Tuesday 10 January 2012

Trinidad & Tobago -- The Indian Link!

Trinidad & Tobago -- The Indian Link!

With the First Lady of Trinidad & Tobago visiting India, the media is full of news about Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Indian roots and her attachment to our nation. Do the similarities between T&T and India end there?
Let’s dig deeper...





CUSTOMS & CULTURE
Apparently, people in T&T love to dance to Bollywood music. There’s more! Just like in India, there is always something to celebrate in Trinidad. Different ethnic groups have settled in these Caribbean twin islands, over generations, creating a rich mix of dance, music, art, cuisine and festivals. Diwali is celebrated with great pomp and vigour, just as Eid-Ul-Fitr is.

May 30, celebrated as Arrival Day, commemorates the arrival of the first Indian indentured labourers to Trinidad from India in 1845. The Indians brought a wide range of festivals, spices and food into the country, To this day, the influence of these early immigrants can be seen in the language, music, dance and customs of Trinidad and Tobago.
During the month of March, the colourful fest of Holi is celebrated to the tunes of folk songs and the sounds of the Dholak!



LANGUAGE
Interestingly, Trinidad, a multilingual region, has its inhabitants, speaking in Urdu and Bhojpuri, apart from English and Spanish! Language used in Tobago, is mainly English!

FOOD
Food is one way to trace the roots of any culture. A typical Trinidadian meal always has a generous portion of rice, curry, potatoes and Chick peas, as well as rotis (Indian Flatbread).

FUTURE CONNECT
The T&T PM seems to be thoroughly taken in by what she saw at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, held at Jaipur. Like India, Trinidad and Tobago too have a rich and divers cultural heritage. This may form the basis of connect between the two countries for investment opportunities, as well as knowledge sharing.

We now need to wait and watch to see the growth in both countries through mutual benefit and exchange.

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