Nadu). About 30% returned upon completion of the indentured contracts, with diminishing numbers after 1917.

Collaborative Effort 

The entire project and commemoration events were collaborative efforts of several organizations and government agencies including GOPIO International, GOPIO Guyana chapter, the Indian Commemoration Trust, the Indian High Commission and India's Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Adequate funding was crucial to the exemplary design, construction and completion of the arrival monuments (at Highbury and Monument Gardens) and the cultural pavilion & stage at Monument Gardens. The arrival monuments and cultural pavilion & stage are indeed spectacular and befitting the 175^th Indian Arrival Day Anniversary Commemoration in Guyana.

The series of steps leading up to 175^th Indian Arrival Day Anniversary Commemoration took lots of planning, effort, support and collaboration among several key persons, officials, organizations and agencies. GOPIO International (Ashook Ramsaran), along with GOPIO of Guyana chapter (Sasenarine Sankar) and the Indian Commemoration Trust (Dr. Yesu Persaud and Pradeep Samtani), worked closely and collaboratively with the Indian High Commissioner Puran Pal Meena and 1^st Secretary Tirath Singh; and India's Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (Minister Vayalar Ravi and Joint Secretary T K Manoj Kumar) to plan, fund, coordinate and hold the events which are truly historic.

Adequate funding was crucial to the exemplary design, construction and completion of the arrival monuments (at Highbury and Monument Gardens) and the cultural pavilion & stage at Monument Gardens. The arrival monuments and cultural pavilion & stage are indeed spectacular and befitting the 175^th Indian Arrival Day Anniversary Commemoration in Guyana. While there were many donors and supporters in Guyana and from abroad, India's Ministry of Overseas Affairs supported the efforts with a substantial contribution. The arrival monuments at Highbury and Monument Gardens were patterned after the Kolkata Memorial which was inaugurated on January 11, 2011. The cultural pavilion & stage at Monument Gardens is a spectacular edifice designed with intricate Indian motif.

Souvenir Brochure & Commemorative Coin Released

A comprehensive, well designed 175^th Indian Arrival Day Anniversary Commemoration souvenir brochure was produced, in addition to a suitably designed commemorative coin. The souvenir brochure included congratulatory messages and good wishes from Guyana's President Donald Ramotar; Minister Vayalar Ravi, India's Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs; Indian High Commissioner Puran Pal Meena; GOPIO International president Ashook Ramsaran; Guyana's Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Dr Frank Anthony. Articles related to Indian arrival and experiences in Guyana were contributed by: Prof Pat Dial; Aditya Prashad; Dr. Yesu Persaud; Prof Clem Seecharan; Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG); Gauitra Bahadur; Petamber Persaud; Dr. David Dabydeen; late Rev Dr. Dale Bisnauth; Pandit Harish Tewari; Parvati Persaud-Edwards; Moses Nagamootoo; Prof Bishnodat Persaud; Nowrang Persaud & Suresh Narine; Dr Seeta Shah Roath; Dr Vibert Cambridge; Dr. Vivian Rambihar; Ryhaan Shah; and Ashook Ramsaran.

The 175^th Indian Arrival Day Anniversary Commemoration souvenir brochure included congratulatory messages and good wishes from several prominent officials in Guyana, India and USA. In his message, Guyana's President Donald Ramotar stated, "This is a significant milestone. Today the East Indian community can be proud of the sacrifice and achievements of their ancestors who left us with their rich traditions and culture". Minister Vayalar Ravi, India's Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, remarked that "The Government and the people of India also recognize and greatly value the important role being played by the Indian community in Guyana". Indian High Commissioner Puran Pal Meena stated that, "The faith of Indian immigrants and descendants in religious, social and cultural traditions have nurtured and worked as a strong link to India, the land of their origin". GOPIO International president Ashook Ramsaran stated, "While survival must have been the primary concern, they persevered to maintain their sense of origin, traditions, culture and religion despite those difficulties. Their children, grandchildren and following generations will always take pride in their resilience and accomplishments". Guyana's Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Dr Frank Anthony, said that, "By their sheer will power, religious solace, and tenacity to survive, they resisted and eventually triumphed over this oppressive servitude".

Conference, Speakers and Attendees  

On May 4, 2013 the 175^th Indian Arrival Day Anniversary Commemoration conference organized by Indian Commemoration Trust and GOPIO of Guyana was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, with the focus on "Living in peace, harmony, togetherness and amity to build a stronger Guyana". The conference was chaired by Sasenarine Sankar, president of GOPIO Guyana, and included a wide array of speakers from various segments of Guyanese society: Dr Yesu Persaud (Chairman of Indian Commemoration Trust who spoke on experience and contributions of East Indians in Guyana); Ashook Ramsaran (president of GOPIO International who spoke on GOPIO, its outreach and significance to people of Indian origin in Guyana and globally); Indian High Commissioner Puran Pal Meena; Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth; Sister Mary Noel Menezes (Experience of the Portuguese under indenturedship); Stanley Ming (Experience of the Portuguese under indenturedship); Eric Phillips (Experience of the Africans under slavery); Dr. Vibert Cambridge (Indo-Guyanese Music in the 20^th Century); Dr. Seeta Shah-Roath (Poem: Roots of a People). Among many others in attendance were: Ena Maraj, president of GOPIO Int'l chapter of Trinidad & Tobago; Dr Vivian Rambihar (Canada - Co-Chair of GOPIO's Health Council); Hemraj Kissoon (founding life member of GOPIO); Pradeep Samtani (Indian Commemoration Trust); Hon. Clement Rohee (Minister of Home Affairs); MP Moses Nagamootoo; and MP Khemraj Ramjattan.

