Play highlights Komagata Maru chapter of BC history

By

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s been 100 years since the Komagata Maru landed here in BC.

The University of the Fraser Valley is premiering a play Saturday night, highlighting one of the darker chapters in BC’s history.

Sharanjit Sandhra from the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies at UFV explains “That Land Beyond the Waves” focuses on the moment in 1914 the 376 people from India were denied entry to Canada despite being British Commonwealth citizens.

“So there was this kind of two month long quote unquote battle or you know legal battle that took place where the lawyer or the legal representation for the passengers tried to allow for these men to come on shore and the Canadian government tried to use all these loops and hurdles to try to make sure they didn’t come on shore.”

Even though it happened in 1914, Sandhra says it’s important to recognize incidents like this because it still happens – like it did in 2010. “A boat full of Tamil migrants came and immediately sentiments of oh they are Tamil Tigers or they are terrorists come up so history time and time again repeats itself and so it’s important for us to reflect back and know we can’t make rash judgments right away, there is always a story that these men and women have.”

That Land Beyond the Waves” premieres Saturday with a matinee performance on Sunday.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today