The recent occasion of the first-ever Roti Festival offered pause to reflect on the Indian presence in Jamaica and its impact. In 1845, in the wake of Emancipation, the first Inidan nationals arrived on Jamaican shores to take up their positions as indentured labourers, with subsequent waves bringing in largely professional and merchant groups.

Beryl Williams-Singh, who heads up the the National Council for Indian Culture, the umbrella group for several Indian organisations here, advises that the commemoration of the Indian arrival will be formally observed on May 10. Among the slated activities, she points out, are an Ecumenical prayer service and an awards banquet.

A Hindu celebration ceremony where the Lord is invited to be present at the alter

The Indian presence here has been felt - and continues - in many spheres. Professions, particularly in the medical field, reflect the Indian demographic heritage, as do the jewellery and appliance sub-sectors.

Cultural impact, while evident, is not quite as cut-and-dried as it might seem. To begin with, there is not a definable homogenous Indian culture. With sixteen official languages, five major religions, and the caste system, the world's largest democracy is a veritable study in diversity.

Certainly the music has proven a major component of Indo-Jamaican exchange (as has been the case with virtually every other nationality). The adaptation and fusion of Indian music with Western forms is a worldwide phenomenon.

Indian dance forms have impacted on Jamaican culture in many ways

During the 1960s, the sounds of India became a major departure point for jazz masters like saxophonist John Coltrane and guitarist John McLaughlin, whose group, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, is still regarded as one of the finest jazz-rock fusion combos. Similarly, pop/rock groups like the Beatles (especially the late George Harrison) incoporated Eastern sounds and philosophies into their music.

More recently, Indian music forms have been fused with reggae/dancehall rhythms to create a highly danceable polyrhythm. The best known of these, the Diwali, helped to launch the international careers of deejays Elephant Man, Sean Paul and Wayne Wonder.

Prior to that Anglo-Caribbean DJ Apache Indian had an international smash with a track called Arrnaged Marriage on the bhangra rhythm. The bhangra, a line dance with origins in the Punjabi region, also features the type of rhythmic hand claps that endeared the Diwali to dancehall aficionados.

An Indian Saree

Traditional Indian instruments include - harmonium, dholak (drum), the tabla and the dantal - the latter a stainless steel pipe that is struck with a smaller piece.

Perhaps even more palpable than the music is the culinary impact. Curry (which itself the object of a culinary festival) is a staple in most homes and diners, chutney is a prized condiment, and tandoori cuisine is growing in appeal among both locals and visiting tourists. Some of the mango varieties growing in Jamaica have their Eastern heritage reflected in their names (Bombay and East Indian being the most obvious).

Another cultural staple is religious practice. Presently, Mrs Williams-Singh says, there are around 2,000 Hindus in Jamaica.

This month marks the advent of the Holi festival. The legend surrounds the defeat of an evil deity Holika, who would customarily consume children. Concurrent with "spring" festivals in many other cultures, it's seen as a time of renewal and rededication to purity and other ideals.

Come August there's the celebration marking Krishna's (representation of God incarnate) birth and in November is Diwali, the festival of lights.

While it is a pan-theistic faith (having many Gods), Hinduism points to a main, or source God - OM - who has many helpers. Williams-Singh explains; "They say that Hindus worship many gods, but that's not true. There's one main God and he has many helpers.

You also have God incarnate who come to earth when there's a decline of peace. God has so far manifested himself as Raam[whose birth is observed in April] and Krishna."

The undit/pandit(the word has since passed into the broader lexicon to signify an opinion maker or expert), guides Hindus along their earthly journey, and is consulted, Mrs Williams Singh points out, before every major decision.

"The pundit gives you advice on every aspect of your life - marriage, education, work etc. Parents who arrange marriages go to the pundit, and horoscopes are checked along with other things. If you have a desire or prayer, you go to the pundit," says Williams-Singh.

Viewed as pagans shortly after their 1845 arrival, the Hindus gradually emerged from suppression. Many were persuaded to follow Christianity," says Williams-Singh, adding that some saw it as a means of upward social mobility.

Although the suppression of the Indian religion and lifestyle here in Jamaica was not overt, their beliefs and practices were generally frowned upon, so public worship was minimal.
Presently, according to Williams-Singh, there are two public Hindu places of worship in Jamaica - both in Kingston - and only one pundit.

"We now have one more pundit in training. But we've had one for around 60 years now," she says.

Assimilation has also affected traditional garb, but even that has worked both ways. Even though most Inidans today have adopted Western modes of fashion, the sari, the nehru suit (round-collared tunic often worn with fitted pants) are featuring prominently in Western fashion, whether whole, or in variations.

Whether in tastes, sounds, sights or worship, Indo-Jamaicans, and indeed the wider society, are much richer for that fateful boat ride in 1845.

Feeding the multitude

DANGEROUS PETS

Pepper Pot