Daijiworld Media Network- Kolkata (RX)
Kolkata, Jan 16: India’s Overseas Indian Affairs minister Vayalar Ravi inaugurated the Kolkata Memorial at Kidderpore Depot along the Hoogley River in Kolkata, recently.
It was a attended by hundreds of people from several countries including Guyana, Trinidad, Surname,
Guadeloupe, USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Kenya, Fiji, Mauritius, Re-Union Islands, New Zealand, Australia and others countries where Indians and people of Indian origin reside.
The Kolkata Memorial is inscribed with a memorial plaque (in English and Hindi) that pays tribute to those who left India as indentured Indian labourers from 1834 thru’ 1920. It is meant as “recognition and remembrance of their journeys and as Indian indentured labourers to far away lands seeking better livelihoods for themselves and their descendants; for their pioneering spirit, determination, resilience, endurance and perseverance amidst the extremely harsh and demeaning conditions they encountered; for their preservation of sense of origin, traditions, culture and religion, and their promotion of the Indian culture; for their achievements and successes despite insurmountable odd”.
“My phone has not stopped ringing since the event. I have been inundated by emails from people in Canada who are so touched by this momentous occasion,” said Jay Banerjei of GOPIO Canada.
Due to the tremendous efforts and persistence by Guyanese born Ashook Ramsaran, in his capacity as Executive vice- president of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International), he worked closely and continuously with the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to draft the inscription and design the plaque. The government of India accepted the proposal and erected a memorial monument with the inscription plaque contained within. The inscription on the plaque was taken from the draft provided by Ashook Ramsaran. In fact, the tribute is the words written by Ashook Ramsaran who has captured the shared sentiments of the descendants of those indentured labourers.
The inauguration was preceded by a commemorative luncheon hosted by GOPIO and the newly formed Global Indian Heritage Society (GIDHS) and attended by Min Ravi and his staff at the Oberoi Grand Hotel in Kolkata. Many remarks were made by those attending from various countries, expressing their gratitude for the Kolkata Memorial as a symbol of their connection and roots in India. It is a long overdue tribute to those who took the risks on barely a promise, to their individual and shared sacrifices and their endurance that made it possible for their descendants to flourish with the spirit of Indianness that transcends time, and to their courage which become a living testament in so many lives.
The inauguration and unveiling was a solemn event with the expected heartfelt emotions by so many who came from far off lands to witness this historic event. The delegations from Mauritius and Re-Union Islands sang familiar songs, expressing their gratitude for their presence and participation at the inauguration and unveiling with meaningful significance to all of them.
The Kolkata Memorial project has meaningful significance to millions of descendants of those who left India as indentured Indian labourers from 1834 thru’ 1920. The plan to begin with the installation of the inauguration plaque on January 11 followed by the memorial museum and resource centre, has been received with overwhelming emotional sentiments and enthusiastic support from all corners of the global Indian diaspora, in particular from persons of Indian origin (PIOs) in destination countries where Indian indentured labourers emigrated from 1834 thru’ 1920.
“This will be a lasting legacy for present and future generations of their descendants”, remarked Ramsaran. . "A noble effort indeed", said writer and historian Dr Anand Mullo of Mauritius; "An extra ordinary service to the Indian
Diaspora", said Indian emigration roots researcher Shamshu Deen of Trinidad & Tobago; "A commemoration tribute whose time is overdue", said Prof Mohan Gautam of The Netherlands; "We are all deeply indebted for the Kolkata Memorial which is a tremendous achievement", said prominent Indo-Caribbean Diaspora icon (Dr) Yesu Persaud of Guyana.
Ramsaran who spearheaded the effort for the Kolkata Memorial says, “I feel so honoured and privileged to be actively working in prominent leadership role to see the Kolkata Memorial become a reality. I have remarked previously that, “our ancestors who left those shores truly deserve their place in the annals of Indian history and the journeys of people of Indian origin. We owe them due recognition and a lasting remembrance – and that is what the Kolkata Memorial will be". I feel so honoured and privileged – truly so fortunate and blessed -- to be doing this. The vision of a single, suitably significant place of emotional and physical connection for the descendants of indentured workers is finally becoming a reality”.
The significance of the Kolkata Memorial transcends all boundaries and can become an example for other groups who emigrated from India during and/or subsequent to the 1834—1920 period. The message of the Kolkata Memorial should be disseminated to as many as possible to inform others as well as generate support for its museum and resource centre plans.