Indians in Grenada
Grenada is an archipelagic country in the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It is the southernmost of the Windward Islands. It lies directly south of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and about 100 miles north of Trinidad and Tobago and the South American mainland. The country consists of the main island of Grenada itself plus two smaller islands Carriacou and Petite Martinique and several small islands that lie to the north of the main island and are a part of the Grenadines. Total land area is 344 square kilometres. Capital is Saint George's on the southwest coast. Grenada is known as the Island of Spice because of production of nutmeg and mace. There is no land border. Nearest neighbours are Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the north, Trinidad and Tobago to the south, Barbados to the east, Venezuela to the south across the sea. The island is volcanic in origin with a central mountain range and the highest point is Mount Saint Catherine at 840 metres.
Climate and neighbours
Climate is tropical tempered by northeast trade winds. The tropical climate is especially pleasant in the dry season February to May when trade winds prevail. Rainy season runs June to December when hurricanes may occur. Grenada lies on the edge of the hurricane belt and hurricane season lasts from June to November. Temperature and rainfall vary with altitude with much heavier rainfall in the mountains. The average temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius year round. Neighbours influence culture and economy. Many Grenadians have family in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Saint Vincent, New York, Toronto, London and Montreal. Grenada is a member of the Commonwealth and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
Original Inhabitants
Before Europeans Grenada was inhabited by Indigenous peoples from South America. First were Arawaks and later Kalinago also called Caribs. Christopher Columbus sighted Grenada in 1498 during his third voyage. French settlement began in 1649 and continued for a century. French colonists attempted to control Kalinago and in 1651 there was a famous event at Sauteurs in Saint Patrick where Kalinago jumped from a cliff rather than surrender to French. Between 1669 and 1808 about 127600 enslaved Africans were brought to Grenada by British and French. In 1763 Grenada was ceded to British under Treaty of Paris. British rule continued until independence on 7 February 1974. With emancipation of slavery in 1834 planters looked for new labour.
When Did Indians Arrive
British Grenada legalised immigration in 1856 to facilitate arrival of indentured migrant workers. Planters in West Indies began using indentured workers from British India as labour on plantations. Learning of success of approach planters in Grenada also sought to hire Indian indentured workers.
The first ship carrying indentured workers from India the Maidstone departed from Calcutta on 27 January 1857 with 375 Indians on board. It arrived at Irwins Bay in Saint Patrick Parish Grenada on 1 May 1857. Eighty six Indians died during the voyage and only 289 arrived alive. Most workers on the Maidstone were distributed to plantation estates in Saint Patrick and Saint Mark parishes as well as other parishes. None were sent to plantations in Saint John parish.
The Fulwood brought 362 live Indian workers to Grenada in 1858 and the Jalawar brought 249 workers the following year. Between 1857 and 1878 ships transported a total of 3033 Indians to Grenada excluding those who died during voyage. The last ship carrying 175 indentured Indian labourers arrived on the island some time between 1881 and 1885. In total nearly 3206 Indians were brought to Grenada excluding those who died during voyage. Only about 15 percent returned to India while rest remained even after indenture period ended in 1890. These Indians are the origin of the Indo Grenadian community.
Routes
Route was long and harsh. Recruitment was mainly from North Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and also from Bengal Presidency and later from Madras. Workers were taken to depots in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras under Act V of 1837 and Act XXXII of 1837. They signed a five year indenture agreement promising modest wage between 8 shillings and 20 shillings a month plus accommodation and promise of return passage. Ships sailed from Calcutta around Hooghly River into Bay of Bengal across Indian Ocean round Cape of Good Hope or via Atlantic depending on season, then across Atlantic to Caribbean. Voyage took about three to four months. Conditions were crowded and mortality high. On arrival in Grenada medical inspection was done at Irwins Bay and then distribution to estates. Estates were in Saint Patrick, Saint Mark, Saint Andrew, Saint David and Saint George. After five years workers could commute return passage for land. Under land commutation scheme of 1859 Indians who completed five years plus seven years residence could opt for ten acres of land in lieu of return passage, later modified to five acres plus five pounds cash. Much land given was of poor quality.
