The Children of Jahazi Bhai

Abstract

In the diasporic discourse, one category that deserves attention is the identity of the children of the indentured workers as they have shaped themselves in later times. Indentured labour was exported to many countries such as the Caribbean island, Mauritius, Fiji, Malaysia, Africa, and their identity formation is directly in relation to their degrees of education and political power. Each hostland reveals a different history of interaction, adjustment, racial mix and opportunity. This paper proceeds to explore their fragmented selves, their self-image and their aspirations towards more liberated identities. In each case, their position in the hostland is an important factor. Have they moved from stereotypes into individualities? Is the coolie image finally discarded? How do they work between alienation and acceptance? Working with writers of several generations in order to reflect their shifting attitudes and concerns, the Naipauls—father and son—Sesanarine Persaud,… Rabindranath Maharaj, Christine Singh and Madeline Coopsammy, the issues of identity, tradition and aspiration are opened out as reflected in their narratives. One can clearly see the receding memories of the Indian past and the takeover of issues of identity and race as their dreams are geared to equality. They are the children of double or triple migrations and the gap between their ambitions and the social reality they face surface in their responses and struggles. But over and above this, there is a bond shaped and held together by the ‘jahazi’ syndrome—a belonging which takes precedence over home, nation and territory, one which calls forth the memory of the departure from Indian shores.