Why the komagata maru is still important huffpost canada. The south asian law students association salsa at osgoode hall law school will have launched komagata maru week march 1015, 20 and the komagata maru reflections project. The historic private members motion put forward by bramptonspringdale member of parliament dr. Komagata maru episode the background to the incident was that a sikh businessman, gurdit singh 1861 1954, a supporter of the ghadar party, established the guru nanak steamship company and chartered a japanese ship, komagata maru, to transport indians to canada in defiance of canadian exclusion laws. Canada is a different nation today, but we can never forget what happened here, so we can learn from it and ensure it never happens again. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the komagata maru episode, when canadian authorities turned away 376 migrants of south asian origin aboard a japanese steamship in vancouver harbour.
For many canadians, the name komagata maru means little. However, the british government of hong kong was watching the activities of bhai gurdit singh because the charter of komagata maru was in his name. On may 23, 1914, the komagata maru sailed into vancouvers burrard. The komagata maru incident canada history and mysteries. Instead, what we have are multiple passenger lists with varying degrees of authenticity that feature inconsistencies in everything from the spelling of passengers names to places of origin. Century canada 84 the critical thinking cooperativeknowledge of theincidentname. Komagata maru seminar at guru gobind singh college sikhnet. Gurdit singh the voyage of the komagata maru or, indias slavery abroad the name komagata maru is filled with meaning. This question has challenged historians for decades because there has never been one definitive list. Killing of komagata maru passengers sikhiwiki, free sikh. The legend of hakudo maru, a celestial being that came to earth and taught humans how to build ships.
The komagata maru sailed into vancouver harbour with 376 people aboard on may 23, 1914. He had made his money as an importer and contractor in malaya and singapore although he had had always maintained a home in his ancestral village in punjab. A japanese steamship called komagata maru, full of hopeful immigrants from punjab, india, sailed from hong kong to vancouver, canada. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Name removed from federal building as komagata maru mural. The ship embarked from hong kong, stopping in shanghai, china. On may 23, 1914, a ship named the komagata maru entered vancouvers burrard inlet carrying 376 passengers from india who had hopes for a new life in. Heres a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.
What was the komagata maru incident and why does it matter. When singh was approached by sikhs seeking to immigrate to canada, he agreed to help. This book focuses on the komagata maru episode of 1914. In late may 1914, a ship called the komagata maru tried to enter vancouver harbour. The kobayashi maru is the name of the famous starfleet academy training exercise to test a cadets readiness for command. The name komagata maru incident means a lot to indians. Komagata maru 3critical challengecriticalquestionoverviewfrom the perspective of your. Komagata maru passengers remembered with vancouver. Name of man behind komagata maru incident removed from vancouver building this action was officially taken during a function that was attended by canadas minister of national defence harjit. The records are unclear, but it is estimated that there were 337 sikh, 12 hindu, and 27 muslims on board the komagata maru. Dave 1983 the sikh adolescent in the canadian context. The name of the building will revert back to its street address of 125 10th avenue east. The incident happened on a crowded ship in 1914, which later became a symbol of an entire period of canadian history.
Vitalsource bookshelf is the worlds leading platform for distributing, accessing, consuming, and engaging with digital textbooks and course materials. Vancouver renames controversial government building. A history characterized by ethnocentrism, racism, and exclusionary immigration policies. On the surface, it is simply a ship that arrived in vancouver in 1914. The first ship known to follow this convention was the nippon maru, flagship of daimyo toyotomi hideyoshis 16th century fleet. But what happened on that crowded ship in 1914 has become, for many scholars. Vancouver, british columbia before arriving in canada. The previous year, immigration officials tried to stop 56 south asians aboard a vessel called the panama maru from disembarking in victoria. We must wake up to parallels between komagata maru and repression of rohingyas by charlie smith on september 23rd, 2017 at 8. The ship was carrying 376 indians from india and the far east who claimed right of entry as citizens of the british empire. The komagata maru also spelled kamagata was a japanese steam liner, chartered in 1914 by gurdit singh, an affluent sikh businessman, to carry 376 indians, all punjabis to canada. Komagata maru 3critical challengecriticalquestionoverviewfrom the. Canada is a different nation today, but we can never forget what happened here, so. Komagata maru was a steamship owned by the shinyei kisen goshi kaisya of japan.
Members of parliament officially removed former mp harry stevens name from the service canada building, three years after the government. Most of the passengers were not permitted to land based on the continuous passage order and other prejudicial regulations that prevented indian. Komagata maru centenary sheds light on hidden history of canadas. Removing the buildings name and installing the mural will serve as that constant reminder, and signify our commitment to moving forward to embracing inclusion and diversity in everything we do, he added. Name of man behind komagata maru incident removed from. The komagata maru came on may 23, 1914, with 376 passengers including my grandfather. The 1900 census in canada indicated that there were over 2000 indians. Henry herbert harry stevens was a canadian politician who was actively involved in the komagata maru incident. Noun a shelf or shelves for storing books for easy visual reference. She was built as a cargo ship in 1890 and had previously been known as both ss stubbenhuk and ss sicilia while sailing for two different german owners. Lighting on the foliage beyond is perceived through the lettering to enhance the contemplative nature of the monument.
Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. He chartered the japanese ship komagata maru to transport these. The komagata maru was a test of whether canada would be able to exercise the power to decide who would get in and who would be kept out. British authorities suspected that the passengers were revolutionaries arriving to make trouble. School of social work, term paper, university of british columbia. The overriding impression is that the komagata maru had far more impact on british india than it did on canada. The komagata maru incident of 1914 backgrounder on may 23, 1914, the komagata maru reached vancouvers harbour via hong kong and japan carrying 376 prospective south asian immigrants who hoped to settle in canada. The komagata maru was escorted out of vancouver by the navy on july 23, 1914, after the ship and its passengers sat in the citys harbour for weeks. The sikh temple in the town is named after the komagata maru martyrs and is called gurdwara komagata maru shaheed gunj. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The test is named kobayashi maru after the name of the ship in training. Bookshelf definition, a shelf for holding books, especially one of several shelves in a bookcase. In 2014, the komagata maru centenary was marked by a series of events and exhibitions. The individual who hired the komagata maru and who acted as chief spokesperson for the passengers was a wealthy sikh named gurdit singh sirhali who was then in his mid50s.
He was already welleducated, having studied at an englishlanguage high school in ludhiana punjab and had studied telecommunication at the university of amethi. But there had been muslims on the komagata maru, too. These muslims challenged canadas immigration ban in 1914. Two days before the ship was to sail, bhai gurdit singh was arrested by hong kong police on the charge of illegally selling tickets for an illegal voyage and the ship placed under police guard. Vitalsource bookshelf is the worlds leading platform for distributing, accessing, consuming, and engaging. The journey from india to vancouver and the unfortunate events that followed at burrard inlet from may 23rd to july 23rd, 1914 made the ship komagata maru engrave its name as part of the history of struggles for justice and freedom in the world. Raj singh toor, vicepresident of the descendants of the komagata maru society, echoed saijans sentiments. Komagata maru the critical thinking consortium yumpu. Title of lesson expectations directly from the ontario curriculum. It carried 376 passengers from punjab and was not permitted to land in vancouver on grounds of a stipulation about a continuous journey from the port of departure and forced to return to kolkata. Government of canada removes harry stevens name from. In 2016, the prime minister apologized for the komagata maru incident in the house of commons. Ruby dhalla, which asks the government to apologize to the indocanadian community for the 1914 komagata maru tragedy was unanimously. The komagata maru was a steamship charted to challenge the continuous passage act.
The komagata maru returned to india on september 26, 1914. Removing the name from this federal building and installing the important mural here will serve as that constant reminder. Perhaps this is fair enough, for the books context is imperial and indian rather than canadian. The story of komagata maru on may 23, 1914, 376 british subjects 12 hindus, 24 muslims and 340 sikhs of indian origin arrived in vancouver harbour aboard the komagata maru, seeking to enter canada. Justin trudeau formally apologizes for komagata maru incident for many canadians, the name komagata maru means little. There was an altercation between authorities and passengers, and shooting started. When it ended, 22 people were dead, including 16 passengers. On may 23, 1914, the komagata maru reached vancouvers harbour via hong kong and japan carrying 376 prospective south asian. The sikh challenge to canadas colour bar johnston, hugh j. Komagata maru exhibit in the osgoode library off the shelf. The komagata maru incident involved the japanese steamship komagata maru, on which a group of people from british india attempted to emigrate to canada. Shields library university of california, davis davis, california 95616 usa revised 7172001. Have you all heard of the 1914 komagata maru incident.
All of them were from the punjab, a region in the northwest of the indian subcontinent, and thus shared the same language and culture despite being of different faiths. Incorporating regional events into the nationalist narrative. Diaries bhai arjan singh chand was an active member of the pioneer south asian canadian community. In his numerous roles with the khalsa diwan society at vancouvers first sikh temple, he was at the centre of the religious, political, economic and social life of the community. She was built as a cargo ship in 1890 and had previously been known as both ss stubbenhuk and ss sicilia while sailing for two. Komagata maru motion passes unanimously dhalla creates history. In the longer term, the komagata maru was a factor in turning indian public opinion against the british. On may 23, 1912, the steamship komagata maru arrived in coal harbour after a seven week crossing from hong kong via japan. The komagata maru incident was a tragedy in the truest sense of the word. This japanese ship was chartered by gurdit singh, a prosperous sikh businessman from malaya. Names perforate the weathered steel panel with uplighting from behind to catch the lettering edges.
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