An evening on “History of Indentured Labour” was hosted at the Umana Yana on June 13 when Indian writer Leela Gujadhur Sarup launched the 14th volume of her book, “Colonial Immigration 19th – 20th Century”.
Leela Gujadhur Sarup, author of Colonial Immigration 19th -20th Century explaining an depiction of a monument in India that she presented to President Bharrat Jagdeo during a courtesy call, on the Head of State at the Office of the President
Born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, Sarup spends the greater part of her time researching and compiling a series of works on colonial immigration during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The book emphasises the passage of Indian indentured labourers to the Caribbean.
At the event, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, said Sarup is much more than a historian. He pointed out that she is the managing director of Dr Sarup’s Pest Control and she is also a beautician who has created a line of botanical cosmetics called “Herbelle”. Sarup has also set up one of the largest integrated Angora rabbit breeding farms in Asia.
At the presentation, the 73-year-old historian explained how the indentured labourers from India were brought to the West Indies.
The first ship bringing workers to Guyana from India landed in Berbice.
In the report of 1872, when British colonies wanted to know about the Indian immigrants from all over the world, Governor Scott, from Guyana at that time, said: “Indians don’t have the habit of drinking. They do not sit idle, and they care for their children.” To this, Sarup said Guyana has maintained this culture.
“You have maintained your culture here, but not language. In Suriname, people speak Hindustani, but in Guyana, Indians speak only English.”
Sarup has been researching immigrants since she was 18.
She said there will be about 10 to 12 more books in her series on immigrants. Her research started when she tried to find out about her ancestors who lived in Mauritius.
A collection of Sarup’s work was handed over to the University of Guyana (UG) at the launch. Deputy Librarian at the University of Guyana, Gloria Cummings, collected the books on behalf of that institution.
In accepting the books, the deputy librarian said, “I cannot begin to tell you how delighted I am. We have been presented with a mini library.”
She further added, “We have so much information on immigrants, from our point of view; and to have this just completes the circle.” Before arriving in Guyana, Sarup visited Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Her next proposed project is a museum, which will be located in the outskirts of her hometown, Kolkata.
