Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Indo-Trinidadians
)
Indo-Trinidadians and Tobagonians
Indian diaspora

Indo-Trinidadians and Tobagonians or Indian-Trinidadians and Tobagonians are people of Indian origin who are nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, whose ancestors came from India and the wider subcontinent beginning in 1845 during the period of colonization.

Indo-Trinidadians and Tobagonians are a subgroup of

Vindhyas. However, some Indians may trace their ancestry to other parts of South Asia, notably southern India. Indians first arrived in Trinidad and Tobago as indentured laborers from India through the Indian indenture system from 1845 till 1917, and some Indians and other South Asians, along with their families, later came as entrepreneurs, businesspeople, religious leaders, doctors, engineers, and other professional occupations beginning in the mid-20th century and continuing till present day. Some Indians from many other Caribbean nations, such as Guyana, Grenada, Martinique, and Saint Croix
, also immigrated to Trinidad and Tobago.

Indo-Trinidadians and Tobagonians are the largest ethnic group in Trinidad and Tobago, identified by the official census, about 35.43% of the population in 2011.[1]

History

Early East Indian indentured laborers.

In his book Perspectives on the Caribbean: A Reader In Culture, History, and Representation, Philip W. Scher cites figures by Steven Vertovec, Professor of Anthropology; Of 94,135 Indian immigrants to Trinidad, between 1874 and 1917, 50.7 percent were from the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, 24.4 percent hailed from

Kashmiris, Dogras, Punjabis, Marathis, Odias, Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Madheshis, Parsees, Assamese, Newars, Tharus and Khas who came via the Port of Calcutta.[4][5]

Many were people who were escaping poverty in India and seeking employment offered by the British for jobs either as indentured labourers, workers or educated servicemen, primarily, between 1845 and 1917.[6][7]

The demand for Indian indentured labourers increased dramatically after the abolition of slavery in 1834. They were sent, sometimes in large numbers, to plantation colonies producing high-value crops such as sugar in Africa and the Caribbean.

Religion

Further information:
Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago
Religion of Indo-Trinidadians and Tobagonians
Religion Census 1921[a] Census 1931[8] Census 1970[9] Census 2000[10] Census 2011[11]
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Hinduism 99,564 82 94,125 67.88 228,758 61.24 245,459 55.00 232,104 49.54
Islam 19,427 16 20,747 14.96 57,105 15.29 57,042 12.78 54,543 11.64
Presbyterianism 6,071 5 10,335 7.45 34,844 9.33 31,277 7.00 26,631 5.68
Roman Catholicism 4,857 4 8,469 6.11 33,312 8.92 31,823 7.13 30,350 6.48
Anglicanism 2,428 2 3,946 2.85 6,192 1.66 3,035 0.68 2,637 0.56
Other Christian denominations - - 433 0.31 191 0.05 34,491 7.73 58,782 12.55
Zoroastrianism 607 0.5 278 0.2 - - - - - -
Buddhism 364 0.3 119 0.09 - - - - - -
Sikhism - - - - - - - - 300 0.06
Trinidad Orisha - - - - - - - - 1,466 0.31
Rastafari - - - - - - - - 97 0.02
Other - - 215 0.16 13,136 3.52 35,540 7.96 27,210 5.81
Not Stated - - - - - - 3,498 0.78 29,518 6.30
None - - - - - - 4,108 0.92 4,887 1.04
Total 121,420 138,667 373,538 446,273 468,524

Religious Makeup of Indo-Trinidadians (2011)

  Hinduism (49.54%)
  Christianity (25.27%)
  Islam (11.64%)
  Not Stated (6.3%)
  Other (5.87%)
  None (1.05%)
  Sikhism (0.06%)

According to the most recent census (2011) conducted in Trinidad and Tobago, Hinduism is the religion followed by a plurality of Indo-Trinidadians. The breakdown of religious affiliation for Indo-Trinidadians is as follows[11] -

  1. Hinduism – 49.54%
  2. Islam – 11.64%
  3. Pentecostalism/Evangelicalism/Full Gospel – 9.67%
  4. Roman Catholicism – 6.48%
  5. Not Stated – 6.30%
  6. Other – 5.81%
  7. Congregationalism
    – 5.68%
  8. None – 1.04%
  9. Spiritual Baptist – 0.96%
  10. Seventh-day Adventist Church – 0.91%
  11. Jehovah's Witnesses – 0.73%
  12. Anglicanism – 0.56%
  13. Trinidad Orisha – 0.31%
  14. Other Baptists – 0.21%
  15. Sikhism – 0.06%[12]
  16. Methodism – 0.05%
  17. Rastafari – 0.02%
  18. Moravian Church – 0.007%

Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago are represented by several sects, organizations and entities the largest of which is the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, a Sanātanī Hindu organization. Other Hindu organizations and sects include SWAHA International, Arya Samaj, Chinmaya Mission, Kabir panth, ISKCON, the Sathya Sai Baba movement, Shirdi Sai Baba movement, Ramanandi Sampradaya, Seunariani (Sieunarini/Siewnaraini/Shiv Narayani), Aughar (Aghor/Owghur), Kali Mai (Madrasi), Murugan (Kaumaram), Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (Radha Madhav), Ganapathi Sachchidananda movement, Divine Life Society, Brahma Kumaris, and Blue Star.[13][14]

A majority of Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian Muslims are

Shia and Ahmadiyya minorities. The major Muslim organisation representing Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago is the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association (ASJA). Other Islamic organizations include the Trinidad Muslim League, Darul Uloom, Ummah T&T, the Muslim Federation, and the Tackveeyatul Islamic Association.[15]

The Sikh community in Trinidad and Tobago, numbering at about 300, consists of the descendants of the few Punjabis who came during the indentureship period, Punjabi Sikhs who came in the twentieth and twenty-first century, and Sindhi Hindus and Punjabi Hindus who also came in the twentieth and twenty-first century and who are, in addition to being Hindu, Nanakpanthis, followers of the Sikh Guru Nanak. The Sikhs have a gurdwara (temple) in Tunapuna dating back to 1929.[16][17]

Politics

Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian Political Leaders
Basdeo Panday
Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Rudranath Capildeo
Bhadase Sagan Maraj

Most Indo-Trinidadians have traditionally given their political support to parties opposed to the

African-Creole party.[18] Voting patterns amongst Indo-Trinidadians have also been influenced by religion where, for periods of time Muslim Indo-Trinidadians and non-Presbyterian Christian Indo-Trinidadians supported the PNM because the prevailing parties for Indo-Trinidadians – the PDP, DLP, and ULF were felt to be Hindu and Presbyterian Indian dominated parties.[18] With the advent of the NAR and then the UNC
this polarization by religion has been on the decline however its existence is still felt with the UNC fielding a Muslim candidate in every election for the San Juan/Barataria seat since 1995 owing to the presence of a large Indo-Trinidadian Muslim population within this constituency.

Notable Indo-Trinidadian politicians include:

Culture

Indo–Trinidadian and Tobagonians have retained their distinctive heritage and culture, while also functioning in a multicultural society. The

South Asian languages of their ancestors have largely been lost, although a number of these words have entered the Trinidadian vernacular. Indian movies, music, and cuisine have entered the mainstream culture of Trinidad and Tobago. Chutney and chutney soca music rivals calypso and soca music during the Carnival
season.

Holidays and festivals

Muslim holidays
are widely celebrated.

Cuisine

Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian cuisine is mostly derived from the

Indian-South Asia
cuisines, which is mostly based on Punjabi, Rajasthani, Mughlai, Gujarati, Bengali, Udupi, and Tamil cuisines. This "mainstream" Indian cuisine was brought to the country by more recent immigrants and is termed as East Indian cuisine in Trinidad and Tobago and is contrasted from the local Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian or local-Indian cuisine.

Breakfast

A traditional Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian breakfast consists of sada

plantains
.

Street foods

Food stalls in Debe

Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian foods like

bandhaniya chutneys. It is one of the most popular breakfast foods eaten on the islands, however, it is eaten at any time throughout the day. Another Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian street food that is popular is roti, which consists of roti (usually paratha or dhalpuri) that wraps curried vegetables, curried channa (chickpeas) and aloo (potatoes), curried chicken, curried shrimp, curried goat, curried duck, curried conchs, or any other spicy fillings. The town of Debe in southern Trinidad is a popular destination for these street foods.[23]

Festival foods

Diwali meal consisting of curry channa and aloo, curried mango, bhaji, karhi, rice and paratha.

Traditional

gujiya, gulgula, roat, kheer (sweet rice), laddu, and jalebi. It is traditionally served on a sohari (Calathea lutea) leaf.[24]

Special

halwa
.

