Canada: Komagata Maru Plaque in Vancouver Vandalised

Damaged Komagata Maru Commemoration Plaque in Vancouver
Damaged Komagata Maru Commemoration Plaque in Vancouver

Vancouver, Canada—In an act of vandalism, the plaque commemorating the Komagata Maru incident has attempted to been prised away from it’s backing. The authority in Vancouver have been informed and a reply is forthcoming.

The Komagata Maru, a Japanese steam liner, was chartered in 1914 by Gurdit Singh, an affluent Sikh businessman, to carry 376 Indians, all Punjabis to Canada. 

When the Komagata Maru docked at Vancouver, the passengers were not allowed to land in Canada. Eventually, the ship was forced to return to India. The passengers consisting of 340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims, and 12 Hindus, who were all were British subjects had to suffer the hardship of many weeks sailing back. This was the most notorious “incident” in the history of Canada’s attempt to limit British Citizens of Indian decent from entering Canada.

In remembrance of the intolerant and The plaque, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the event was installed in 1989, and is situated at Portal Park in down-town Vancouver.

The damage appears to be deliberate, due to the considerate force with which the metal plate will have needed to have been wrenched. It appears as if someone has tried to remove it.

The supervisor for the park has now been notified and is beginning to investigate.

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