Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 01, 2022 Letters
Dear Editor,
Muslim resistance in Guyana dates to early times when enslaved Africans were shackled and forcibly brought to Guyana. These freedom fighters wanted nothing but dignity for all peoples. In the very first slave rebellion in 1763, several Kofi’s lieutenants (Atta, Accara, Quabi etc.,) were Muslims fighting against the brutality of the Dutch plantation owners.
Also, in the 1823 Demerara Rebellion, there were several Muslims involved. Then, among the first batch of East Indian immigrants, two Muslims, Jumun and Pultun from Bihar, indentured to Gladstone Plantation at Vreed-en-Hoop, were the first to rebel against the slave-like treatment and conditions under which they were forced to work. On 11th October 1838, they took matters into their own hands and decided to run away from the plantation. Unfortunately, shortly after their fight for freedom, the bodies of two men were found at Mahaica that were believed to be that of the first two Indian rebels.
The 30th of September marks the 150th anniversary of the Devonshire Massacre of the five East Indian indentured workers during the Devonshire Castle uprising in 1872. Not surprising, several Muslims were involved in the rebellion. The cause of death was gunshot wounds (to rioters). This all started when almost 300 plantation workers began protesting on the 29th of September for better working conditions and equitable pay for the high workload the Gora Sahib (Whiteman) demanded. This culminated in their horrible deaths on 30th September 1872. Based on the bio-data extracted from: (a) the 1872 Register of Deaths in British Guiana, (b) the ships’ register of Indian Immigrants introduced into the Colony of British Guiana and (c) the ship’s log from the SS Far East, here is a snapshot of these lost souls, they were not just names on paper but they were someone’s son, brother, uncle, husband or father and many of their dependents who relied on them would pay a bitter economic and mental health price for their loss.
Maqsood Ally and Bakaro/Bakr were Jahajis (shipmates). Initially sent to different plantations but were later reunited in 1870 when they were both transferred to Devonshire Castle. These two men who prayed and ate together would also die fighting together for a just cause.
Sincerely,
Shabnam Alli
Ray Chickrie
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
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