East Indians have overcome

The people of East Indian ancestry were able to withstand the trauma of the ships and indentureship, and be today at the forefront of national life, is testament to their strength and their courage. These are the words from President Max Richards, in his message on the occasion of the 159th Indian Arrival Day. President Richards, in giving a background history of Indian Arrival Day, said on that historic day in 1845, there started a migration of people from one great civilisation to a world unknown and uncharted by them.

He said many who came, embarked on a journey of adventure, searching for personal advancement and for most of the migrants, their sojourn was transformed into a permanent separation from their homeland. “Their spirit of undaunted determination and sense of destiny has enabled them to carve an indelible mark of life in the Western Hemisphere,” he said. President Richards noted that the seeds that India sent have taken root, and great banyans have sprouted in the New World. TT, in particular, has benefited from the strengths of this ancient and noble civilisation he said. However, he noted that for those of the nationality who were dispossessed of homes, land and nationality, the road of civilisation is not an easy one and the journey is much more difficult.

Despite the struggles, President Richards said: “The unshaken foundation of the cultural heritage that no one could remove, has served this country well over the years.” He reminded the population that as it celebrates Indian Arrival Day in 2004, they were celebrating, not only the great achievements of the past but also a belief in the ever growing success of the community of East Indian origin in TT, and the knowledge that this success is able to transcend all division to build a great nation. “Let every one of us take this occasion to celebrate our national life. Let our youth in particular remember well, the lessons inherent in the arrival of our ancestors upon these shores and may they always strive to emulate the legacy of our fore parents from many lands who have exhibited spiritual, mental and physical fortitude in the face of less than perfect conditions,” he added.