Indenture Conference slated for Dec 2 at Columbia University, NY

On the occasion of 100th anniversary (1917-2017) of abolition of Indentureship from India, the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) is hosting an international conference to reflect on this historic event. Academics, community leaders and students are invited to make presentations and or to participate in the conference. The public is also invited to be a part this important conference which theme is “Indo-Caribbean Diaspora’s Achievements, Challenges and Prospects”. Attendance and participation is free.
The organizers (FIIDS) note that “the inspiring journey of the indentureds and their descendants that experienced much hardship and adversity during this period of indentureship (1838 to 1917) is worthy of reflection and commemoration”.
The descendants of the indentureds have established influential communities in the global Indian diaspora (in the Caribbean, North America, UK, Holland, etc.) retaining their Indian heritage (culture) and strong links with Mother India. The organizers (FIIDS) invite the public to be a part of this conference. Experts on the subject and leaders from the Caribbean, the diaspora and India will reflect on the theme of the conference. The conference provides an opportunity for the public from both the Indo-Caribbean and Indian (NRI) American communities to connect and discuss about the current state and future of the Indian Diaspora.
You can pre-register at the Event Page: http://fiids-usa.org/ny-indentured-indian-diaspora
Day: Saturday 2nd Dec 2017
Time: 1:30pm-5:30pm (checkin 12:30pm – Light Lunch – Snacks)
Venue: Davis Auditorium CEPSR, Columbia University, NY 530 W 120th St, New York, NY 10027, USA
Session 1: Historical Perspectives: Migration, Resistance, Settlement, and Adaptation
Session 2: Indians’ contribution to Community’s and Country’s Development.
Session 3: Contemporary Socio, Cultural, Political and Economic Issues/Challenges Facing Diaspora Indians
Session 4: Where and how do Indian Diasporas onward journey proceed from here? and its relations with India and Indian Diaspora
FIIDS WebSite: http://fiids-usa.org
FIIDS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FIIDSUSA/
Speakers:
Hon. Mr. Ravi Dev, Founder of Rise Organise and Rebuild Guyana (ROAR), an Indo-Guyanese political party, and ex-Member of Parliament of Guyana
Dr. Vishnu Bisram, pollster and political analyst.
Dr. Somdat Mahabir, Research Scientist and Scholar. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Dr. Satnarine Balkaransingh, Author of book “The Shaping of The Culture: Rituals and Festivals in Trinidad” and PhD from he University of Trinidad and Tobago
Prof. Dr. Lomarsh Roopnarine, Jackson State University, MS, Latin American and Caribbean History and Guyana Times Newspaper Columnist.
Dr Kumar Mahabir,Anthropologist (Ph.D. University of Florida) & Assistant Professor (University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT))
Prof. Yash Pathak, Professor and Associate Dean at University of South Florida, Founding Director of International Center for Cultural Studies and
Ms. Karen Dipnarine, Mass Communications Professional and Cofounder The Green Brain Initiative
For Information: please email khanderao@fiids-usa.org
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (501 c 3 FIIDS-USA) is an Indo American think tank for policies studies, awareness and advocacy on issues and policies related to IndoAmericans, Indo-US Relations and Indian Diaspora.