30/05/2026
Indian Arrival Day commemorates the arrival of the first 225 indentured labourers from Calcutta, India to Trinidad, on May 30th 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack.
The Fatel Razack brought not only a new labour force to assist in the economic development of Trinidad, but also a new people with a new culture. These indentured labourers were primarily young adults from the agricultural regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, brought to work on the sugarcane and cocoa plantations following the abolition of slavery.
Indian Immigration to Trinidad spanned the period 1845-1917. During this period over 140,000 Indians were transported to the island. The journey was long and arduous and living conditions were deplorable. After disembarking at Nelson Island, the arrivals were fed and rested for a couple weeks and then sent to the various estates that had requested them previously.
This holiday honors the sacrifices, resilience, and cultural contributions of East Indians to the development of the twin-island republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Place names in Trinidad still reflect these labourers today:
Fyzabad
Barrackpore
Chandernagore
Madras Settlement
Hindustan Village
Delhi Road
Agra Street
Benares Street
Lucknow Street
Bombay Street
