Union Minister M J Akbar today unveiled a Dutch plaque at the Suriname Ghat here on the banks of Hoogly river, which was the point of departure of Indian indentured labourers to the then Dutch colony in South America.
The plaque in Dutch language along with the English translations was installed by the Netherlands government.
It was placed at the 'Mai Baap' (mother and father) Memorial, which was unveiled in 2015 and is a depiction of the men and women indentured workers who had left the Indian coasts to work as labourers in sugarcane plantation in Suriname.
The original 'Baba and Mai' monument is in Parimaribo, the capital of Suriname, and symbolises the first Indian man and woman to set foot in the Dutch-speaking nation.
Ambassador of Netherands to India Alphonsus Stoelinga and Suriname envoy Aashna Kanhai were also present at today's unveiling at the monument.
Congratulating Suriname on its National Day, which marks its 42nd independence day, Akbar said, "When we talk about liberation, it is not only freedom from foreign rule, but is also the beginning. Freedom comes when we achieve freedom of aspirations".
"From here people crossed the seven seas to reach Suriname. They were taken as replacement slaves and not as employees during those days of colonial rules," he said.
The present generation of Indians in Suriname, whose parents and grand parents from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh had left the country between 1873 to 1917, never forgot their motherland, the union minister said.
"They carry with them the philosophy, values, culture and beauty of the nation till this date," Akbar said.
He said, "We are celebrating the resilience of human spirit, celebrating the ability of fellow Indians to make new achievements."
"Today they are ambassadors (Indian descendants in Suriname) talking about our country. They never forgot the past, only in order to create a new future," Akbar said.
Kanhai in her speech described the memorial "solid as a historical rock" and recalled how her ancestors had been among those who left their motherland, taking with them dhotis, sarees, the Gita and the Hanuman Chalisa for the settlers in Suriname, where around 34,000 east Indians went till 1960 and 65 per cent of them stayed back.
She said that Suriname retains Bhojpuri, Maithili and Awadhi cultures along with those of Chinese, indigenous and other communities.
The Dutch envoy recounted the history of Suriname and abolishment of slavery there.
Stoelinga said the descendants of the indentured labourers who stayed on are respected.
He thanked the Government of India for participating in the initiative.
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