Jain Spirit 2001 06 No 08

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 57

HISTORY
T
Y
Early pioneers in Mombasa, where the first Jain temple was built
KENYA'S DHOW DESCENDANTS
HE EMOTION-CHARGED CEREMONY REACHED ITS CLIMAX AS A
group of four persons, all in their 80s, moved to break a coconut to mark the opening of a unique exhibition at the National Museum in Nairobi. The inauguration of the AsianAfrican Heritage Exhibition on 12 February 2000 turned a dream into reality for the 100,000-strong community, largely comprising people whose ancestors came to the East African shores from the Indian subcontinent over a century back.
The ancestors, going back to three generations or more, had come in dhows (wooden boats) traversing trade routes of the Indian Ocean, guided by seasonal winds and impelled by a craving for adventure and search for greener pastures. They found it all and much else in East Africa, especially Kenya. In her fascinating work, 'We Came in Dhows' Cynthia Salvadori portrays the dhow through the peoples' stories as the symbol of change which the early Indian pioneers brought to Kenya - and Kenya to them.
Reflecting the diversity of the community, the colourful inaugural ceremony featured a brief classical dance as a tribute to Lord Ganesha; a patriotic duet - "Kenya Zindabad" (Long Live Kenya); and a custom-composed song for the occasion - "Asia to Africa" sung by Avni Dave representing the latest generation of the dhow people.
Who are these people? Indigenous Kenyans called them muhindis (those from Hind or India), a term still in usage in the Swahili language. They were mostly known as "Indians" until the partition of India in 1947. As a device to insulate themselves from the repercussions of the partition, they chose for themselves
Jain Spirit June-August 2001
56
silə inanmohang s Ambassador
Rajiv Bhatia writes about an exhibition on the early history of East African Indians whose descendants today are some of the most ardent supporters of Jain Spirit
a new name, "Asians" - as in the United Kingdom. The name stayed on despite its obvious oddity. It remains a preferred word over a more reasonable substitute, "South Asians", for they owe their origins principally to India and, to a lesser extent, to Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Against this backdrop the planners of the exhibition invented a new name "Asian Africans". Dr. Sultan Somjee, Curator of the exhibition said, "How I define my social identity is my responsibility. For it is also my human right to practise and enjoy my bi-continental tradition. I hold the culture of the Indian Ocean of my Asian ancestors and their African descendants. That makes my family Asian African."
It is an enlightened and rational way to define the community. But will it gain universal acceptance? Many seem to be doubtful, arguing that "Kenyans of Indian Origin (KIO)" is preferable as long as the word "Indian" refers to the Ocean or the subcontinent.
India's connection with East Africa is undoubtedly several thousand years old. It predates the arrival of the white man in Africa. Yet, European writers have tended to downplay the importance and longevity of the linkage. There are exceptions, however.
The first sizeable influx of Indians to Kenya was triggered by the construction of the Uganda Railway from Mombasa to Kisumu during the period 1896-1901. The Asian African Heritage Exhibition places a special focus on the contribution of Indians to the construction of the railway. The British administration brought over 30,000 indentured