Indo-Canadian Interview 51
In: icohc:49; local: Interview_51; uuid: 33cd1a49-4474-4335-b2a2-32bd010c9ced;; (1985)
Audio
Zugriff:
Il est arrivé au Canada en 1927, à l’âge de trois ans. Son grand-père a ouvert une scierie au Canada et il a fait venir il et sa famille quelques années plus tard. Il a fait ses études à Vancouver et il a quitté l’école en 11e année. Il a travaillé dans une scierie avec des gens de toutes les nationalités. En raison de la dépression économique, tous les travailleurs s’entraidaient et partageaient leur nourriture avec ceux qui en avaient besoin. Il croit que les Indiens ne cherchent pas à développer des amitiés et que les Blancs ne cherchent pas à se rapprocher des Indiens parce que ces derniers refusent d’agir comme des Canadiens. Il se souvient qu’à l’origine, les Indiens participaient à des parades où toutes les nationalités étaient représentées alors qu’aujourd’hui, ils veulent avoir leur propre parade. Il croit que de telles attitudes sont la source du racisme entre les Blancs et les indo-canadiens. Bunt dit ne pas avoir été harcelé lorsqu’il allait à l’école. Son grand-père est arrivé au Canada vers 1915. Il est venu en bateau, dans des conditions difficiles, et le voyage a duré trois mois en raison de nombreuses escales. Son grand-père a travaillé dans les scieries. Les conditions de vie étaient tellement difficiles aux Indes qu’il a décidé d’immigrer au Canada. Il a choisi le Canada parce que sa famille possédaient des scieries et ils ont encouragé les membres de leur famille à venir les rejoindre pour travailler. Son père, a aussi travaillé dans les scieries et il était champion canadien de lutte. Sa conjointe est d’origine britannique. Son grand-père avait fiancé il à une jeune femme riche aux Indes, mais il est tombé amoureux d’une jeune Blanche et l’argent ne l’intéressait pas. Lorsqu’elle est devenue enceinte, son père l’a menacé de le tuer ou de le renvoyer aux Indes. Elle fut envoyée à Victoria pour avoir l’enfant et l’éloigner, mais ils furent réunis par la suite. Elle est maintenant acceptée par sa belle-famille et sa famille aime beaucoup il. Il était alcoolique et fut envoyé en prison à 52 reprises pour des altercations lorsqu’il était en état d’ébriété. Il a trois enfants, mais il n’a jamais marié la mère de ses enfants. Il a cessé de boire lorsqu’on lui a confisqué son permis de conduire pour dix ans. Il n’est jamais retourné aux Indes parce qu’il n’avait pas la documentation nécessaire. Il n’est pas venu au Canada pour devenir riche : il se contente de profiter de la vie. Il raconte qu’à l’époque, les Indiens étaient pacifiques mais qu’aujourd’hui, ils causent des problèmes [manifestations, etc.]. Il croit que ces indo-canadiens devraient demeurer aux Indes s’ils souhaitent protester des questions politiques indiennes. Il croit que la communauté indienne a commencé à vivre des problèmes dans les années 1960, lorsque le nombre d’immigrants indiens a augmenté considérablement. ; [This transcript was created by optical character recognition (OCR) software and the accuracy depends on the quality of scanned images and complexity of original text.] SIKHS IN CANADA Interviewer: Professor, G. B.Basran Department of Sociology SIKHS IN CANADA Interviewer: Professor, Gurcharan Singh Basran. Date for the Interview: Time begin: Language: B. S.: How old are you Mr. Johal now? Informant: 61 years. B. S.: Are you married? Informant: Yes, married to a Canadian English girl. B. S.: I, see, you are married to a English girl now. How many children do you have now? Informant: I have one older son who is 43 now. B. S.: You said, you come from Punjab, District Jullundhur? Informant: Yes, sir. B. S.: And village Jandiala? Informant: Yes, sir. B. S.: What was your age when you arrived here? Informant: Born in 1927, I was three years old. B. S.: And what were some of the main reasons for, you came with your dad, you were very young when you came here, how you came here? You came with your family member? Informant: No, my grandfather came with my two brothers and started a business here, Lumber Business, he sent for my father, my father came three years before I did, and sent for my mother, and she came in 192?. ' B. S.: Oh, I see, you got most of the information from your family, your father was here and grandfather was already here, so you got most of the information about Canada from the members of your family? Do you remember anything on the boat, you were very young boy when you came any recollection like --- Informant: No, I don't remember that, but people tell that it was a nice trip. B. S.: When you came, you were very young and grew up in Canada, like you went to school? Informant: Oh, yes I did. page 2 B. S.: What grade did you get? Informant: First grade six then from six I went to High School and went to grade 11. B. S.: So, you finished grade 11? Informant: Mo, I did not finish it, I quit, I had to go to work. B. S.: This was a school in Vancouver? Informant: Yes, Vancouver, B. C. B. S.: What was the name of your school? Informant: You mean, High School? B. S.: Yes. Informant: Kitchlano High. B. S.: Now, our main interest is really the job, like the first job, first number of job, what was your first job? Informant: Well, my first job, I