Condiments

Kuchela jars in a supermarket.

Indo-Trinidadians and Tobagonians accompany their meals with various condiments; these can include pepper sauces, chutneys and pickles and are often homemade.

Pepper sauces are made by using

bitter melon, or daikon
(murai). Mother-in-law is another popular condiment which is a coarsely chopped spicy medley of peppers, pimentos, carrots, bitter melon, and other spices.

pommecythère, the mango version being most popular. Other version of achars are made from mango, pommecythère, tamarind, amla, lemon, lime, chayote, chalta, and green apple
.

Sweets and Desserts

gujiya
, and batasa.

Dance

Bollywood dancing, and chutney dancing are also popular Indian dance forms.[26]

Music

Main article: Indo-Caribbean music

Theatre

Rasleela (Krishnaleela), the drama about the life of the Hindu deity Krishna, is popular around the time of Krishna Janmashtami.[28][29][30]

Influence on Trinidad and Tobago

The Indian–South Asian influence is very much noticeable in

Trinidadian English and Trinidadian Hindustani
and they incorporate more Hindustani vocabulary into their Trinidadian English dialect than other ethnic groups in the country.

Notable persons

Main article: List of Indo-Trinidadians and Tobagonians

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Percentages add up to more than 100% because many converts to Christianity answered twice as they still identified with their former religions of Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, or Zoroastrianism

References

  1. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2008-01-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ a b c "Indo-Caribbean Times December 2007 - Kidnapping - Venezuela". Scribd. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  3. ^ Vertovec, 1992
  4. ^ "Doc.pdf".
  5. JSTOR 23050197
    .
  6. ^ Under colonial rule, India's population provided the British Empire with a ready source of cheap and mobile labourers. Many Indians agreed to become indentured labourers to escape the widespread poverty and famine in the 19th century. Some travelled alone; others brought their families to settle in the colonies they worked in.
  7. ^ "Indian indentured labourers - The National Archives". Nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Religious diversity in the Indian-Trinidadian Community". www.trinbagopan.com.
  9. ^ "c-c50.pdf" (PDF).
  10. ^ "2000 Census Data - Central Statistical Office".
  11. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-08. Retrieved 2015-07-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "The Sikhs of Trinidad".
  13. ^ "doc.pdf" (PDF).
  14. ^ "Hindu sects in Trinidad and Tobago – Indo-Caribbean Publications".
  15. ^ "Mosques (Masjid) and Muslim Organizations in Trinidad and Tobago | discover-tt.net". Archived from the original on 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  16. ^ "Sikhism in Trinidad - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia".
  17. ^ "Sikh Channel in Trinidad - Episode 01". YouTube.
  18. ^ a b "Democratic Labor" (PDF).
  19. ^ "Festival of the GIRMITIYAS Arrival Day | Indo American News". Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  20. ^ "Traditional Tomato Choka Recipe". Zen Health. 2019-07-08. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
  21. ^ Mohan, Neki (June 28, 2015). "Street food of Trinidad, Tobago gains popularity in South Florida". WPLG. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  22. ^ "Food in true Trini style". Barbados Today. September 2, 2017. Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  23. ^ "Saheena, Baiganee and Kachori on the Debe Doubles Strip in T&T | Foodie Finds". 10 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Divali: Destination Trinidad and Tobago | Tours, Holidays, Vacations and Travel Guide".
  25. ^ Allen-Agostini, Lisa (1 September 2008). "Rhythms of our people". Caribbean Beat (93). Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  26. ^ a b Gooptar, Primnath. "THE FILMI INFLUENCE ON EAST INDIAN DRESS AND DANCE IN TRINIDAD". www.academia.edu. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  27. ^ "TASSA THUNDER : Folk Music from India to the Caribbean". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21 – via www.youtube.com.
  28. ^ "Ramleela | National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago". 8 September 2017. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  29. ^ "BRIEF HISTORY OF RAMLEELA IN T&T – NRCTT Inc". Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  30. ^ Guardian, Trinidad. "Ramleela on the rise". www.guardian.co.tt.
  31. ^ "Legacy of our East Indian Ancestors, Names of Places in Trinidad of East Indian Origin - The Indian Caribbean Museum of Trinidad and Tobago". Icmtt.org. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indo-Trinidadian_and_Tobagonian&oldid=1218637534"