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ASPIRING MINDS FOUNDATION
Indian Arrival Day
Indian Arrival Day, celebrated on 30th May, commemorates the arrival of the first Indian Indentured labourers from India to Trinidad, in May 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack.
While this momentous event has been celebrated among the East Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago for many years, it was not until 1994 Prime Minister Patrick Manning declared that the 150th Anniversary would be a public holiday called Indian Arrival Day, but thereafter the holiday will be called Arrival Day that it was made an official public holiday.
It was called Arrival Day. In 1995 Basdeo Panday re-named Indian Arrival Day.
Indian Immigration to Trinidad spanned the period 1845-1917. During this period over 140,000 Indians were transported to the island. The journey was long and arduous and living conditions were deplorable. The Indians were subjected to abuse, poor food, and dangerous weather conditions. Nevertheless, these adverse conditions enabled them to form a bond that overcame their differences in language, caste, and regionalism.
After disembarking at Nelson Island, the arrivals were fed and rested for a couple of weeks and then sent to the various estates that had requested them previously.
When the Fatel Razack sailed into the Gulf of Paria in 1845, it brought not only a new labour force but also a new culture, because the Indians brought with them their food, dress, language, music, dance, religion, and customs.