Population of Indians viz Total Population
Total population of Grenada in 2024 is estimated at about 114621 to 126000 depending on source. In 1991 census most of population was of African descent 82 percent or mixed African and European descent 13 percent. Remainder made up of small European and Asian groups. US government estimates about 90 percent of Grenada population is of African descent. An additional 8.2 percent are of mixed East Indian African and or Caucasian ancestry reflecting history of African slaves, East Indian indentured servants and European settlers. An additional 2 percent of population considers itself East Indian which includes descendants of indentured servants brought from 1857 to 1890 as well as immigrants arriving from Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and India since 1970s. A small community less than 1 percent of descendants of early European settlers resides in Grenada. Another estimate says South Asians or Indo Grenadians are about 3 percent and trace Arawak Carib Indian is present. So Indo Grenadian population in strict sense is about 2 to 3 percent but with mixed it is up to 10 to 11 percent. This makes Indo Grenadians the second largest ethnic group after Afro Grenadians.
Religious Break up of Indians
Original indentured Indians were majority Hindu and minority Muslim, about 70 percent Hindu and about 30 percent Muslim from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Over time due to small numbers, distance from larger Indian communities in Trinidad and Guyana, and due to conversion by Christian missionaries and intermarriage with Afro Grenadians, many Indo Grenadians became Christian especially Roman Catholic and Anglican and also Presbyterian. Today among Indo Grenadians religious composition is mixed. About one third remain Hindu, about 10 to 15 percent remain Muslim, and about half are Christian, mostly Catholic. Some also follow Evangelical and Pentecostal churches. Despite conversion many retain Hindu and Muslim cultural practices in modified form. Recent Indian nationals arriving since 1970s for business and medicine have revived Hindu and Muslim practice.
Festivals
Indo Grenadians celebrate both Indian and Grenadian national festivals.
Indian Arrival Day is celebrated on 1 May. For first time since centenary celebration in 1957, it was celebrated in 2007 on 150th anniversary. Government and Indian community organised cultural programmes in Saint Patrick and Saint George.
Diwali or Deepavali is celebrated by Hindu families with lighting of diyas, prayers to Lakshmi and distribution of mithai. Although not a public holiday in Grenada it is marked in temples and homes.
Holi or Phagwah is celebrated with coloured powder and water especially in Saint Patrick and Saint Andrew where Indian descent is higher.
Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha are celebrated by Muslim Indo Grenadians. Mosques hold special prayers and community feasts.
Hosay or Muharram processions were observed in past but now rare in Grenada compared to Trinidad.
Christmas, Easter and Carnival are celebrated by all Grenadians including those of Indian descent with mixed traditions.
Cultural Continuity
Despite small numbers and assimilation, cultural continuity is strong. Language retention includes Bhojpuri and Hindi terms still spoken among Indian descendants mostly pertaining to kitchen. Words like aloo, geera, karela, seim, chownkay, baylay remain common. Term bhai meaning brother in Hindi is common greeting among Indo Grenadian males of equal status. Food is main continuity. National dish oil down includes turmeric misnamed saffron, dumplings, callaloo, salted meat and is cooked in karhee or curry pot. Popular street foods include aloo pie, doubles and dal puri served wrapped around curry commonly goat and fried bakes and fish cakes. Sweets include kurma, barfi, guava cheese, tamarind balls, rum raisin ice cream and spice cake. Nutmeg and mace are used in abundance. Family structure remains relatively strong with respect for elders. Music includes tassa drumming at weddings and funerals, and Chutney Soca influence from Trinidad.
Important Temples Mosques And Other Centres
There are no large ancient temples as in Trinidad or Guyana because community is small. But important places of worship exist.
Hindu temples: There are small mandirs in Saint Patrick especially around Rose Hill, La Tante, Hermitage and Saint Mark. Shiva Mandir in Saint Patrick, Kali Mandir in Saint Andrew and a small mandir in Saint George near Springs. Most are simple structures with flags. They serve as community centres for Diwali and weekly puja.
Mosques: Main mosque is the Jinnah Mosque or Masjid in Saint George built with help from Trinidad Muslims. There is a mosque in Saint Patrick and a small prayer hall in Saint Andrew. Muslim population is small about 0.5 percent of total Grenada population but active.
There is no permanent historical gurudwara built during indenture because Sikh numbers among indentured were negligible. Today Sikhs in Grenada are recent migrants mostly doctors, business persons and students affiliated with Saint George University.
