BABA IN MAY

Erected in 1994 as a tribute to Suriname's Indian community, this statue of BABA in MAI (father and mother) means "where the earth brings salvation and work, there is my home". Despite this somewhat watered-down motto, the story isn't all rosy.

On June 5, 1873, a 61-meter-long sailing ship named Lalla Rookh docked in Suriname after a 99-day crossing. After 11 deaths at sea, she took on board 399 people: 279 men, 70 women, 32 boys and 18 girls. They were the first migrants from India to land in Suriname.

Indeed, following the abolition of slavery, the Dutch government opened its borders and called on foreign labor to work on the plantations, offering a contract in which the Indian immigrant committed to staying at least 5 years in the territory, in exchange for a salary and medical assistance.

Unfortunately, not everything changed overnight, and the living and working conditions of the first Indians were not so far removed from those of their unfortunate African predecessors. The history of the Surinamese plantations is marked by numerous revolts by Indian workers. But they had signed a contract and were not considered slaves. Between 1873 and 1916, a total of 34,000 migrants arrived from India. Today, they account for around 27% of Suriname's population.