College of Science, Technology

& Applied Arts of Trinidad & Tobago

ASSIGNMENT COVER PAGE

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: ARTICLE REVIEW

COURSE CODE: CLTR 120

COURSE TITLE: INTROD. TO THE CULTURE OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

CRN: 18502

LECTURER’S NAME: DR. RADICA MAHASE

STUDENT NAMES: ZAINAB SALAM

STUDENT ID # 00059066
THE IMPACT OF THE INDIAN IMMIGRANTS ON COLONIAL TRINIDAD SOCIETY

Author(s): MARIANNE D. RAMESAR

Source: Caribbean Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 1, East Indians in the Caribbean (March, 1976),

pp. 5-18

The Indian immigrants left a lasting footprint on Colonial Trinidad and now in recent times,

the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Such impact was evident on the physical and social

structure on its society. The author presents the many contributions, as well as problems of

the Indian immigrants and their assimilation into a new environment; creating a unique

culture embedded with their previous way of life. This article is expository and employs data

as well as a great deal of research to give evidence to the Indian immigrants’ position in

Trinidad. This article, however, gives insufficient details as to their position or continued

contributions into present day society of Trinidad.

The first part of this articles deals with the influence by the Indians in relation to the Island’s

dimension and structure. The author proposed that due to the immigration of Indian

immigrants the population had increased. Trinidad which more than tripled in size during

the half-century between 1851 and increased by a further 22% during the decade 1901-11

(Ramesar, M. D. 1976).

This influx of Indian immigrant changed the composition of a society that was mainly African

and European descent to become the largest ethnic group in present day Trinidad and

Tobago. Jack Harewood attest to the increase in population, he states, during 1891—1901

net immigration contributed 77 per cent and 66 per cent respectively of total population

growth (The population of Trinidad and Tobago P.p 27).

The Indian immigrations caused a substantial growth in the population which impacted on

the present population of Trinidad and Tobago- East Indian comprise of 35.4% in

comparison to African 34.2% according to the Index Mundi.

The arrival of the Indian immigrants created a new ethnic group, isolated and far from

integrating into their new environment. However, they met a society already divided which

can be seen as an underlying factor to their integration progress. As the author states, “an

existing social pattern could be detected in 19th Century Trinidad, deriving mainly from the

master-slave, black-white relationships of slavery” ( Ramesar, M. D. 1976). Additionally, the

Indian immigrants’ integration progress can be attributed to their own social and religious

values that they brought with them from India- Hinduism.

Hinduism and its hierarchical system laid the foundation of social interaction between the

immigrants and the rest of the population with regards to marriages and cohabitation.

Similarly, with the Indian Muslims who to a lesser extent married within their religious faith.

However, the question of whether intermarriages is a good indicator of integration should

have been examined. According to Miri Song 1, in Milton Gordon’s (1964) book Assimilation

in American Life, he states: “In some cases intermarriage can be seen as the outcome of

integration” (Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies). Thus, if there existed integration in the

society amongst these two major groups then there would have been more mixed

marriages.

Presently, in Trinidad this practice has continued with the exception of a few. Yogendra

Malik’s (1971) examined the attitudes toward interracial marriages in Trinidad and Tobago (as

1
Professor of Sociology- Director of Research, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
cited in Caari, pp. 31-32). This study proved a continued disapproval to interracial marriages and

as such the question of assimilation is still debated.

However, it is this same lack of assimilation into the society that has led to a country vast in

cultural diversity. Centuries have past and their native dress, customs as well as their cuisine

forms the uniqueness of Trinidad and Tobago.

Another focal point deals with the social impact of the Indians relating to their function on

the plantation. With the implementation of opportunities like land grants and independent

purchases, they became ambitious. They looked towards residing outside of the estates

similar to the creoles and with this economic advancement and political aspirations friction

between the two groups increased. A polarized society increased!

However, while this segregation could be attributed to the aforementioned, the treatment

of the indentured Indians was also a major cause for their lack of assimilation and animosity.

“The degrading conditions that the Indians lived under, and the superior economic and

social position of the Creole led to a "process of voluntary segregation". [Oxaal 1968: 44]

There was racial stereotyping between these two groups which has led to race relations

being a contentious issue even until present day Trinidad.

The author links the indentured Indians to an important role in the economy; the increase of

sugar cane production which was on a decline due to emancipation and as such creating a

diminished work force. The Indians contributed to the both sugar and cocoa production with

a major role being in the sugar industry.

Agriculture was the most substantial sector in the economy which continued to be the main

source of income for the indentured Indians. “Their production of food crops, especially rice

and vegetables, had a marked effect in reducing Trinidad's expenditure on these imports.”
With the decline in sugar, new crops were cultivated such as cocoa, rice and food crops as a

form of economic development. Similarly, Sherry Ann Singh argues that the large-scale

purchase of Crown lands by Indians resulted in a marked increase in the local cultivation of

sugar cane, cocoa, rice and other food crops, and advanced the development of the

agricultural sector on the whole (Singh, S. A. 2005).

Indo Trinbagonians2 are no longer identified with only farming, they have entered into all

areas of work force. In recent time two had the honor of being the Prime Minister of

Trinidad and Tobago - Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Basdeo Panday.

“On May 24, 2010, Kamla Persad-Bissessar made history in Trinidad and Tobago when the country

elected her to be the first woman prime minister (IDRC Research Report 106430-001 Women’s

Political). They therefore played a major role in the continuity in Trinidad’s economy

prosperity. They purchased Crown Lands which was utilized for rice and cocoa production

and the majority for cane. By their continued production in these various crops it can be

said that they contributed to the country’s GDP and reduced export expenditure.

The prosperity of present day Trinidad and Tobago can be attributed to all the various ethnic

groups. Due to this diversity, Trinidad and Tobago has advanced economically and socially as

an independent nation. The offspring of the Indentured Indians continues to make their

footprint in the economy, culture and social contributions as nation builders.

2
Indian immigrants’ descendants in Trinidad and Tobago
References:

Chapter 2: Class Formation and Labour History. (1996). In Politics of Labour & Development

in Trinidad (pp. 43–78). University of the West Indies Press. Retrieved from

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Labour Committee Report, 1906, p. ix: Ramesar, Marianne: "Patterns of Settlement in Trinidad 1851-

1900." 7th Conference of Caribbean Historians, Mona 1975 pp. 24, 30.

(n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.indexmundi.com/trinidad_and_tobago/demographics_profile.html.

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Ramesar, M. D. (1976). The Impact of the Indian Immigrants on Colonial Trinidad Society.

Caribbean Quarterly, 22(1), 5–18. doi: 10.1080/00086495.1976.11829266

Singh, S. A. (2005). Hinduism and the State in Trinidad. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 6(3), 353–

365. doi: 10.1080/14649370500169987

Song, Miri. (2009). Is Intermarriage a Good Indicator of Integration? Journal of Ethnic and

Migration Studies - J ETHN MIGR STUD. 35. 331-348. 10.1080/13691830802586476.

THE POPULTION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAG - CICRED. (n.d.). Retrieved from

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