Despite Continued Racism With Defacing Of Komagata Maru Memorial – Indo-Canadian Community Hopes For A Bright Future On The Tragic Ship’s 100th Anniversary!
“The Komagata Maru tragedy is a dark chapter in our Canadian history. The Prof. Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation has been lobbying for an official apology in the House of Commons from the federal government for 18 years now. It is only with an official apology in the House of Commons the community can begin the healing process,” Prof. Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation said in a press release.
By R. Paul Dhillon
VANCOUVER – While racism continues to haunt the ghosts of Komagata Maru, who suffered the most extreme racism during Canada’s institutionalized racist past and many who paid with their lives upon the ship’s return to India, the Indo-Canadian community members want to spread nothing but hope as they mark the 100th anniversary of the doomed ship’s arrival.
People like Harbhajan Gill of the Komagata Maru Heritage Foundation should be commended for staying positive and stressing hope during this time of remembrance, especially in light of the ongoing racism and insult of defacing the monument.
Gill and his group raised their own money from the community to put together a brochure of our history since the ship’s arrival and unceremonious departure from Vancouver. They proudly unveiled their brochure and Canada Post’s commemorative stamp in Vancouver on Thursday afternoon aboard a Harbour Cruise ship which was named the Komagata Maru for the special day and had hundreds of community members, including students from Khalsa school.
Political and community leaders gathered at Simon Fraser University’s Vancouver campus Friday morning to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Komagata Maru.
The Komagata Maru incident is one of the most infamous episodes in Vancouver’s early history. On May 23, 1914, the Komagata Maru, a Japanese charter ship, brought 376 migrants from Punjab, India – almost all British citizens – to Vancouver. Officials refused to let them disembark and after two months the ship was forcibly sent back to India where British India police in Calcutta shot dead 19 of the passengers.
“The Komagata Maru is a dark chapter in the history of our country,” said Minister of State (Multiculturalism) Tim Uppal.
“Although there is still work to be done, Canada has come a long way since 1914. One century after the Komagata Maru incident we have cause to celebrate the progress we have made in forging a truly multi-cultural society.”
British Columbia Premier Christy Clark was represented by Minister of Advanced Education Amrik Virk, and provided a video greeting to those in attendance.
“One hundred years ago, the Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver with 376 people on board. They came to our province with a dream of a better life, but they weren’t given that opportunity,” said Clark.
“This terrible act of racism is an important reminder to us all today; we must value, respect and welcome all immigrants and refugees who seek to build their lives here in B.C. They make our province better, they build communities, they enrich our culture and strengthen our economy. We have learned a lot over the last century, and we must never, never forget this important lesson.”
SFU is one of eight Metro Vancouver institutions which have collaborated to mark the 100th anniversary of the incident with a series entitled Komagata Maru 1914-2014: Generations, Geographies and Echoes. At Friday’s event, a video detailing the journey, and produced for the series, premiered.
“The last line of the video speaks of the opportunity we now have to reclaim and retell the story of Canada, in a manner that acknowledges the history of racism and exclusion represented by the Komagata Maru,” said SFU President Andrew Petter.
“As we are gathered together today, 100 years later, I see this event as providing such an opportunity. In commemorating the Komagata Maru incident, we not only recall past wrongs, we also renew our commitment to celebrating diversity and protecting human rights.”
In 2012, the SFU Library, with support from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, launched www.komagatamarujourney.ca, an interactive website and digital archive that chronicles the Komagata Maru incident, as well as events preceding and following its journey. The website has helped to inform thousands of individuals and school children about its historical impact since its unveiling two years ago.
Prof. Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation of Canada also marked the 100th Anniversary of the Komagata Maru Tragedy with a Candlelight Vigil on Friday at 7:00 pm at Surrey’s Holland Park.
“The Komagata Maru tragedy is a dark chapter in our Canadian history. The Prof. Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation has been lobbying for an official apology in the House of Commons from the federal government for 18 years now. It is only with an official apology in the House of Commons the community can begin the healing process,” they said in a press release.
