Roopnarain Persaud highlights the acceleration in the lives of Indo-Caribbeans, thanks to the Indo-Caribbean Federation.
The Indo-Caribbeans are a group of people of Indian origin, the fore parents of who were contracted as indentured labourers to work in the sugar plantations of the Caribbean and the Guianas back in 1834. Religious doctrines were, and are still, used to divide them into subgroups of Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
Over time, an estimated 200,000 of them migrated to and settled in the New York metropolitan area. Within the context of this shared experience the Indo-Caribbean Federation of North America was formalized by being incorporated with its own by-laws in 1985.
A New York-based organization, the Indo-Caribbean Federation (ICF) of North America Inc. is on a quest towards some definitive objectives. Its missions include:
To grant recognition to the common Indian heritage of all indentured laborers who were contracted by the British, Dutch and French to work on the sugar plantations in the then colonies of the Caribbean and Guiana region. Recognition of this group of PIOs (Person of Indian Origin) as a sub-group in the Caribbean is to be achieved by:
Correcting history that is Euro-centered since it was written by the Europeans: ‘Columbus made a mistake when he named the area he founded with his sailors on his voyage of 1492. Thinking and believing that he was somewhere off the west coast of India he erroneously named it ‘West Indies’. However, this has since been corrected and the region/area is now referred to and known as, with its correct nomenclature, the Caribbean.
The use of the term ‘Indo-Caribbeans’ to identify and name this sub-group of people of Indian origin living in the Caribbean region and North America.
Providing a platform to showcase all aspects of the Indo-Caribbean culture and heritage from cuisine, dress, music, dance and other art-forms to mannerisms, work-habits, industry and entrepreneurship.
Bridging the man-made religious and national barriers that serve to disunite people having a common historic, cultural, and geographic heritage/identity.
In addition to the Indo-Caribbeans, there are other ethnic groups living on the Caribbean plate. These include the indigenous Amerindians; the Afro-Caribbeans; people of Spanish origin i.e. the Hispanics; people of French and Dutch origins and those of inter-racial births.
Whereas other ethnic groups have taken hundreds of years to achieve their iconic cultural identity, the Indo- Caribbean identity in the Greater New York Metropolitan area has blossomed in a rather short time period less than one generation.
The Federation has ceaselessly, progressively and triumphantly organized and conducted the ‘Indians’ Arrival Day’ function in Richmond Hill, New York. This gala event is an exposé of Indo-Caribbeans’ cultural talents for the fun and joy of all. Cultural expression fosters cultural identity, and cultural identity, in turn, forms the foundation of self. It provides a competent answer to the question ‘Who am I?’: ‘I am an Indo-Caribbean, and this is what an Indo-Caribbean is.’
On Sunday, May 23, 2010, the Organization celebrated its silver jubilee in Smokey Park, Richmond Hill, New York with its jolly ‘Indians’ Arrival Day’ celebration. The Federation, as the organization is fondly referred to, has survived for 25 years. This is a unique achievement for Indo-Caribbeans have astonished even themselves. They have done it! They have carved a name and a community for themselves amongst the multitude of competing ethnic communities in Metropolitan NewYork!
The Federation is accredited for the most memorable ‘Indians’ Arrival Day’ celebration held in 1986 at two venues: Kings Park, Queens, NY and Columbia University, New York, NY. This connoisseur’s collection of cultural events hosted two complementary functions: an open air program of singing, dancing, tassa drumming and prayers from three major religious groups, and an academic forum for the scholarly discussion of issues of concern to the Indo-Caribbean community. Columbia University gladly offered its facilities for the academic conference. Artistes and scholars of Indian origin from all over the world attended this grand event: Holland, Fiji, South Africa, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Mauritius, Suriname, South Africa and England.
Opportunity for competitive sportsmanship through its annual Indo-Caribbean cricket competition is another feature of the Federation. Indo-Caribbeans, and others, relish playing and participating in this comprehensive game of Indian origin. The Federation recognizes this fact and provides a level playing field for Indo-Caribbean cricket enthusiasts at its annual competition. Cricket and its illustrious players serve as cultural icons in the Indo- Caribbean community just like in India. It provides a neutral and open forum for discussion, debate and friendly bantering; differences in choice of hero and team is tolerated with little or no animosity.
In future pursuit of its mission, the Federation will strive to incorporate, highlight, and celebrate the individual and collective accomplishments of Indo-Caribbeans, with no regard to country of origin or religious affiliations.
