Indo-Barbadian or Indo-Bajan, refers to Barbadians of
Indian ancestry, including from present-day
Bangladesh and
Pakistan. Currently, there is a 3,000-strong Indian community in
Barbados.
History
Research has shown that the first known
Muslims to arrive in the Americas were enslaved Africans via the transatlantic slave trade. The first Muslim of Asian background to arrive in Barbados took place over one hundred years ago when in 1913 Abdul Rohul Amin, a silk merchant from
West Bengal came to Barbados. Soon after, some more Bengalis arrived and they shared a house in Wellington Street, in the city. Some of them also lived in Milk Market and Tudor Street (upstairs Bata Shoe Shop) in
Bridgetown. Most of these Bengalis married local Barbadian women and started families in Bridgetown. Today many well-known Barbadians are the grandchildren of these unions.
These Muslims started the itinerant trading process, which continues up to this day. In the early stages most of the trading was with poor Barbadians living in the country areas who found it difficult to get to Bridgetown to do their shopping. The traders would take the bus to get their wares to the people in the country. If there were no buses available they would walk long distances just to accommodate the customers. Over the years, these traders built up a relationship with Barbadians, which still remains of mutual benefit.
Following the
Bengalis, Muslims from villages in
Gujarat, West India arrived. It is reported that the first of the
Gujarati Muslims
The term Gujarati Muslim is usually used to signify an Indian Muslim from the state of Gujarat in western coast of India. Most Gujarati Muslims have Gujarati language as their mother tongue, but some communities such as the Momin Ansari, Memons, ...
came in 1929. These Muslims had set out for
Brazil to cut timber but ended up in
Guyana
Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...
and stayed there for a while. In Guyana they learnt that there was money in coal trading with Barbados. They visited Bridgetown a couple of times by boat and then decided to make Barbados their home.
Demography
There are reports of a growing Indo-Bajan diaspora originating from
Guyana
Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...
and
India. Mostly from southern India and other Indian states, Indo-Bajans are growing in size but smaller than the equivalent communities in
Trinidad and Tobago,
Jamaica and Guyana.
Hinduism is one of Barbados' growing
religions.
Notable people
*
Avinash Persaud, Barbados-born British business executive of
Indo-Trinidadian and
Indo-Guyanese descent
See also
*
Barbados#Demographics
*
Indo-Caribbeans
*
Barbados–India relations
Barbados–India relations are the international relations that exist between Barbados and India. The Embassy of India in Paramaribo, Suriname is concurrently accredited to BarbadoIndia also maintains an Honorary Consulate in Holetown.
History
M ...
References
*
Indian Diaspora in the CaribbeanRacial Integration in Barbados
Indians
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
Barbados
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