used to get ten cents a day after school, throw wood in the yard, and in the Summer Holidays too, then I started getting the fix, the day. B. S.: You were working in the Mill? Informant: No, I was hauling the woods, fire wood, in people housed, there was no gas nothing like that, there was all wood to burn in the furnace and cooking and in so many things, most of the East Indians mostly were in this business. So, sell wood to other people, English people, by horses or by the trucks, my grandfather used to take the horses and sell woods on the horses. I still remember, when he used to take the horses. B. S.: Oh, I see. So, what you do, is simply deliver wood to the different houses? Informant: No, sales man, you sell them, too many business, cider wood, ham- rock, f*to^ fear was the best, lot of jjpeople buy that, spruce and other kind were the worst they would not want to buy that. You get five dollars a day after driving the horse and support your family. B. S.: So, this is the first full time job you had? Informant: No, I got a full time job and I would get dollar and a half a day. I used to get that much for that job, I just pick up the wood off the chaine, for another shoots and trucks just used to take them away. B. S.: It was in the Mill? Informant: Yes, in the Saw Mill, nine dollars a week. B. S.: And how were the conditions, working days, like mostly there were Indians, or working with Whites or both? page 3 Informant: No, I was working with white people, Chinese, Neagros etc. We would fet along good, no trouble at all no discrimination. They need a loaf of read I give them bread, they need a butter I give them butter, we have second job we spread it, there was depression at that time, before I used to get dollar and half a day nine dollars a week, depression, even more starving, you get five dollars a day that is good living, with one dollar you go down town, fish and chips soup and sandwich and you are going to have coconut pie or apple pie and milk shake with it for 25 cents, and you see the show for a nickle, you still come back home with 25 or 35 cents in your pocket out of one dollar. B. S.: Is that right, when you were working full time, were you living on your own or you were living with your parents? Informant: Bunts Oh, I was doing half and half, sometimes I used to live with my girl friend, now my wife, used to live at her place, mostly I live by my own, trying to help my parents, I have got eight sisters? B. S.: Eight sisters? Informant: Yes, they were sight and I got three brothers, they were not born then. B. S.: So, they were all brought in here, later on? Informant: They were born here. B. S.: Oh, they were born here? Informant: Yes, none of them was born in India. B. S.: So, they all came before you did? Informant: Yes, well --- B. S.: So, when you were growing up, you would not say that there was any discrimination or anything like that? Informant: Oh, no, never, even now the truth is nobody ever call me black Hindu or Hindu, like that, they respect and they remembered back who we are, you see. B. S.: Is that right? Informant: We have been this $lace long time, 60 years long time. I say Hi to the white people, go up to them say how are you today? nice day today, one you don't know say how are you today, if they don't answer you back, well, you don't say that, if they answer you back then go and talk to them, you want a cup of coffee and he is your friend for the rest of your life, that is how we do all the time. You got to speak to them first, before they do, lots of people don't talk to them, they just go by, they do not know whether the other fellow is passing by, just like the wind is blowing, they do not know another white man is walking by you just say, how are you today Mr., the fellow may answer, if he doesn't answer well, keep on going. See, our people don't say nothing they just walk by like they are the only one going, nobody else is around to see them. B. S.: Why you think our people has changed, like your time you said the page 4 conditions were very good, they respected us, why do you think they changed now? Informant: Well, my own opinion, I think, they don't dress up with the same thing, carry the swords in one hand or on one side, even iheboys six years old carrying the swords in school and churches, they come home and explain the their parents, look, they are carrying the swords in school and they would wear for their whole life. But the white people they loose respect for the East Indians, why they are doing what they are doing, when they want to come to Canada, well, act like Canadians, dress the same way, act like Canadian, you should walk like Canadians. So, that makes the other people think, they are going to take over the w whole Canada, makes them change towards get little anyway against the East Indian people. They think they are still in India. B. S.: So, you think that causes hostality and racism sometimes on the part of the Whites? Informant: Oh, yes, I remembered when I was a kid, we used to go to school and there used to be the Exhibition here, still is, in the Exhibition, we dress up and put the turbans on our heads, carry those swords, go to the Parade with all Nationality and everything, that means, they were