Prathit Misra | India and Jamaica – shared legacies of independence

August is special for India and Jamaica. Both countries achieved independence from colonial rule during this month,15 years apart. Many would believe that the similarities end here. After all, what could two countries, 15,000 kilometres away from each other, with not even a single direct flight, have in common? Of course, the Indian community here is very much a part of the mainstream. But so is the case in almost all countries around the globe. Then what explains the special bond between our two countries?

To understand this, we will have to rewind a bit and travel back in history. In Jamaica, personalities like Marcus Garvey transformed the fight for independence into a struggle for equality, not only with the colonialists but also within the society. In the words of Garvey, “There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society with a large segment of the people in that society who feel they have no stake in it.” In India, leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar professed that independence would be futile without equality for all. Also, Jamaican and Indian leaders never limited their focus only to the well-being of their countrymen but thought about the upliftment of human beings all over the world. Gandhi’s mission in life was to ‘wipe every tear from every eye’ irrespective of nationality, creed, race, or gender.

LEADERSHIP FORESIGHT

It was the foresight of the leadership of both countries in fighting and securing a measure of self-government before eventual independence that trained the masses in democratic processes. It ensured a smooth transition to democracy, unlike some other newly independent colonies that slid into autocracy or anarchy.

There are striking similarities in the constitutions of both countries, too. Both are parliamentary democracies with bicameral legislatures. The ‘Fundamental Rights’ to life, personal liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of association, and freedom from discrimination form the third chapter in both the Indian and the Jamaican constitutions. The primacy of the Judiciary in deciding upon constitutional matters and the evolution of jurisprudence in the years since independence has many common elements. Apart from this, one can draw parallels in the amendment procedures of the Constitution, the role of the executive, etc. We owe some of these similarities to the British but largely to the similar visions of establishing a free and equal society born from having undergone centuries of pain and exploitation. That Jamaica has seen more than a dozen transfers of political power - seventeen -through the ballot since independence and India is no mean feat.

FOREIGN POLICY

As far as foreign policy is concerned, Jamaica and India are flag bearers of South-South cooperation. Both are also members of the non-aligned movement and the Commonwealth. Both have shared stakes in shaping the emerging architecture of various multilateral institutions to address existing inequities and addressing major contemporary issues related to energy and food security, international terrorism, and climate change.

Having similarly worked for over half a century to establish rule of law, and equitable global order, it is hardly a surprise that we think alike and embody similar values. No wonder Indians find Jamaica easy to adjust to and feel at home here. The comfort of similar cuisine, climate, and the seven quarters old Indian community are additional perks.

With solid political foundations, both India and Jamaica are also excelling economically. Despite the severe second COVID-19 wave, the Indian economy is on the path to recovery. Even by conservative estimates, India will rebound to a 10% growth rate in the current financial year. The Jamaican economy has also held up well during the pandemic. Even before the pandemic, the World Bank referred to Jamaica’s macroeconomic turnaround as a ‘silent revolution’. Close economic cooperation between India and Jamaica is a sure-shot way to recover faster from the pandemic. Besides traditional areas like trade in goods and traditional services, there is a scope for cooperation in the knowledge and health sectors. Linking up Indian IT companies and technology institutions like IITs and IIMs with Jamaican counterparts can add immense value. Similarly, joining hands between Indian medical institutions and Jamaican ones can provide cutting-edge medical technologies at a fraction of the cost.

MEDICAL CAMPS

The High Commission of India organised thirteen free medical camps across Jamaica in January this year in association with Indian community doctors, pharmaceutical companies, nurses, and pharmacists, as well as local administrations. The camps provided services to more than 1,400 people and were appreciated by one and all. To mark the beginning of 75 years of India’s independence and 60 years of Jamaica’s independence, we will again organise simultaneous free medical camps and back-to-school check-ups across Jamaica in the third week of August. The details will soon be shared through our social media accounts.

To conclude, we are similar not because of accident, but by design. We have worked hard to come out of the yoke of colonialism and become democracies that value equality, freedom, and entrepreneurship. But we have a long way to go to live up to all the dreams envisioned by our leaders and freedom fighters. This August, as Jamaica and India start their 60th and 75th years of independence, let us resolve to cooperate closely in building truly equitable societies bereft of discrimination. In the words of Garvey, “Up, you mighty race, accomplish what you will.”

Prathit Misra is the chargé d’affaires at the High Commission of India in Jamaica. Comments can be sent to cons.kingston@mea.gov.in.