OHM: Hindus in Guadalupe and Martinique Part 1

Hindus in Guadalupe:
Guadeloupe is a small island in the Caribbean and belongs to one of the overseas departments of France. According to the Census of 1967, the number of Indians in Guadeloupe set at 23,000. In our programme about Hindus in Guadeloupe are we looking for their development. Do they, like other Indians in the Caribbean, developed themselves on socially and economically areas? Did they, like for example in Suriname, maintain their cultural and religious traditions?

After the abolition of slavery in 1848, Indian workers were recruited by the French Government. About 40,000 Indians came in Guadeloupe. The Indian contract workers and their descendants in Guadeloupe lived for a long time in and around the sugar cane plantations where they initially were put to work. The mortality rate among them was high.

After 1885 many returned back. The Group remained, continued to live in rural areas. Of the 23,000 Indians that was established in 1967, was 46% are illiterate. The Indian population involves farmers active in the countryside. In the other sectors the Indians are not as well represented, of course, there are some exceptions here and there. So are there in Guadeloupe also councilors and mayors of Indian origin. There was also an Indian member of the French Parlement. In Guadeloupe, the Indians have been able to a number of cultural traditions, but this Indian cultural heritage are to a large extent influenced by the culture of the Creoles and the Westerners.

Hindus in Martinique:
Martinique is a small island in the Caribbean and belongs to one of the overseas departments of France. In the period 1854-1889, the French Government recruited over 25,000 Indians to work on the plantations in Martinique.

Almost all Indian immigrants in Martinique are of Tamil origin. In the 1970s the number of Indians was estimated at 10,000 or 3% of the population. And here was the death rate high among them.
After the second world war their living situation improved at a rapid pace. Many children went to school and now there are Indians member of Parlament.

In our programme about Hindus in Martinique we are trying to gain insight into their social economic and political development. And their development in the field of religion and culture in comparison with other countries in the Caribbean.

Watch this impressive documentary about how Hindus are living in Guadeloupe and Martinique.

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[97sabineon]

it is more sadder that we have forgotten our culture. Tamil Hindouism is not only about ethnicity, nor it is also a culture and history that has to be studied during a lifetime or more!

And mixing nordic christianity with hindouism is certainly not the best way to understand our roots. And why our ancestors HAD to leave India and its cast system. There is a long work to do to get rid of the brainwashing and all clichés about our history. It is very important because it is about our identity.

[The123456han]

It is sad they have forgotten their tamil language

[rruchna]

Je suis Sradhanand Ramsurrun, 58 ans, de L'Ile Maurice. Je voudrais avoir contact avec quelq'un de Guuadeloupe.Je parle l'Hindi couramment.Mon adresse email est ruchna@intnet.mu et je suis sur Facebook aussi. On peut m'envoyer des messages sur ce numero (230)7612701.merci

[urlove12day]

caste system is racist