May 30: Indian Arrival Day in Trinidad and Tobago
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Trinidad and Tobago.
History Note
Trinidad and Tobago are two islands off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. Along with several smaller islands, they comprise the country of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Arawak and Carib were among the early indigenous inhabitants of the islands. The Spanish established colonies there after Christopher Columbus visited in 1498.
Other European countries attempted to control the islands, and Britain finally prevailed in the early 1800s. In 1845 the ship Fath Al Razack brought more than 200 people from India to Trinidad as indentured laborers. Thousands of other Indian immigrants followed, and Indian culture became an important part of the islands’ heritage.
In 1945 people in Trinidad observed the East Indian Centenary on May 30. Observance waned over the next few decades, but in 1995 Indian Arrival Day became an official national holiday. Other countries have since created similar holidays to honor the influence of Indian immigrants, including other Caribbean nations, the Pacific Ocean country of Fiji, and the Indian Ocean country of Mauritius.
Trinidad and Tobago is a parliamentary republic with a population of 1.4 million. About one-third have East Indian heritage, about one-third have African heritage, and many of the rest have mixed heritage. Slightly more than half of the people belong to a Christian denomination, 18% are Hindu, and 5% are Muslim.
This photo by Felix Morin shows members of the Indian community in Trinidad in the 1890s. Image courtesy the DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.
Learn More
See footage from a celebration of Indian Arrival Day in 2019.
Find other resources at Homeschool History.
