Ariti Jankie
Former Express
South Bureau editor, Phoolo Danny-Maharaj, a national award winner added to the
Williamsville Festival Committee’s celebration of Indian Arrival Day last
Friday when she picked up one of the two prestigious awards this year for her
sterling contribution in the media and community service.
Radiant in a blue
salwar-kameez (Indian traditional wear) she took the microphone to congratulate
the hardworking committee and express her sentiments on the occasion.
Phoolo with members of the Williamsville Festival Committee
She said, “Today
marks 169 years since the first of many ships arrived with our ancestors. Their
courage to leave India, their janma bhoomi (birthland) to venture into the
unknown was God’s plan in creating our
destiny. Even those who were forced
to board the ships and cross the Kala Paani, had a place in His plan.”
She said that as
descendants of the indentured labourers, members of the Indo-Trinidadian
community were the real beneficiaries of their struggles and sacrifice.
“Slavery had ended
when they arrived, but indentureship was nothing less thana new enslavement. They
were called docile and illiterate because they were not understood. As worshippers
of Dharti Mata (Mother earth), their work became their worship. They found
comfort with the earth - many times watering the cane fields with their tears
and praying that their descendants would be more fortunate. We are the reasons they went without many
things, to save every cent to give us a better life. Their prayers and faith in
God, their culture took them through dark
difficult times. Beyond the exploitation and ill-treatment by
the colonial masters, they looked towards the light at the end of the tunnel. That light was not the flambeau,
candle, deya or the Home Sweet Home lamp. That light
was their descendants – their children, grand-great grand ….…We were their hope, their light. They toiled
for us and we should never forget their sacrifices…we must continue to show our
gratitude.”
A mother of two of
Iere Village, Princes Town she said that Indian Arrival Day gives the community
an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the arrival of their ancestors, their
achievements and to rejoice in the emergence from the bowels of the cane fields.
“We should not be
ashamed of being children of indentured labourers. Our ancestors have done us
proud,” she said.
She noted that as
Trinidadians (Trinbagonians) and like other peoples who arrived, the people of
Indian origin have achieved in every field – literature, politics, science,
business, music, and many more areas.
Phoolo and Seeta Persad, sister of Ariti
“We must continue
the journey of our ancestors and contribute to create a better T&T and a brighter world for our
descendants. We owe it to our children, because soon, we too would
become ancestors. And our descendants would want to know what we did for them.”
She said that the
award provided encouragement to her to continue her writings at a different level.
Danny-Maharaj went
on to say that the occasion was bitter-sweet as she lost her role model, her
Naani (maternal grandmother) 22 years ago on May 30.
“Even in my
sadness, I feel her spirit in my veins prodding me onwards. So too, the spirit
of our ancestors live within us – in our way of life, in our thoughts, culture,
celebrations and prayers – whatever we do is a reflection of what we learned
from them. The mantle is now on our shoulders. Although, Indian Arrival Day is
celebrated once a year, every day, we should thank to our ancestors for setting
a foundation for us in this beautiful island,” she concluded.
