I just wondered if any of you know anyone whose ancestors went from India to the Caribbean?
Do you know how they got there? And why they went?
I think that there must be a lot of you out there who have some ideas around this subject, but there are a so many who had no idea that there are even any Indians in the Caribbean. I recently met a college history lecturer who has written thirteen historical novels, but never knew that there were Indians in the Caribbean. He was intigued, very curious and wanted to know more.
I remember that my great grandmother said that her mother was stolen as a child, from her village, and put on ships and taken to Trinidad.
So, I am really interested in knowing if you have any stories or info to share.
Check out the comments.
About Me
- Marilyn Rodwell
- The Wedding Drums - my novel set in an early 20C village in Trinidad is almost here. Two young girls, Amina and Sumati plot to escape their arranged marriages and plan to live life following their own dreams. But Sumati falls in love and runs away, putting Amina's plans in jeopardy. Neither of them bank on what is in store for them. Soon they face the adult world of scheming men, corruption, prostitution and violence, and life in the village will never be the same again.
Welcome to my blog! This blog is going to be about:
ReplyDeleteTRINIDAD,
how people from India got to Trinidad in the mid 19C,
that today they make up almost 40% of the population,
how they struggled to make a living and endured great hardships, poverty, ill-health and injustices
how they dreamed of escaping their difficulties,
how they actually fulfulled their dreams.
Hi All,
ReplyDeleteI just wondered if any of you know anyone whose ancestors went from India to the Caribbean?
Do you know how they got there? And why they went?
I think that there must be a lot of you out there who have some ideas around this subject, but there are a so many who had no idea that there are even any Indians in the Caribbean.
I recently met a college history lecturer who has written thirteen historical novels, but never knew that there were Indians in the Caribbean. He was intigued, very curious and wanted to know more.
I remember that my great grandmother said that her mother was stolen as a child, from her village, and put on ships and taken to Trinidad.
So, I am really interested in knowing if you have any stories or info to share.
Bye for now
Lv
Marilyn
This is a facinating topic!
ReplyDeleteHi again
ReplyDeleteI am doing the second edit on my book. The first edit is in red ink ... on every one of the 411 pgs! The second edit is in green ink, I thought it would be a little easier on the eye. But now there are some big chunks of green! Fortunately, not on every page. Very interesting though.
My main character Rajnath, works in the cane field in Trinidad 1935, for 25c a day. He is finding it hard to make ends meet, with a young family. He is bad tempered at home and subdued at work. Typical! Is he a coward? Maybe, but smart. Because the work environment is more akin to the days of slavery. Same mentality. One wrong move and you're punished. Not even a wrong move and you lose half your pay.
Till later!
bye
Marilyn
Hi
ReplyDeleteAnother update on Rajnath my main man ... He was given some forest land by his parents and he decided to plant cocoa, which thrives in the shade. Good move!
The world had taken a liking to the flavour of cocoa and chocolate. There was money to be made from selling good quality beans.
Rajnath was making $50 per hundred-weight bag.
Beats 25c a day. But he still worked in the cane field for the 25c a day! He never wasted money on new clothes. He wore trousers of a thousand patches.
Later
Marilyn
Is your book sold n Trinidad? I would like to purchase a copy or two. I sell cocoa butter and cocoa butter Bath and Body. This is all so interesting!
ReplyDeleteGod of the Cocoa is undergoing its second edit. It has an interesting mix of the serious, the emotional, the gritty and in some places, witty.
ReplyDeleteBut today as I was editing, I came across some dialogue that made me laugh out loud. It is an interesting conversation between the main character, his brother in law and the local police. The police were having a problem with keeping to some of the expected rules of law and order ... keeping on the correct side of the law!
27th May 2010
ReplyDeleteI am beginning let go of the novel. Feeling brave enough to post up some text. See the new page - God of the Cocoa Chapter One. I am hoping to post a the next piece that follows every couple of days or so! Check it regularly.
Marilyn x
I am curious (and ignorant): what drew those people from India to the Caribbean? Was it a particular kind of work? Or to set up businesses and better themselves? Why there specifically? Or was it part of a larger migration?
ReplyDeleteHi Alison B
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading my blog, and thank you for the question.
There are many reasons why people left India at that time, some are well documented, others are quite secret and never spoken about to their children, so some of the personal reasons never really got passed on. However, many spoke of their situation and their suffering, as will be revealed later in God of the Cocoa.
The main reason that Indians were attracted to leaving India in the first place, was to improved their lifestyle. It was for economic reasons in the main, although a few might have been made outcasts by their families for various reasons, giving them good reason to leave the country.
Nevertheless, they were tricked by the officials who told them that life would be so much better - good pay, good working conditions, and all they would have to do is sift sugar. That is the common story that was passed down to the generations. Another quite common story is that they were stolen as children...older children, but still children.
From the time they left the docks in Calcutta, and were given their cramped quarters below decks, they suffered for 3-4 month long journeys, from lack of proper food, water, medication, sanitation, and emotional distress. This caused diseases like dysentry, cholera, diarrhoea, even suicide. Working in the sugar cane fields for 25 cents a day, 16 cents for women and children over 10, or even 8 cents on some islands, in the hot Caribbean sun all day, was not considered as good working conditions even by them.
Hope this answers your question. If not, ask another. I'm happy to respond.
Enjoy the blog. I will be posting more of Chapter One tomorrow.
Bye for now
Marilyn x
Marilyn we love the title keep the spirit alive.:)Michelle
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle.
ReplyDeleteLv Marilyn x
I would like to know when your book will be on the market for sale- sounds interesting - and don't forget tomorrow is arrival Day in Trinidad -30th May when the first batch of Indians landed on our shores so there are lots of celebrations here to commemorate this day.
ReplyDeletecarol
Hi Carol
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder about Arrival Day Celebrations in Trinidad tomorrow. The book is not yet published. Still being edited. In the meantime, I am posting Chapter One up on the blog in 3 or 4 paragraph installments. I've just posted the third one today. Check it out.
Marilyn