Last known indentured labourer dies at 105

Historian and genealogist Shamshu Deen yesterday reported that ‘jahajin’ (one who came on the boat from India) Samundarie died on Saturday night at the San Fernando General Hospital, where she was being treated after she fell ill at her home in St Charles Village, Princes Town.

She died of pneumonia and heart failure.

Her grand-daughter Lola Joseph, 65, took care of her during her last days.

“I miss hearing her voice,” she said.

She said her grandmother was a strong and independent woman. Samundarie’s grandson Raymond Joseph, 62, said she worked extremely hard during her life. “She never stayed home from the estate nor did she stayed away from her vending job,” he said. Deen said his research shows that Samundarie came here in 1912.

“The historic passing of the last indentured survivor jahajin has truly a tremendous impact.” Deen said. He noted that this represents the last chapter of a book of 147,592 pages of Indian ancestors to Trinidad and perhaps in the whole diaspora. Samundarie arrived in Trinidad aboard the SS Mutlah of 1912 as a baby with her mother Makhani.

She worked hard to raise her children after being a widow in her 30s. She had two daughters and a son.

They produced 10 grand-children and 16 great-grand. She was a cane cutter in Caroni and when she retired she started selling market produce at the San Fernando market.

She later became a vendor at the Jordan Hill Presbyterian school.

Her funeral is expected to take place later this week.