The story of the arrival of the Fatel Razack at the Port of Spain harbour on May 30th, 1845, and of what happened thereafter, is one of the most powerful and inspirational stories in our nation’s history. It is a story, not just of survival, but of triumph over every imaginable adversity. It teaches us what can be achieved when we persevere and do not give up.

The 225 passengers who disembarked from the Fatel Razack that day could hardly have known the transformative impact their arrival would have on the country. They came as immigrants, with the understanding that they would have the opportunity to return to India after five years of indentureship. Happily for Trinidad and Tobago, very few returned. The vast majority of them elected to remain in the country. And their courageous decision changed the course of our history, forever.

Today, 180 years later, we reflect, with respect and gratitude, on the experiences, sacrifices and enduring legacy of those fearless men and women. Their journey across the Kala-Pani was perilous, and we can imagine that loneliness and uncertainty must have threatened to overwhelm them, even before they arrived. We can also imagine that many of them might well have stepped off of that ship with downcast hearts. Yet, once on land, their indomitable spirit revived. Even though they had no temples, mosques or churches where they could seek solace, and even though their landlords, the colonial British Raj, discouraged social gatherings and subtly frustrated any effort at worship, they refused to languish and die. Instead, they held firm to their principles and beliefs, and devoted themselves to changing difficulties into opportunities. The result has been one of the greatest lessons in resilience that our country has ever witnessed.

Rising above discrimination, injustices, and harsh working and living conditions, they worked hard and silently, slowly building themselves into a powerful and productive force the likes of which, even to the most optimistic observer at the time, must not have seemed remotely possible when first they dragged their tired bodies off of the ship by which they were transported here. Shored up by their rich traditions, deeply held values and aspirations for a better life, they ushered in a period which would leave an indelible mark on the cultural, social, demographic and economic landscape of our nation.

On Indian Arrival Day we celebrate their rich and lasting legacy. We celebrate their courage and their resilience, and the values and traditions that sustained them throughout their years of hardship and uncertainty. And we thank them for safeguarding and passing down the rich cultural heritage which has enriched and strengthened the fabric of Trinbagonian society beyond measure.

This year, let us use the occasion of Indian Arrival Day to pay tribute to their legacy, not just by expressions of gratitude and congratulations, but also by the way in which we choose to live, daily. Let us commit to leading lives that exemplify the values they worked so hard to preserve. Let us undertake to do our part to contribute to the growth and development of the country that they worked so hard to build. Let us dedicate ourselves to completing the work that they began of creating a more respectful and unified society.

The story of Indian indentureship teaches us what can be achieved when individuals choose to commit to a vision greater than themselves. This Indian Arrival Day, let us choose to commit ourselves to the vision of a greater Trinidad and Tobago.

I extend best wishes to all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago for a joyous and a reflective Indian Arrival Day.

Photos Courtesy Jeff Mayers.