Senior BJP leader Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal of Bhukhari Kalan on Thursday paid solemn tribute on the 111th anniversary of the Komagata Maru incident, calling it one of the “most painful chapters” in the history of the Indian diaspora and “a cruel betrayal” of justice and equality.
In a statement marking the anniversary, Grewal reflected on the voyage of the Komagata Maru, which left British India in 1914 carrying 376 passengers—340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims, and 12 Hindus—in search of dignity and opportunity in Canada. Instead, they were denied entry under exclusionary immigration laws and forced to return.
“Today, we remember with solemn respect the 376 courageous passengers—340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims, and 12 Hindus—who set sail from British India to Canada in 1914, driven by hope, dignity, and the dream of a better life. Instead of opportunity, they were met with exclusion and injustice, turned away by racist immigration policies that saw them as less than equal,” said Grewal.
Describing the episode as a “human tragedy”, the Kisan Morcha leader emphasised that the Komagata Maru passengers had become “symbols of unmatched courage and resistance against colonial injustice”.
He added, “This day is not only a memorial. It is a call to today’s leaders across the world—to confront injustice in all its forms, to acknowledge historical wrongs with honesty, and to ensure that the values of equality, dignity, and human rights are never compromised again.”
Grewal underlined the need for contemporary leaders to recognise ongoing struggles faced by minorities and migrants across the globe.
“Drawing attention to the struggles faced by migrants and minorities even today, Grewal urged governments to take moral responsibility and action. ‘We owe it to the past. We owe it to the future. Let the memory of Komagata Maru guide our conscience and commitments,’” he said.
In closing, Grewal stressed that reckoning with the past is integral to ensuring a more just future.
“We grow stronger as a people and as a nation when we face our history with courage—and we grow braver when we make sure such wrongs are never repeated. In the memory of those who suffered, let us rise for justice, inclusion, and equal humanity,” he declared.
Also read: Canada PM Carney calls Komagata Maru tragedy a 'national failing'
Background of the Komagata Maru incident
The Komagata Maru incident of 1914 remains one of the most poignant episodes in the history of immigration and colonial-era racial discrimination. The Komagata Maru was a Japanese steamship that set sail from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada, carrying 376 passengers, mostly Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu immigrants from British India.
At the time, Canadian immigration policies were deliberately exclusionary, designed to limit non-European immigrants through restrictive laws such as the Continuous Journey Regulation. This rule required that immigrants arrive directly from their country of origin by continuous passage — an almost impossible feat for Indian migrants given the shipping routes available.
Upon reaching Vancouver harbour, the passengers aboard the Komagata Maru were denied entry. Canadian authorities detained the ship for two months, during which time the passengers suffered from deprivation of food, water, and medical care. The local South Asian community and activists sought to assist, but the government remained firm in enforcing exclusion.
Eventually, the Komagata Maru was forced to return to India. Upon arrival in Budge Budge, near Kolkata, a confrontation with British authorities led to the Budge Budge riot, resulting in several deaths among the passengers. Many passengers faced brutal reprisals by British colonial authorities, including imprisonment and killings, particularly in the Punjab region.
The incident exposed the racial prejudices entrenched in the immigration policies of the time and became a symbol of the struggle against discriminatory laws targeting people of colour within the British Empire. It has since been remembered as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by early immigrants and the need to confront historical injustices.
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