Artifact #2: Indians on the Komagata Maru

Citation: Indian immigrants on board the KOMAGATA MARU in English Bay, Vancouver,British Columbia, 1914. Photograph. Library and Archives Canada, Item ID number 3192402 https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=3192402&q=komagata%20maru&ecopy=a034015 

This artifact is an image of the passengers of the Komagata Maru as they are being refused entry into the country. In the photograph, the men seem to be protesting as an act of dissent towards Canada’s immigration policies that purposely want to exclude culturally and ethnically unwanted immigrants, specifically South Asians, leading to unrest within the crowded group stuck on a ship that is stranded along the coasts of Vancouver. Additionally, with India being a British colony like Canada, they are still not seen as equals despite being part of the same British empire with discriminatory regulations to keep Canada a “White” country, believing that non White settlers do not bring much value to the workforce of Canada due to racist ideologies the Canadian government held towards people of colour. Though Canada claims to want migrants in the country, the Komagata Maru incident brings Canada's racist ideologies to light for their refusal of South Asians being admitted in the country.

Bibliography: The Canadian Encyclopedia. “Komagata Maru,” n.d. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/komagata-maru.