By Paras Ramoutar, IANS,
Port-of-Spain : The Indian diaspora has an unquestionable commitment and concern towards the development of the Caribbean countries in which they stay and to the region as a whole, said a minister, adding “this is their society where they have their own roots and which they have helped to shape”.
Senator Lenny Saith, minister in the Office of the Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister, lauded the Indian diaspora that forms 44 percent of the country’s population, while speaking Sunday at a seminar organised by the Indian High Commission, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, University of the West Indies, National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) and Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO).
The theme of the seminar was “Language and Cultural Heritage: Issues & Challenges for the Indian Diaspora”.
Saith said: “They recognise India as their place of origin, acknowledge its positive ancestral influences, empathise with the challenges it faces from time to time, and take significant pride in its continuing progress and achievements.
“But their home is the Caribbean. This is seen in the unquestionable commitment and concern on the part of the diaspora to the development of their individual Caribbean countries and to the region as a whole.”
He went on to say that “this is their society, where they have their own roots, which they have helped to shape, and which has nurtured their development and view of the world.”
“They are authentically people of the Caribbean who are also proud to trace their ancestry to one of humanity’s earliest and enduring civilizations, one rich with achievement in all areas of human effort.”
D.N. Srivastava, joint secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, told the seminar that India and the world at large believe that persons of Indian origin settled abroad have very strong bonds with the land of their forefathers.
“Just like you, in the heart of your heart, feel proud of India’s achievements and distinctions, we in India feel proud that you all, by virtue of your hard work and dedication have achieved a high place in the country of your residence and nationality. It is indeed a matter of great pride and honour and satisfaction to know that many of you occupy high places in the society, institutions and government of various countries,” Srivastava said.
Indian High Commissioner Malay Mishra spoke about the umbilical cord that connects India with its diaspora.
“There are serious historical and ethnic ties that bind India and the diaspora,” he said.
The seminar is one of several initiatives to mark India’s 62nd and Trinidad and Tobago’s 47th anniversary of independence. India achieved its independence from Britain Aug 15, 1947 and Trinidad and Tobago Aug 31 1962.
President of the National Council of Indian Council (NCIC) Deokienanan Sharma said that the cultural personality of the Indo-Trinidadian plucked from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and embellished in its new habitat is unique.
Sharma said that visitors, particularly from India, have marvelled at the beauty and uniqueness of Trinidadian festivals like Divali, Phagwa, Ram Leela and classical singing.
Deosaran Bisnath, President of GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago, called on the seminar “not to waste resources on what is settled history. We know where we came from, how we came, and how we progressed and advanced to 2009.
“Let us now focus in making our countries as successful as India 2009 — a nation on the verge of superpower status, a shining nation of stability and success in the midst of war, violence, poverty, backwardness, and underachievement.”
The Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago equals 44 percent of the population of 1.3 million people. Some 147,000 Indians came here between 1845 and 1917 to work on the sugar plantations, principally from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.