SVGIHF to commemorate 161st anniversary of Indian Arrival Day

June 1, 2022 will mark the 161st anniversary of the arrival of 2,474 Indians from India to SVG during the years 1861 to 1880. 

Each year, the SVG Indian Heritage Foundation (SVGIHF) commemorates Indian Arrival Day by a Re-enactment of Indians, their families and friends, dressed in Indian wear, arriving on a boat at Indian Bay.  

This will be followed by breakfast for all, a Rally at Rawacou, with addresses from Dignitaries and Cultural performances featuring overseas artistes from Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and India, and local artistes. 

The programme for June 1 is as follows:  

• Re-enactment of the arrival of Indians on Wednesday, June 1 at 7:00 am.  

• A boat will leave a location and arrive at Indian Bay, where there will be registration of the newly arrived Indians, dressed in Indian wear, an official ceremony, photoshoot and breakfast will be served to all in attendance. 

Due to COVID-19, no celebrations were held in 2020 and 2021. 

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In 2020, the SVGIHF began a series of interviews with its Indian Elders. Eight interviews were successfully held and the fascinating stories were recorded and shared in the media, on Facebook, and are chronicled in Lenroy Thomas’ first of its kind, informative, highly researched, and timely book “Stories from our Indian Elders.”   

Due to COVID-19 in 2021 no interviews were held. In March 2022, National Heroes Month in SVG, the idea came up that the foundation should re-commence the interviews with its Indian Elders, as it found that so many of them with rich stories were passing on without sharing their valuable experiences.  

This year a special feature has been added to Indian Arrival Day. The President, Executive, all members of the Foundation and the Indian community in SVG will present the second series of eight Interviews with their Indian Elders, namely Egbert Thomas Calder, Bertram Lewis Villa, Eleise Morgan Rodney Salt Pond, Brighton, Dennis Deane Akers, Avil Bullock Calder and Neta Lewis Rose Bank SVG, Edward “Karal” Williams, Gravesend, Kent UK and Teroy Thomas, High Wycombe, Bucks, UK.