Kamagata Maru revisited: Bramptonian paid rich tribute on centenary commemoration

Rationalist Society Ontario-Brampton and Indo Canadian Workers Association-Brampton jointly put up a mesmerising show in Brampton on Sep 14,2014. Chinguacousy Secondary School’s auditorium witnessed this historic event on the part of South Asian Community where people participated with full enthusiasm with national fervor and felt pride to be associated of their forefather’s revolutionary past by paying rich tribute in a jam packed hall of 700 seats.

The event started with a brief Speeches delivered by Joginder Singh Grewal and Dr Baljinder Singh Sekhon, Amrit Singh Dhillon  followed by a historic play ‘SUTEY SUTEY PANIAN CH AA GIA UBAL’ (Silent water set on fire) written and directed by Harkesh Chaudhry of Lok Kala Mach-Mullanpura Punjab India who endured enormous pain for the preparation of drama within eleven days. Mr Harkesh was here in Toronto on a short visit from India.

Addressing the audience, Dr Baljinder Sekhon castigated the Harper regime whose immigration policies are going back to the 1914 era when Canada pursued racist policies to maintain Canada a white country. He said, the latest changes in immigration laws (C-24) will make more difficult for new immigrants and existing Asians families in Canada to sponsor their beloved ones.  Mr. Joginder Grewal spoke about the historical importance of Kamagata Maru event which compelled Canadian Government to bring changes in their immigration policies.

Play set out in the atmosphere of 1900s era giving inch by inch details of then peasant’s miserable conditions and hardship when farmers were not able to feed their families because of atrocious high taxation rate. Consequently, the per capita income dwindled from Rs 28 to 18 from 1880 to 1899. India faced about 25 famines in last fifty years of 19^th century which were manufactured by British rule and their wheat stock piling policies. Under those precarious socio-economic situations of India; Sardar Gurdit Singh, a businessman from Amritsar hired a ship from a Japanese Company by paying $11,000 so that 376 persons could sail direct from India to Vancouver in their pursuit of better livelihood. Filled with dreams on the foreign shores, these passengers were faced with the harsh Canadian Immigration laws, implemented by ruthless Immigration Officer W.C.Hopkinson who has also served Indian Police under British rule. Hopkinson with the help of his informer Bela Singh and Harnam Singh managed to infiltrate Kamagat Maru passengers and their Vancouver based supporters i.e. Khalsa Dewaan Society and Gadar Party. His conspiracy bore fruits and he successfully sent the ship back to India in order to maintain Canada a White Country, the prime motto of then Canadian government.

Upon the return to Indian shore, Kamagata Maru passengers were faced yet another blow from British rulers as they were fired upon when about 20 passengers were killed, several injured and (barring few) rest of them faced imprisonment. Play ends with raising burning questions from the audiences, whether it is justified to brand Gurdit Singh merely a  businessman? Whether it is appropriate to derecognise role to Gadri Leader Sohan Singh Bakhna? Is it easy to forget the martyrdom of Kartar Singh Sarabha? Is that proper homage to Bhagat Singh without realising his dream?

It is pertinent to note that all criminals on the side of Canadian government were killed by Gadarites. Hopkinson, his informer Harnam Singh and Arjan Singh were killed in Vancouver on Sep 3 and Sep 5 1914 whereas Hopkinson was shot dead in the court room by Mewa Singh on October 21, 1914. Bela Singh relocated to India but revolutionaries did not spare him and killed him in 1935. 

The play was a visual retreat with fantastic cut to cut scenes and  able to convey its message forcefully that audience was not able to move a bit. It narrated all the historic incidents in an absolute dramatic way. Set was beautifully designed by Balraj Shokar, imbibed with so many lyrical compositions enacted by more than ten characters so was the music on its heights. All the songs sang during the play were taken from the annals of Gadar Lehar publication.  

Selected characters of the same drama team, presented second play “Bhoot” (Ghost) written by Bramptonian author Kulwinder Khera, reflecting the ideology of rationalist movement against superstitions and unscientific culture prevailed in south Asian community. It’s a tale of a young girl who is fighting with her oneself in pursuit for her love. Her inner conflict is narrated in a way that her parents start believing that their house is under some demonic attack. They try to bring in Baba and Gyani ji etc who are just interested in making money. The friend of the girl’s father intervene and find out the inner conflict of young woman and expose the cultural backwardness of his friend, at last he manage to convince the parents not to be a victim of society but to play a leading role to change it.

The artists who played roles in two plays and one chorographic event were Samar, Amninder, Antarpreet Kaur,Navnoor, Ram Singh, Vikramjit,Amarjeet Kaur, Karamjeet, Sharanjeet Singh Raju, Sumeet, Anita and Bupendra Singh. Lightings were managed by Kulwinder Khera, Surjeet Malli, Music was conducted by Navnoor who also took responsibility of Production.

The best attraction of the event was a magic show, performed by Scott Dietrich. His interactive magical tricks were widely enjoyed by kids and wholeheartedly appreciated by youngsters and elders too. Programme lasted about five hours.

The unique programme came out with a thunderous success despite all odd and ruckus created by some dissident elements and some ex-member of Rationalist society. Some scrupulous elements were active thru media and fundamentalist religious organisation who once threatened to protest against this programme on some unfounded rumors of so-called blasphemy. Undoubtedly, the success and high turn out on the venue is the real testimony of a complete rejection of anti-social elements and a victory to democratic aspirations of the masses.