The
elders’ shifting eyes expressed doubts such as those that come from the fright
of loss of direction of one gone astray in a jungle. Then someone asked a
different question that made the panchayat assembly think again, “Why is it that
every caste around Haripur is going to Africa but the African Siddis are not?”
More doubts were now expressed in questions about the Siddis, “Why are the
Siddis staying behind? What will they eat? Where will they get the water from?”
These questions silenced all for a while before they began asking again, “Do
they know something we don’t? Do they eat people in Africa? Will the English
enslave us to work in mines and on plantations?” The elders shook their heads
from side to side dole dole in agreement, “Yes there must be a reason why they
are not leaving.” Finally the panchayat council sent Mota Bhai to enquire from
the Siddis why they do not leave Saurashtra for Africa yet they have no food in
their granaries.
When
Mota Bhai returned, his hands were trembling; his voice shook when he told the
panchayat what the Siddis said to him. “Our forefathers worked this land and
fought for dignity. Here they served, ruled, cleared the jungle and built forts
so we may live with pride,” they said. “Our ancestors protect us now. If we
leave, who will bring the unshaven coconuts and incense smoke to their altars?
Who will dance the goma? Whom shall we consult when our children are born and
their destinies made? Whom shall we
consult at marriages? Whom shall we consult at funerals? Yes, we are hungry,
yes there is no food in our granaries but our ancestors reside here. This land
is ours and we are free.”
The
Siddis then put questions to Mota Bhai that he said, he not only had no replies
to but had never before even thought about. They asked: How could the
panchayats of Saurashtra, who had never been enslaved or dispossessed of their
country, know what was in the hearts of the Siddis? How could they understand
the African custom that reveres the land where the ancestors are buried not
cremated? Did the Indians have slave memories like those of the Siddis? Did
their ancestors walk in coffles under the blazing sun? Ancestors,
exhausted-beaten-starved sleeping in coffles? Ancestors, in coffles made to
copulate to replenish the slave stock for their masters? Then a Siddi elder who
was so thin and weak that he could not stand without shaking even when holding
a stick, asked, "How could they? Their heads are full of what the English did to
the Indians, not what the Indians did to the Africans?"
----------------------------------------
http://khojawiki.org/Gujarat_Famines_%26_Khoja_Migrations and then also from here click on an article by Mike Davis and Jambudeep's Blog
BBC Documentary on Indian Migrations during the Famine Years
BBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxl4q_jfDPI
Siddhis
For more on the Siddhis of the Indian sub-continent click below. View some amazing historical photographs and paintings of the Siddhis
http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africansindianocean/essay-south-asia.php
For the present day photos of Siddhis see:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-22637058
Siddhis the fast disappearing Indians of African origin:
http://qz.com/440978/meet-the-fast-disappearing-community-of-indians-and-pakistanis-of-african-origin/
2 comments:
Hello!
Just discovered Bead Bai! We met at Nairobi U in the mid-80s when I was beginning my SUNY MA on Turkana material culture. You suggested I read Ngugi wa Thiong'o. How to thank you? I teach just across the border and am hoping a conversation might be possible, at your convenience, please? Sarah Williams
Hi Sarah:
I cannot recall. Had many students at the campus. It will be nice to talk. Wait for the 2nd edition of Bead Bai to be out in March if you have not ordered already.
Thanks for writing,
Sultan
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