On May 22, the Girmitya Foundation will host its first fundraiser event, in collaboration with Kaveesh The Band, to present a spectacular night of the finest Bollywood entertainment
This concert will take place at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Co-operation in Mt Hope (located close to the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business), and is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
FeatBody: Established in 2020, the Girmitya Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation focused on preserving the heritage and legacies of the Girmityas (Indian indentured labourers). Speaking to the Express, founder Nutan Ragoobir stated that nearly 145,000 men and women came from India as Girmityas to work on the sugarcane plantations in Trinidad during the 70-odd years of indentureship.
“We have benefited from their strength, faith and courage. Their bravery has made this country, and made us a people. Our ancestors were great, their indentureship story proves that without a doubt.
FeatBody: “This concert is a celebration of life. This concert will not only celebrate the lives of those Girmityas upon whose foundation we stand, but will also bring together families and friends after two years of social distancing and emotional traumas,” she said.
Although faced with its own challenges, the Girmitya Foundation was able to successfully achieve its first goal—the creation and implementation of an electronic library dedicated to Indian indentured history, known as Girmitya Archives
Girmitya Archives provides free access for scholars, academics and students to access research relating to the Indian diaspora and Indian history. Since its implementation, Girmitya Archives has been met with high praises from scholars throughout the diaspora, and is now also serving as a network for the academic community.
Dr Khal Torabully, a prominent literary figure in Mauritius and writer of Trinidadian roots, stated that Girmitya Archives is a highly needed project that will be beneficial to all those who are engaged in a more-than-ever expanding field of Indian diaspora research.
As the Girmitya Foundation prepares to host Kaveesh The Band in concert, bandleader Kaveesh Maharaj promises an exciting, unique event with the best of classic and modern Bollywood tunes.
Maharaj is the first West Indian to have studied under the Oscar-winning composer Dr AR Rahman. Maharaj said, “Come prepared to have a wonderful evening filled with tasteful music.”
Special Indian snacks such as samosas, pakoras and chai will be on sale. Admission is $200 and tickets are currently on sale at Praimsingh’s Puja Bhavan in Chaguanas and Curepe.
All proceeds support the work of the Girmitya Foundation. For more information, visit the Facebook pages of the Girmitya Foundation and Kaveesh The Band.