Meetings with Officials 

On May 4, 2013, representatives of GOPIO and Indian Commemoration Trust (ICT) held discussions on Diaspora matters with several officials of the Government of Guyana. At a meeting with Guyana's President Donald Ramotar, GOPIO International President Ashook Ramsaran presented GOPIO's "Global Indian Diaspora" book, in addition to the 175^th Indian Arrival Anniversary souvenir brochure presented by presented by Sasenarine Sankar, president of GOPIO Guyana; Dr Yesu Persaud (Chairman of ICT, founding life member of GOPIO and former president of GOPIO Guyana); and Pradeep Samtani (ICT). The group of GOPIO and ICT representatives also met with Guyana's Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Dr Frank Anthony, and Indian High Commissioner Puran Pal Meena. Subsequently, a separate meeting was held with MPs Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan.

Photo above: GOPIO officials present book on Global Indian Diaspora - GOPIO Making An Impact to High Commissioner Meena. From l. to. r: Tirath Singh (First Sec. Indian High Comm. in Guyana);  Dr Yesu Persaud (Chairman of Indian Commemoration Trust); Ashook Ramsaran (President of GOPIO Int'l); Puran Pal Meena (Indian High Comm. in Guyana); Pradeep Samtani (Indian Commemoration Trust); Sasenarine Sankar (President of GOPIO Guyana). 

Cultural Presentations 

There were several cultural presentations and performances by renowned Guyana and international artistes spanning the week-long 175^th Indian Arrival Day Anniversary commemoration and at various venues in the country. Following in the tradition of renowned cultural icons Bhanmattee Shaw and sister Sita, Nadira Shaw performed "Vandana" at Highbury and at Monument Gardens preceding the unveiling of the arrival monuments. Nadira Shaw also gave a wonderful presentation Nrityageet at the National Cultural Centre on May 4, event opened by Dr Yesu Persaud as he has done for past 30 years, and attended by Guyana's President Donald Ramotar, GOPIO president Ashook Ramsaran and Indian High Commissioner Meena, among many others. Other performers at Highbury included: Soriaya Kumar; Saregama Group; Savitri Persaud, Davendra Persaud, Artie Sukhia, Devendra Sookraj, Somattie Goberdhan, Nicola & Group, Amir Baksh and several others. Performers at Monument Gardens included: Pandit Ravi, Savitri Persaud, Haji Zahid Alli, Jewanram & Family, Ramkisson Singh and Kiran Mattai.

Arrival Monuments and Cultural Pavilion & Stage

The design of the arrival monuments was patterned after the Kolkata Memorial which was inaugurated on January 11, 2011. GOPIO International worked closely with GOPIO of Guyana, Indian Commemoration Trust and Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs on this project lasting several months. Pradeep Samtani and others at Indian Commemoration Trust focused their efforts to construct a masterpiece. Within the 4 high columns of the very impressive arrival monument is a marble plaque with the inscription clearly visible, a fitting tribute pays tribute, recognition and remembrance of Indian indentured laborers who took the long journey seeking better livelihoods for themselves and their descendants, for their sacrifices and achievements. One was constructed at Highbury, site of the first arrival of Indian indentured laborers in 1838, and the other at the spacious Monument Gardens in the capital Georgetown.

 Photos above: Stages at Monument Gardens and Highbury

The cultural pavilion and stage at Monument Gardens is an impressive edifice designed with India motif that stand out from afar as representative of Indian heritage and culture in Guyana and the Caribbean region. Its inaugural was on May 5, 2013 preceding the unveiling of the arrival monument located in the same Monument Gardens.

As he had previously done for the Kolkata Memorial, GOPIO International president Ashook Ramsaran wrote the inscription for the Indian Arrival Memorial Monuments in Guyana, expressing the hopes and aspirations of those early arrivals in Guyana and their descendants. The inscription reads as follows:

On these shores they arrived. This memorial commemorates the thousands of indentured Indian labourers who arrived here starting on 5^th May, 1838.  In honoured tribute, gratitude and lasting remembrance of their pioneering spirit, determination, endurance, resilience and sacrifices.  Individually and collectively they have made invaluable contributions to the diverse culture and economic development of Guyana and other lands. Dedicated on 5^th May, 2013

Unveiling of Indian Arrival Monuments 

In the absence of India's Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, who was scheduled to conduct the unveiling, GOPIO International president Ashook Ramsaran was given the distinct honor to unveil the arrival monuments at Highbury, site of the first arrival of Indian indentured laborers in 1838; followed by unveiling of the other similar monument at Monument Gardens in the capital Georgetown. At both locations, large crowds gathered to witness the unveiling which was historic, nostalgic, and emotional. At Highbury, the inscription was read aloud by Chandra Sohan preceding the unveiling; at Monument Gardens, the inscription was read aloud by Pradeep Samtani preceding the unveiling.

GOPIO Senior Vice President - Dr Piyush Agrawal, Weston, Florida, USA, Tel: +1-954-684-6494, E-mail:sudhapca@aol.com

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