Oh Bhagwan! The Indians are rising (in Tobago)

These are changed times for Tobago, according to the man in the street. The recent boom in construction brought new faces to the island, among them an expatriate oriental community, and a fair amount of 'Trinis' across from the sister isle. There's even been a few new residents from as far away as the Indian continent itself. As it happens, not everyone who comes to stay, looks the same way as those who comprise the key population. To repeat, it's all part of the times in which we live.

The influx of the different racial elements here has not been benign as perfectionists and optimists would hope. 'Incidents' occur, although there has not been a scourge of open conflict. In the undercurrent of what passes for population dynamics, kindred spirits will, and do polarize, in spite of the calls for integration by all noteworthy religions and philosophies. In the midst of this the Tobago Indo Multicultural Association (TIMA) now lifts its head, no doubt hoping to fast-track integration between the major racial parties involved.

It's a delicate walk ahead for such a group in this small island, akin to the proverbial stroll in a minefield. In spite of its political bond, the population of the twin islands are not exactly in sync in every way. Therefore parochialism can be a problem here in Tobago, as it is in almost every small community worldwide.

The various races now living in Trinidad has long since crossed this bridge. For them there were advantageous mechanisms like the Carnival or the structured nature of diverse workplaces. Such forced opportunity does not exist in Tobago, as in reality the National Festival has stabilized into a Port-of Spain based event, and the limited state jobs here are already filled by Tobagonians. As such the groups may never converge in the workplace, nor the fete.

The new arrivals to Tobago, especially those of the Indo community, gravitate towards the trades, to business, or even to the professions as cursory investigations reveal. Obviously the different groups need meet on a social level for barriers to dissolve. Consider too, ordinarily people believe things they hear repeatedly, and our folklore is replete with hilarious (and pathetic) stories concerning the races. As it is, only the certifiably mad person would deny the existence of racial stereotyping.

Stereotypes of the races are not bandied openly among civil company, yet the fact the jargon is understood by everyone must show a common usage. Who among us hasn't heard of the propensity of the people from South Asia for creating successful businesses? Or for committing suicide, even taking others along for their ride to eternity.

The tendency to brand in this manner doesn't stop at the Asians, the Indos, nor with the Orientals. Those who claim African descent must be familiar with similar generalizations. Some stories may be cultivated, some may be denounced as 'oh so wrong', but they all reside in our vernacular. To get rid of them in a proper manner requires education, knowledge of each other shared in a friendly and open manner. This is the broad hope of the budding Tobago Indo Multi-Cultural Association.

The gathering they envisage will ideally provide a cultural sanctuary for knowledge seekers, inclusive of, and despite religious callings. The choice of the term 'Indo' is meant to merely place a geographic underpinning to a common place of origin. India for this group is a region of focus, the source of the groups philosophies and where some of its founding concepts reside. A key objective of the group is to share, debunk myths, and eventually through interaction, to integrate.

There may be queries by some. Will adults, even children who are not 'Indian' be welcome to participate? What could the group do to motivate such seemingly outside interest? Again stated objectives provide the short answers. The Tobago Indo Multicultural Association does not mean only a forum for song and dance, or veneration of cult. It will look to facilitating opportunity for all with whom it interacts. It will be magnet for the eye of India. The sub-continent can provide new opportunities for the islands children - regardless of their phenotype.

In fact, recently there's been talk of Indian big business looking over the Cove Industrial Estate. That's wealth in creation, maybe wealth destined for migration. Why not create the chance for some of the money and opportunity from South Asia to stay here? Think scholarships, think skills building, or think bigger markets. It's not that the TIMA sees itself taking the role held by a Chamber of Commerce, nor even like the conduit such as the THA must be, but it does see itself as a stakeholder for the concerns of a minority whose views are yet to be represented on these shores.

There may be dreamers in the group, but their feet are solidly planted on Tobago ground. They do not expect the proverbial red-carpeted welcome from this very insular society where, when interests collide, even cousins hurl insults at each other. However, the route to be covered for true integration may be simpler than it looks. Indeed the Indo community has some strengths already - some currency to buy into the Tobago of the future.

A exchange of the cuisine or the local love for Indian food is one such ticket. Not everyone in Tobago has access to neighbors who can produce exotic meals. So adults may find it easy to contemplate the sharing of recipes, to enter into food events, maybe even to include the 'original Indian item' as a section in the annual culinary festival. What's to lose, except a trim waistline?

Another way is through service. A few doctors who were trained in India and now practice here, indicate a willingness to participate in outreach to the wider rural communities. While they may never be able to handle the logistics to get it done at a personal level, obviously their chances of doing so as part of a benevolent organization will increase hundredfold.

So as the physical landscape changes to reflect the nations needs, it's worth looking on as the Tobago Indos make their contribution to the islands outlook. For the skeptic, it's worth the time to contemplate an old saying the group has modified; "We are not here to make excuses, but to make good!"