Sikhs in Canada are demanding the country’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to include 1914 Komagata incident in the school curriculum, across the country.
Malaysia-based rich Sikh Baba Gurdit Singh has adopted the Japanese ship Komagata Maru, to bring 376 Indians, mostly Sikhs, to Canada, for challenging the racist laws, that existed in those days.
As both India and Canada were British dominions in those times, the Indians should have had the right to enter Canada. But the Canadian government restricted Indians from entering into Canada, showing various clauses in the laws.
The Komagata Maru, which entered Vancouver harbour on May 23rd, 1914, was forcibly sent back to India after 2 months. On September 1914, upon reaching Budge Budge in Kolkata , the passengers were subjected to firing by British Indian police in which 19 of them were killed.
Trudeau in his apology in the House of Commons, has said, “Canada's government was, without question, responsible for the laws that prevented these passengers from immigrating peacefully and securely. For that, and for every regrettable consequence that followed, we are sorry.”
"Today - while knowing that no words can fully erase the pain and suffering experienced by the passengers - I offer a sincere apology on behalf of the government for the laws in force at the time that allowed Canada to be indifferent to the plight of the passengers of the Komagata Maru."
He further said that, “The Komagata Maru incident is a stain on Canada's past. But the history of our country is one in which we constantly challenge ourselves, and each other, to extend our personal definitions of who is a Canadian. We have learned, and will continue to learn, from the mistakes of our past. We must make sure to never repeat them."
Advocacy group of the World Sikh Organization, welcoming the apology, has demanded that, a Komagata chapter be included in school curriculam across Canada.
World Sikh Organization president Mukhbir Singh said, “Prime Minster Trudeau's apology in the House of Commons today is a historic moment for Canadian Sikhs and recognizes the dark chapter the Komagata Maru tragedy marks in Canada's history. While Canada is today a model of multiculturalism and inclusivity, it is important for us to understand that it was not always so.”
"We believe it is essential that the Komagata Maru incident, as well as the anti-immigrant sentiment that fuelled this incident, be made a part of our provincial education curricula. It is important that we as Canadians teach our youngsters to confront issues such as racism and xenophobia and learning about the Komagata Maru incident is an excellent opportunity to do so."
By Phani Ch
