Page 48 - Man Ki Baat Nov 2024 (English)
P. 48
Indians in Guyana – 186 Years of
Struggles and Successes
over 98% of Indo-Guyanese
self-identified as Guyanese first
and have a name that indicates
Indian origin.
Further, over 96% either
practice most Indian traditions
or know major Hindu and Muslim
customs and lifestyles (Shah
Dr. Seeta Shah Roath Roath, 2024).
Educator, Author, and Cultural Indo-Guyanese historian,
Anthropologist Tota Mangar (2014) on East
Indian Immigration, stated that
hardships, loss, and defiance
characterised the experiences
of the Indian indentured
immigrants, where many
persisted mainly through their
strength, endurance, customs,
traditions, and obligations
leading to thrift, commerce, and
pride in their accomplishments.
The self-identity of Indians Indo-Guyanese have retained
in Guyana has undergone their names, cuisine, religions,
little change over the last 186 music, rituals, festivals, and
years, even with the loss of their natural healing – ayurvedic and
languages. Indo-Guyanese spiritual. They have also mostly
represent the largest ethnic retained and revived aspects of
group in Guyana with an folk theatre such as the Ramlila,
estimated 40% of the population. musical traditions, folk dances,
A recent survey showed that and aspects of Indian fashion.
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