The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) is soon to conduct heritage tourism in the city mainly focusing on Suriname Ghat from where thousands of indentured labourers are believed to have travelled to distant lands working in sugarcane plantations.
The port trust is soon to start a heritage tour -‘Voyage’ that will offer a guide aided tour in a 30 seater port vessel taking tourists across various places with historical significance. The tour which is reportedly to begin from the ‘Man-O-War jetty, Prinsep Ghat, will sail down the river Hooghly while stopping at historical landmarks.
The initiative will be done in association with the tourism ministry, as stated by a port official.
The tour which will be opened shortly will include sailing past historical landmarks and will end at the Suriname Ghat. It will also include a visit to the maritime archives and heritage centre of KoPT at Strand Road. The guides will elaborate on the historical significance in each of the sites as the tourists stop by at the designated places.
The KoPT chairman, Vinit Kumar had decided to take the initiative while inaugurating a plaque at the base of Mai Baap memorial at the Suriname Ghat.
He had mentioned that the KoPT would carry out development works and improve the access points to the ghat prior to the heritage tour.
The chairman had further stated that the tour will impart a glimpse into the rich heritage of the ports. In addition, many Indian nationals who are settled abroad while their ancestors were among the indentured labourers; often want to visit the Suriname ghat on returning to India. This tour will provide them with the perfect opportunity.
The minister of state, external affairs, MJ Akbar earlier inaugurating a plaque at the Suriname Ghat had mentioned the historical significance of the place stating that thousands of people from Kolkata, Bihar and Jharkhand were sent off from the Suriname ghat in ships to travel to various sugar plantations in distant lands to work as indentured labourers.
Though they were termed as ‘indentured labourers’ by the British, however, they were treated no less than slaves.
Most of these labourers were not sure whether they would ever return to their motherlands.