"Saint from Trinidad' to have a home in Delhi

07-05-2002, 07:52 PM

>From: "Ashwini Kumar"
>Subject: Girmitia in Hindu, New Delhi >Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 17:12:39 -0400 >
>Subject: Girmitia in Hindu, New Delhi >> >>Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 20
June 2002 >> >>"Saint from Trinidad' to have a home in Delhi >>By Lalit K. Jha
>> >>New Delhi, June 19: The legendary hero from Trinidad >>and Tobago,Siewdass
Sadhu will soon be immortalized along with >>other people of Indian origin
(PIOs) who left this country as >>indentured labourers during the British rule
at a permanent museum >>displaying their contribution and sacrifices slated to
come up here >>in >>the Capital. >> >>The Siewdass Sadhu Cultural Center for
Girmitia Countries - as it >>would >>be called - will also facilitate academic
research in this field >>besides >>being a nerve-center for different cultural
and social activities. >>Girmitias is the term given to PIOs taken as
indentured laboures >>through >>ships by Britishers to countries like
Mauritius,Trinidad and >>Tobago, >Guyana, >>Surinam, Fiji, South Africa and
Jamaica. >> >>A committee headed by Baleshwar Aggarwal, who was a member of the
>>L.M. >>Singhvi Committee on PIOs constituted by the Union Government, was
>>set >>up here on Monday to work out various modalities for this very
>>purpose. >>The Union Culture and Tourism Ministry is learnt to have offered
>>help in >>setting up a permanent center for the Girmitias in the Capital. >>
>>Top on the agenda is to establish a memorial including a statue in >>the
>>Capital in honour of Siewdass Sadhu, who contributed significantly >>for
>>the protection of Indian culture despite several odds in Trinidad. >> >>"It
will be a fitting tribute to the saint from Trinidad in his >>centenary year,
"Mr. Aggarwal said, Siewdass Sadhu is known for >>single-handedly constructing
a temple in the sea by transporting >>stones >>on bicycle after colonial rulers
not only demolished his existing >>temple >>but also prevented him from building
one on the mainland. He was >>jailed >>and imposed fine of 400 dollars for
violating the orders. The >>temple >>has since then been reconstructed by
>>Government of Trinidad and Tobago and is a thriving pilgrimage >>center. >>
>>"Today, Siewdass Sadhu is a symbol of determination and sacrifice.
>>Unfortunately very little is know about the sacrifice of our >>Girmitia
>>brothers and sisters and their glorious struggle in preserving >>India's
>>cultural heritage", said Swami Aksharananda from Guyana who was >>here
>>canvassing for the Cultural Centre in Delhi. >> >>"The contribution of
hardworking Girmitias has been significant in >>all >>these countries. They
underwent extreme hardship but have managed >>to >>preserve our cultural and
civilization", said Mr. Singhvi, who >>attended >>the meeting. >> >>Other
objectives of the Centre include setting up a residential >>school >>for
children of these countries as well as offer correspondence >>courses >>and
facilitate their higher education, establish similar memorials >>for >>other
great PIOs and develop a network with Girmitia countries for >>providing
facilities besides enabling them to find their roots and >>reunite with their
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