Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined that his historic visit to T&T at a time when the nation is celebrating 180 years of the first arrival of Indian immigrants on its shores made it even more special.
The sub-continent of India contributed about 143,000 indentured workers to Trinidad between 1845 and 1917. A vast majority of these Indian emigrants came from Northern India, mainly from the districts of United Provinces and Bihar. Majority of these immigrants settled in Trinidad and even now mention with pride the province, district (Zila), fiscal unit (Pargana) and village from where their forefathers came.
From 1845 onwards, Indian settlers streamed into the British colony on shiploads bound to contractual labour lasting three to five years with an option to return home on lapse of period of indentureship. However, few returned. Approximately 134,183 Indians settled in Trinidad during the period 1845 – 1917 (indentured labour emigration to the Caribbean ended in 1917 with passage of British legislation) and their presence made a visible difference to the physical and cultural landscape of this nation.
The relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago has shifted from a mere manifestation of cultural, religious and historical ties, forming part of the Indian heritage consisting of approximately 42 per cent of a population of about 1.4 million people, to serious business and economic links premised on agreements and joint venture partnerships, investments in financial services, pharmaceuticals, tourism, medicine, and visibility in conferences, trade fairs and exhibitions. The Indian Diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago has thus graduated from indentureship to entrepreneurship. They constitute business magnates, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, professionals representing in politics, law, medicine, academia and the like. Perhaps no field of social, cultural, economic and political activity is left uninfluenced by people of Indian descent.
The other part of the community, NRIs, constitute about 500, mostly engaged in business, teaching and other professions. An Indian PSU in operation – New India Assurance contributes to the country’s GDP and has a visible stake in the insurance sector. Besides, Indian traders do visit from time to time to organize trade fairs which have made Indian garments, accessories, furniture and handicrafts very popular in the country.
The Diaspora is a formidable force in Trinidad, the largest numerical representation in the entire Caribbean; the most well-to-do and culturally strong and progressive ethnic group in the plural society of the country. Such engagements do contribute in terms of cultural and emotional ties so as to reinforce the historical links between our two countries.(MEA )