Arya Samaj has a small presence in Grenada compared to Guyana and Trinidad where it is strong. Arya Samaj was introduced in early 20th century by reformist preachers from India and Trinidad who visited small Indian communities in Windward Islands to revive Vedic teaching and oppose conversion. In Grenada a small Arya Samaj branch was formed in Saint Patrick in the 1960s with support from Trinidad Arya Samaj and later from Indian High Commission in Port of Spain .
Key Persons Of Indian Ancestry
Due to integration, Indo Grenadians have contributed in many fields though often identified as Grenadian rather than Indian.
Politicians: Theophilus John, former minister with Indian ancestry; Chester Humphrey, labour leader and former Senate president of mixed Indian and African descent; Senator Arley Gill, former minister with Indian heritage; Lawrence Joseph, former Speaker of House with Indian ancestry.
Businessmen: Many small business families in Saint George and Grenville of Indian origin run spice shops, grocery stores, textile shops, hardware and restaurants. Names include the Bhola family, the Madoo family, the Ramdhani family who run supermarkets and nutmeg export.
Players: Cricket has strong Indo Grenadian presence. Devon Smith, former West Indies opener born in Hermitage Saint Patrick, is of Indian descent and one of Grenada most capped players. Junior Murray, former West Indies wicketkeeper, born in Saint Patrick, also of Indian descent. Andre Fletcher, Grenadian cricketer, has mixed Indian ancestry. In athletics, several young athletes of Indian descent represent Grenada at CARIFTA Games.
Social workers and education: Doctors include Dr Vikram Ragbir, Dr Rajiv Prashad at General Hospital. Teachers like Mrs Anita Steele in Saint Patrick preserve Indian culture through school programmes. Community leaders like Mr Ibrahim Abdur Rahman for Muslim community and Pundit Stephen Maharaj for Hindu community.
Contribution of Indians in Building Grenada
Indians contributed significantly despite small numbers. In agriculture they helped sustain sugar, cocoa, nutmeg and banana estates after emancipation when many former slaves left estates. They introduced new farming techniques, rice cultivation in small patches, and vegetable gardening. They introduced Indian spices and curry methods that became part of Grenadian cuisine.
In commerce they pioneered small shopkeeping and later spice trade. Grenada nutmeg and mace trade to India had some links via Indian merchants.
In medicine and education recent Indian migrants have filled gaps. Saint George University has many Indian origin faculty. Indian doctors serve in rural clinics.
In politics and trade unions Indo Grenadians participated in labour movement from 1950s onwards.
In culture they added Tassa, Chutney, and Indian culinary vocabulary to Creole culture.
Further Migration to the US, Europe And Other Places
Like all Grenadians, Indo Grenadians have migrated. After end of indenture about 15 percent returned to India. About 30 percent of Indians who arrived in neighbouring Saint Vincent emigrated to Trinidad by 1875 and similar movement from Grenada to Trinidad and Guyana where larger Indian communities offered higher wages. In 20th century many Indo Grenadians moved to Trinidad, Barbados, United States, Canada and United Kingdom for better opportunities. Estimates suggest at least 110000 Grenadian born live abroad equal to population on island. Among them Indo Grenadians form small but noticeable part in Brooklyn New York, Toronto, London. Many Indo Grenadians in Trinidad are counted as Trinidadian but maintain Grenadian family links. Further migration to US includes students who go to Saint George University and stay. Migration to Europe includes UK where Grenadians of Indian descent settled in Yorkshire and London in 1960s and 1970s.
Bollywood Influence
Bollywood influence in Grenada is strong relative to size of Indian community because of Trinidad media link and satellite television. In 1970s and 1980s Indian films were shown in Grenville cinema. Today Star Plus, Zee TV and Sony via cable and internet are watched in Indo Grenadian homes. Bollywood songs are played at Indian weddings and at Carnival fetes in Chutney Soca mix.
Music and Bollywood dance classes are held in Saint George community centre. Chutney Soca artists from Trinidad like Sundar Popo and later Drupatee Ramgoonai are popular. Local Grenadian Soca includes Hindi words.
In conclusion Indians in Grenada are a small but historically significant community. From 3206 indentured workers arriving between 1857 and 1885 from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh via Calcutta to Irwins Bay, only 15 percent returned. Their descendants numbering about 2 to 3 percent pure and up to 10 percent mixed have shaped agriculture, commerce, cuisine, music and multicultural harmony of Grenada.
( Avtar Mota )
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