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Historical overview
The 44-metre-long Mathura Street in Port of Spain is one of many streets that were named after the places from which the first settlers of Indian descent migrated. Even today, every other residential street in Trinidad and Tobago is filled with the savoury aromas of bhaji, locally known as callaloo, and the name in itself represents the sagas of Indo-Caribbean fusion.
But how did the Indian Bhaji find its way to a small twin-island nation, all the way in the Caribbean Sea? But the most important question that arises out of this is how it affects us now. Well, the historical connection between India and Trinidad and Tobago dates back to the 19th century, during the British colonial era. At that time, both India, a South Asian country, and Trinidad and Tobago, a small Caribbean nation, were part of British colonies. Trinidad and Tobago was mainly used by the Britishers for its sugar and chocolate mills. But after the abolition of slavery in 1845, this British colony started to struggle to find cheap labour as the newly freed African slaves refused to work in horrid conditions anymore.
Whereas back in India, the situation of the poor peasants was worse. There were crop failures, heavy taxation, and cruel landlords. Those who could, started to migrate to industrial cities like Lucknow and Kanpur in search of work. At this point, the British realised they could utilise cheap Indian labourers at their mills.
The poor peasants, either in helplessness or with coercion, were registered as contract labourers at the Trinidad and Tobago agency in Calcutta. Most of them were from the United Provinces (present-day UP and Bihar).
On May 30, 1845, which today is celebrated as Indian Arrival Day, Fatel Razak left the ports of Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) towards the Gulf of Paria with 225 Indian immigrants on board.
After a three-month long journey, the passengers were quarantined to check for malaria or tuberculosis. Out of the 225, only 213 managed to survive this banal journey. To their relief, they were given permission to use a neighbouring island, Lanigan, for cremation and burial rituals for those who couldn't survive. The fact that it was close to the water, which was a prerequisite for Hindu cremation rituals, was important, and this was the start of cultural integration in India in the Caribbean.
Today, those 213 migrants have created a huge Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago. Currently there are about 37% of the pure Indian descent population in Trinidad and Tobago. This huge community has still maintained strong connections to their Indian roots while also influencing the culture of their new home.
Why should we care?
In the past decade, India has established itself as an emerging global power, the 'voice of the global south' in this relatively new multipolar world. To maintain and safeguard its position, India needs to solidify geopolitical ties to maintain its influence.
A more strategic alliance with Trinidad and Tobago helps India reinforce its position as a key global player by enhancing its influence in the Latin American region, as Trinidad and Tobago becomes an easier gateway to the Caribbean community, strengthening its connections in the western hemisphere. This is where the huge Indian diaspora plays an important role as a soft power for India.
The need for collaboration
Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most significant countries in the 14-nation group CAMERON of the Caribbean community. This tiny community holds its own significance in the western hemisphere. Especially when it comes to international organisations such as the UN, where each and every vote matters. These small but significant ties will eventually create a global push to help India secure a permanent seat at the UN Security Council, adding a layer of diplomatic leverage.
This also gives India geological leverage in the western hemisphere, balancing out the influence of other major powers in the region like the USA and China, whose overgrowing influence in the Caribbean region has become of great concern for both the USA and India. Which raises the importance of ensuring maritime security. The joint naval exercises helps in maintaining maritime cooperation, which eventually helps in combating issues like piracy and safety in the trade route.
India’s strategic alliance with Trinidad and Tobago is not an alienated strategy, but it plays a significantly bigger role. As it becomes an entry point into the huge CARICOM market and industry. In recent years both the countries have signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and agreements, including agreements on technical cooperation, cultural exchange, and the promotion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). India's thriving SME sector has significantly benefited Trinidad and Tobago, as it serves as a perfect model for them. India has also invested significantly in initiatives to support SME development, helping them in gaining access to financial support, business incubation, and entrepreneurship training.
This strategy benefits both nations as India gains easier access to the market sector, which helps diversify its economic prospects. Whereas Trinidad and Tobago benefits from India’s advanced technologies, especially in regards to renewable energy, which helps them build more renewable power plants.
Today, India, with its trillion-dollar aspirations, aims to expand its trade in sectors like energy, pharmaceuticals, and information and communication technology (ICT). India’s growing investments in Trinidad and Tobago's natural gas and oil sectors not only strengthen the economic ties between the nations but also secure a reliable source of energy for India. OVL, the international branch of India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), has invested significantly in the oil and gas exploration in Trinidad and Tobago. This helps diversify India’s energy supply chain, reducing its dependence on Middle Eastern sources. This energy security is crucial for India’s growing economy, especially when China diversifies its own sources of energy, which in the near future might give rise to greater conflicts.
The Indian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago also has very strategically facilitated various business delegations and trade missions, with the aim to promote Indian businesses. These initiatives have led to a significant increase in exports of Indian pharmaceuticals and ICT products to Trinidad and Tobago, boosting India's trade revenues.
Indian pharmaceutical giants like Cipla and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories have established their strong bases in Trinidad and Tobago by supplying affordable generic medicines. The access to the Caribbean market benefited these giants, leading to a significant market expansion. The presence of Indian pharmaceuticals in the Caribbean region has also enhanced India's reputation for providing high-quality, cost-effective healthcare solutions. Which it desperately needed especially after the recent Covershield fiasco.
Today, both governments continue to encourage their business sectors to expand into each other's zones. They have strengthened their ties with several bilateral agreements, such as the double taxation agreement treaty, which facilitates cross-investment policies. As a result, both countries are enjoying a surplus of trade with each other, aiming for greater development goals.
One of the very dark chapters of India's history today in a way helped India enhance its regional influence and promote the South-South corporation, furthermore pushing India’ vision of creating a collective power out of these developing nations. It has not only enhanced India's standing on a global stage but also contributed to its foreign policy objectives. In the long run, bilateral ties between the two countries will play a crucial role in India’s long-term political and economic strategy.
References
History of Trinidad | Milwaukee Public Museum. (n.d.). Www.mpm.edu. https://www.mpm.edu/research-collections/anthropology/online-collections-research/east-indians-trinidad/history
India, Trinidad and Tobago sign MOU for sharing India Stack. (n.d.). New India Abroad. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from https://www.newindiaabroad.com/english/news/india-trinidad-and-tobago-sign-mou-for-sharing-india-stack
Bilateral Trade Relations: India and Trinidad & Tobago – Confederation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises & Connecting people to business. (n.d.). https://cimsme.in/bilateral-trade-relations-india-and-trinidad-tobago/
Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) - a Leading Research Based Company in Pharmaceutical Industry in India. (n.d.). Www.ipa-India.org. https://www.ipa-india.org/
High Commission of India, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago : India - Trinidad and Tobago Relations. (n.d.). Www.hcipos.gov.in. https://www.hcipos.gov.in/page/india-trinidad-and-tobago-relations/
interesting read!
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