Comments on: Coolies — How Britain Reinvented Slavery

By: Tili

Tili — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:24:02 +0000

I'm fijian indian i happen to be 7th or 8th generation i think though i'm not really familiar about my ancestory that much all i know is some came from UP,Bihar, nepal, bengladesh and afghanistan but where? why? what? Who? that i do not know and never will know but still have great pride in what my ancestors maintained and fought for however unlike islandgurl and some other indo-fijian guy who said they see themselves indian first then fijian i do not share that ideal with them. I see my birth country as my mothercountry first and i see myself fijian first then i see myself a hindu so does most of my family,friends and other fiji indian folk i know of.

As for malaysia's comment the term fijian can be argued when the english set sail to fiji and met the natives they refered the country as fiji cause they could not pronounce the term viti. Therefore the natives became regarded as fijian throughout their lives when the english put up a racist constitution where they made sure boths natives and indians were segregated by giving more rights to the natives known as fijian in the constitution so now it has become a debate should the term fijian be confined to natives of fiji only or the citizens living in fiji

By: Yogi

Yogi — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:13:34 +0000

‘Elitishit’ you should worship V.S. Naipaul. Obviously you didn’t read or understand history, migration then and now is based on one reason only, social advancement – financial etc. Also, India at that time, was governed by the British and all Indians were their subjects. Now, it might be legitimate to say, that those who left, were escaping that. It is important that people not attach the word ‘slave’ to ‘indentureship’ as most of the intellectuals/morons like to. It implies shame and really does not address the real issues. It is why non-profound thinkers like ‘Elitist’ and strains/viruses like him/her, can belch.

By: Yogi

Yogi — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:02:35 +0000

Wow! What stupidity. Elitist, I think you have a homosexual strain; you seem to be very brash/abrasive.

By: Geeta

Geeta — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:13:52 +0000

Lisa331,

You could not have said it better. I, too, am Indo-Guyanese, and I too am proud of the 'coolie' blood that runs in my veins; what I do not know now about my religion, when the time comes, I will learn. And I will do so in honor of the people who worked those fields and died on those boats, and despite the ignorant verbiage I read up higher that was posted by 'real Indians.'

By: James

James — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:46:31 +0000

Would be nice if that posted video worked. It is not working.

By: Harbeer

Harbeer — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:22:16 +0000

The worst part is that it's still going on, from Iraq to New Orleans.

Rajesh Harricharan--I am proud to be a deviant and a pervert. I thumb my nose in your general direction--and not just because I went to college.

By: Lisa331

Lisa331 — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:05:53 +0000

I am a born American. Born to Indo-Guyanese parents. My mother is Hindu. My father is Christian. My ancestors came from India to better their lives. My ancestors SURVIVED the voyages, the disease, the rapes, the beatings, the racist Europeans. My ancestors labored in sugar cane fields – work that no European could do – work that no former slave wanted to do. My ancestors lived in baracks where many lay sick and dying. Where there was not enough food to eat and no time to rest. There was only work. They were worked harder than slaves. Slaves were an investment. Indentured laborers were to be abused for all they were worth in the short time that they were contracted. My ancestors SURVIVED in a strange new country where they were treated as second-class citizens. My ancestors preserved their rural Indian heritage. We still use Hindi words and perform religious rituals based on what has been passed on from those brave souls that crossed the kala pani. My ancestors SURVIVED through adaptation and they managed to juggle the many cultures and influences around them. The history of my people – my indentured Indian people – is one of strength, courage, and resilience. I am proud to have coolie blood in my veins.

By: superbrown

superbrown — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 22:59:57 +0000

"It just so happens that due to the geographical proximity of the Caribbean to the western world, the population's facility with English, the lower pressure on their immigration quotas, and their generally higher income level (Trinidad's per capita is $10,400 vs. India's $720, after accounting for PPP), "

Umm... India's GDP per capita after adjusting for purchasing power is $4000. And Trinidad is relatively rich, not because of proximity to the west but also because of their oil reserves. Guyana is much poorer with a GDP per capita of about $5000 after purchasing power adjustments.

By: Rajesh Harricharan

Rajesh Harricharan — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 05:20:10 +0000

I was born in Trinidad.

Floridian is the most informed and person on this thread. Elitist, is generalising. All societies have different classes, not all the same.

We do not recognize caste in Trinidad. Most Indian origin people from Trinidad like myself are half caste. I am Kshatryia on my mother's side and Brahamin on my father's.

My nature is of the warrior and not just because I served in United States Navy and participated in Army ROTC in college. I am anti-Ghandi (the so called mahatma).

Nathuram Godse and Subhas Nataji Chandra Bose are my heroes. I see liberalisim and pacificisim as the worst of perversions and deviant behavior.

I realise there are many on this thred that have succumbed the the disease of liberalisim. This is something that can be blamed on the colleges and your professors and peers. After you are married with children you will grow out of it.

MOST IMPORTANT I am an American.

By: Denise

Denise — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 08:19:07 +0000

Great post, Amardeep. As a Trini who is Indo-Caribbean, I often encounter those who are unaware of the fact that Indo-Caribbeans exist and that their history is an integral part of Caribbean history.

One more thing…does anyone have the actual name of this documentary? And a direct link to download it?

Here is a link to download the http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8146344291595038205“>documentary . If you click Coolies – How Britain… on the related videos tab, the trailer for Guiana 1838 is displayed.