The year of our independence, 1962 is being highlighted this year throughout Trinidad and Tobago because of its significance in the nation's history, notwithstanding that we became a republic in 1976. In addition to some feeling God is a Trini, we are endowed with a natural resource base much unlike our regional neighbours. The current basis of our fiscal strength is found in petroleum and petrochemicals while contention abounds in the closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd and other organisations that were marginalised by the lessening of available arable lands. But what constitutes the fabric of our society? Interestingly, before independence, in 1845, the first arrivals to our shores from the Indian sub-continent on the Fatel Razack were documented. This is important in the minds of persons in the Indian diaspora as well as the general history of culture. The ship carried an Arabic name of origin which allays all statements that the concept of "Indian Arrival" is commemorated by Hindus alone. Organisations such as the Maha Sabha, acting in the interest of the Indian diaspora, recognised the significance of identifying and respecting cultural roots by supporting the Indian Arrival Day celebrations which we observe today. I think the missing link in some pockets of society is that observances such as these remind us of our cultural roots, as compared to the limited view of highlighting race and religion.
The Indian diaspora today constitutes an important, and in some respects unique, force in world culture. Indians were taken as indentured labourers, but over time and dedication, were able to attain some of the highest achievements in the land as well as position themselves internationally as scholars, skilled-labourers, land-holders, amongst other accomplishments and professions. Noteworthy is the overall contribution to both human and physical capital development. This dated emphasis sets the basis of our freedom and opportunities to develop as a people. Without that historic trip, the journey to independence in 1962 would not have been realised. This demonstrates the importance of understanding from whence we came.
In 1979, the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha in consultation with other stakeholders agreed that Indians were no longer emigrants to Trinidad, but citizens who had arrived more than a decade before. It would have been these same citizens who were in functional sectors of the country prior to 1962 and who would have assisted as a citizenry to carry the country forward.
This creates reason for us to understand from whence we came, as demonstrated by the existence of the Maha Sabha and other like-minded organisations locally and internationally. International celebrations, conventions and conferences are held to honour and showcase the work of the people that comprise this Indian diaspora to which I refer.
Indian Arrival Day celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago should then serve as an opportunity, not to segregate race and religion, but more importantly, to allow our people, especially the young ones, to engage in the process of finding their origins and by extension, charting that creative growth path for one's own existence. Do we perceive westernisation as a threat to our existence? The knife and fork battles we have today would have been developed over time as politicians and detractors made explicit or implicit effort to isolate the understanding of culture. The adaptation of international behaviour, as best practice, has impacted on our people, especially the vulnerable in society. This chronological loss of identity to generations, innocently separated from their roots, has systemically brought a series of cancers on society which continue to change the fabric and landscape of the country. Our forefathers would have fought for every creed and race to find an equal place, yet, social conduct, dress code, music, matrimony, diets, and a host of socio-cultural and demographic factors are eroding our personal space. Side by side, we cannot stand, if we bicker for state funding of activities on an ethnic basis. Questions in the Parliament have unfortunately followed this route from time to time. The occasional alarms would rise when we observe behaviour that is not in line with cultural norms, but the system of recall has also unfortunately been allowed to perish. The 'new' concept of acceptance has caused the population to concede when in fact we should have pushed our own national agenda. This has clearly impacted on our interpretation of 'tolerance.'
Given the discussions and headlines in the public domain today, I can further say that because we can no longer define our tolerance levels, we indirectly show our intolerance.
The calls to change the name of "Indian Arrival Day," the concept of the PM bowing to the feet of her senior, and the "holier than thou" statements all seek to undermine the concept of culture that I am concerned about in T&T. I have started a series of conversations with my seniors, both at home and in the workplace. It is worth mentioning that the common substance was that each individual emphatically reflects on their planting days, when arable lands were plentiful. Agriculture yesteryear was a medium that engaged a cross section of persons: men, women, boys and girls. The concept of fast food and pre-packaged meals were distant from their diets. The days when meal substitutes and pills were not regarded as nutritional sources for the family. These were the early days of extension services where neighbours and friends would share ideas and creative techniques to increase yield, maximise profits, sustain livelihoods, teach responsibility, and more importantly, keep the family together. This may in part be attributable to the name, agri-culture. If we reflect on the functions of agriculture regarding society as a whole, we consider the social role (employment, the stability of settlement), cultural role (the preservation of traditions and the character of the country) and the landscape-creating function. If we further reflect on the systematic decline of agriculture as an important sector in T&T, then we could easily discuss much of the social degradation that has taken place. I have seen protests in Port-of-Spain and other areas for sustainable employment. Empirically, the pattern of dwelling is shown to focus on the source of jobs and by extension, would explain the massive rural to urban migration that we have witnessed over the years. Interestingly, the Port-of-Spain East district is so close to the capital city yet so far from development. Is it justifiable to say that after years of seeking political protection and provision, there has been no reward? Are my brothers and sisters in Laventille being used as leverage with empty promises?
To my readers so inclined, there must be a time to think outside the box, think independently of a poor culture of race and religion. The seniors I referred to are persons of both East Indian and African descent. For a moment, consider if our nation's history was not predominantly created under one administration. Would we have different priorities today? I do not intend to play the blame game, but I am keen on exploring why agriculture and its related activities have been seconded, or worse, to the spoils of the black gold explorations. While my writing is admittedly limited in this piece, it suffices to say that an understanding of the independence and power associated with self sufficiency is unknown to many in society. Further to my last column and in the context of today's discussion, does everyone in our society truly understand and appreciate, for example, the role of institutions such as the Indian Caribbean Museum of Trinidad and Tobago? The ability to create sustainable employment for ourselves, to educate based on our experiences, to refer to our elders as the pillars of our existence, to feed our nation, to negate a dependency syndrome, to promote food sovereignty, and to promote and penalise behaviour within our social context would lead to a genuine appreciation of "whence we came."
Omardath Maharaj holds a BSc Economics and Finance and an MSc Agricultural Economics.