Hinduism in Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe, an island in the Atlantic Ocean and a French Department, had traditionally been a bone of contention between the French and the British. The British occupied it from 1759 to 1763. In 1763, it was restored to France in exchange for all French rights to Canada. It was finally designated as territory of France through The Treaty of Paris in 1815. It was represented in the French parliament for the first time in 1871. It became a French Department on 19 March 1946.

After the abolition of slavery in 1848, to meet a shortfall in labour, over 40,000 workers were brought from India to Guadeloupe to there for work on plantations through an agreement reached between France and Great Britain in 1861. Most of the workers came from the Tamil Nadu region. The importation of Indian labour was gradually discontinued after 1883 as a result of adoption of a policy by the British Government against recruitment of labour in its territories and also because of high mobility of Indian labour.

Over 10,000 of them perished as a result of difficult living and working conditions and the rest of them continued to be treated harshly till the efforts of Henri Sidambarom in 1904 gave them some political rights. It was in 1923 that Guadeloupeans of Indian descent were granted citizenship and the right to vote.Since the cessation of migration, the history of the Indian community has been one of steady integration with the rest of the population, to the extent that there are very few Tamil speakers left on the island. However, third or fourth generation persons of Indian origin still maintain links with India in many different ways, such as adopting Indian names.

The Indian community in Guadeloupe is estimated to be approximately 40,000 in a population of over 450,000. Some of them have acceded to important posts in the public and private sectors. Dr. Henri Bangou held the post of Senator from Guadeloupe in the French Senate. Ernest Moutoussamy has been the Depute of Guadeloupe in the National Assembly of France.

Promotion of Indian culture

There are several associations to promote Indian culture in Guadeloupe. These associations, run by mostly people of Indian origin, are fairly active in organising cultural activities in all the principal towns, namely, Pointe-a-Pitre, Le Moule, Port-Louis, Capesterre-Belle-Eau and Saint-Claude. One such prominent group is ‘Association Culturelle Guadeloupeenne des Armis de L’Inde’, which has over 300 members and 2000 associates.

Cultural troupes sponsored by ICCR have also been visiting Guadeloupe to enable the locals tohave a glimpse of Indian cultural heritage. A 10-member Mohiniattam dance troupe led by Dr.Kanak Rele and sponsored by ICCR visited Guadeloupe in 1999.

A Festival of Women and Cinema with India as the theme was organised in Guadeloupe in 1997.This also coincided with workshops on Indian cuisine and exhibition and sale of Indian art objects. At the initiative of the Depute of Guadeloupe, Mr. Ernest Moutoussamy, a photographic exhibition on the theme ‘The World of Tomorrow & Gandhi’s Vision’ was organised in January 1997. A Festival of Indian films to be organised in Guadeloupe under the Cultural Exchange Programme has been pending consideration in the Directorate of Films Festivals, New Delhi.

The city of Basse-terre in Guadeloupe and Pondicherry have been designated as twin cities to promote cultural links and exchanges.

Recently, 152th birthday of the arrival of the Hindus Tamil in Guadeloupe was held. The Indian Associations in the territory are in the process of forming a committee, which will start working to realise the event.

Hindu Organisations

Hindu Sabha, the Guadeloupe Inde Sangam, Friends of India (Les Amis de l'Inde)

References

* [http://www.atout-guadeloupe.com/152eme-anniversaire-de-l-arrivee-des-hindous-tamoul-en-Guadeloupe_a286.html 152th birthday of the arrival of the Hindus tamil in Guadeloupe]
* [http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1998/2/1998-2-12.shtml French-lettered Indians in a remote corner of the Caribbean reclaim their Hindu identity]