"Saint from Trinidad' to have a home in Delhi

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>"Ashwini Kumar"

>Girmitia in Hindu, New Delhi >Fri, 05 Jul 2002 17:12:39 -0400 >

>Girmitia in Hindu, New Delhi >> >>Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 20

June 2002 >> >>"Saint from Trinidad' to have a home in Delhi >>By Lalit K. Jha

>> >>New Delhi, June 19: The legendary hero from Trinidad >>and Tobago,Siewdass

Sadhu will soon be immortalized along with >>other people of Indian origin

(PIOs) who left this country as >>indentured labourers during the British rule

at a permanent museum >>displaying their contribution and sacrifices slated to

come up here >>in >>the Capital. >> >>The Siewdass Sadhu Cultural Center for

Girmitia Countries - as it >>would >>be called - will also facilitate academic

research in this field >>besides >>being a nerve-center for different cultural

and social activities. >>Girmitias is the term given to PIOs taken as

indentured laboures >>through >>ships by Britishers to countries like

Mauritius,Trinidad and >>Tobago, >Guyana, >>Surinam, Fiji, South Africa and

Jamaica. >> >>A committee headed by Baleshwar Aggarwal, who was a member of the

>>L.M. >>Singhvi Committee on PIOs constituted by the Union Government, was

>>set >>up here on Monday to work out various modalities for this very

>>purpose. >>The Union Culture and Tourism Ministry is learnt to have offered

>>help in >>setting up a permanent center for the Girmitias in the Capital. >>

>>Top on the agenda is to establish a memorial including a statue in >>the

>>Capital in honour of Siewdass Sadhu, who contributed significantly >>for

>>the protection of Indian culture despite several odds in Trinidad. >> >>"It

will be a fitting tribute to the saint from Trinidad in his >>centenary year,

"Mr. Aggarwal said, Siewdass Sadhu is known for >>single-handedly constructing

a temple in the sea by transporting >>stones >>on bicycle after colonial rulers

not only demolished his existing >>temple >>but also prevented him from building

one on the mainland. He was >>jailed >>and imposed fine of 400 dollars for

violating the orders. The >>temple >>has since then been reconstructed by

>>Government of Trinidad and Tobago and is a thriving pilgrimage >>center. >>

>>"Today, Siewdass Sadhu is a symbol of determination and sacrifice.

>>Unfortunately very little is know about the sacrifice of our >>Girmitia

>>brothers and sisters and their glorious struggle in preserving >>India's

>>cultural heritage", said Swami Aksharananda from Guyana who was >>here

>>canvassing for the Cultural Centre in Delhi. >> >>"The contribution of

hardworking Girmitias has been significant in >>all >>these countries. They

underwent extreme hardship but have managed >>to >>preserve our cultural and

civilization", said Mr. Singhvi, who >>attended >>the meeting. >> >>Other

objectives of the Centre include setting up a residential >>school >>for

children of these countries as well as offer correspondence >>courses >>and

facilitate their higher education, establish similar memorials >>for >>other

great PIOs and develop a network with Girmitia countries for >>providing

facilities besides enabling them to find their roots and >>reunite with their

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