Komagata Maru Apology
Today, Monday May 23rd, marks the anniversary of the day that a Japanese steamship full of Punjabi passengers sailed into the Burrard Inlet, in Vancouver, British Columbia. They travelled a long and hard journey, in search of better lives for their families and better opportunities. Of the 376 passengers on board, only around 20 were admitted into Canada. The others were forced to return to India, where many of them were killed, jailed or put on house arrest upon their arrival. This incident is one example of the incidents that took place in the early 20th century in the United States and Canada, to keep out immigrants of Asian origin.
102 years later, the Canadian government has issued a formal and heartfelt apology. Our Prime Minister had the following words for the Punjabi community, and the victims and relatives of the incident:
“For our indifference to your plight.
For our failure to recognize all that you had to offer.
For the laws that discriminated against you, so senselessly.
And for not formally apologizing sooner.
For all these things, we are truly sorry…
Just as we apologize for past wrongs, so too must we commit ourselves to positive action – to learning from the mistakes of the past, and to making sure that we never repeat them. That is the promise and potential of Canada.”
By Navkiran Brar