all togather the whole community used to get togather to make a big Parade out of it, now these East Indian people take their own Parade out and they have their separate Parade for themselves and they take the all paraders and Parade goes on in their Canadian holidays they get their Parades out and mix their soul and people having their holidays on holiday they take their Parade out, and they get mad at them, to block the roads and everything they say look ridiculous, take the Parade out in Canada why they should take the Parade out in Canada, ±h- take their own Parade out, they are not showing nothing, rather are showing their Granth Sahib, that is all there is, people singing like East Indian songs and everything like that, that is how they say, these people are crazy these East Indians out there, so, here white man say that East Indian say God damn white people, then they turn around and say God damn East Indian people, that where it starts so. B. S.: Mr. Johal, let me ask you, when you were going school,here, did you ever experience anykind of overt hostality or racism by other kids? Informant: Well, it was not hostality or thing like that, but one thing remembered that when I used to go to school, I went with Japnese before the World War for they kicked out, for the color people Chinese, the only thing that was not hostality all they used to say to me, was Singh, sing, sang, song, that is all, that is all was, all East Indians people had their last name, we had our last name Singh. But since every- body is trying to come to Canada, they dtarted to change their name whatever their last name is. B. S.: So, you had really no problem relating to others, when you were in school? Informant: No, they were all friends, never got beat up or anything, play base ball togather, foot ball togather no complain. B. S.: You say, your grandfather came here? page 5 Informant: Yes, he came first. B. S.: Ok, now, what time he came? Informant: Informant: in 1915, around that time. B. S.: Did you ever talk to him and find out what were the' conditions --- ? Informant: Oh, yes, he used to say, pretty rough, ten cents a day. B. S.: And how did he come to know about Canada and how did he arrive here, what was sort of his, as for as you can recall what was his ex- perience? Informant: Well, he never said anything bad, he was a big man you see, about six seven foot tall, three four feet wide, giant, like a giant. He never said much about anything, he was kind of a quiet man, would do his own business. B. S.: When did he die? Informant: I think, he died in 1939, just the Woild War time. B. S.: So, you actually remembered him quite well? Informant: Oh, yes, I used to saw wood with him, he let me saw woods, I remembered he had a 36 pieces of wagon kind a deal at first when I was six years old, then he had trucks, wood trucks four wood trucks, I re- membered that, I remembered, every year he buys the trucks. In 19^ drove international and then got a Dodge. B. S.: So, when if you recall something like, what was his age when he arrived here? Informant: I do not know about his age but used to tell me that when they came on the boat, they had a tough time they crawl like rats in there. B. S.: Is that right? Informant: Oh, yes, he said, they all sit on the bunks in there, and they had to crawl on one bunk just like sheep or pigs in there, like pigs crawl, you know, lot of people, when they came over they died right there, lot of people die there when they were coming over. B. S.: Is that right? Right on the boat? Informant: Oh, yes, it took them let us say, about two three months to get over here on the boat, no Air plane at that time. B. S.: And the living condition were so bad on the boat, so why did people die? Informant: Well, I don't know, what trouble was that, I just say, that people did not have enough fare, enough money to just get on, they could not afford private rooms or nothing, so room was just like the basement right on the deck, just bunk beds something like that, so many people. page 6 B. S.: And they would prepare their own meal? Informant: Oh, yes, they would prepare their own food, cook it all them- selves . B. S.: He left from Calcutta to Hong Kong, and from there he came to United States or he came here directly? Informant: No, I think he came right from Japan right across and went to England and otherwise in England and go this way go right across the other way and go through England. B. S.: Thefchey arrived --- Informant: That is why it took two three months, you see. B. S.: Where did he arrive then? Informant: He arrived in Victoria first, lot of them had the relations there, they got off, some of them got off in Victoria theyl start working there in Lumber Yards, working in the Rail Hoad and that but most our people started working in the Lumber Yard. The Chinese, they went for the Railways, some of our people went in the Lumber Yard, Saw Mills etc. B. S.: At that time? Informant: Yes. B. S.: Your grandfather worked in the beginning, where did he work? Informant: I do not know where did he work first, but I remembered when I grew up, I remembered he used to work in the Saw Mill on the 6th Avenue in Vancouver, Cider Post Saw Mill. B. S.: That is where he used to work? Informant: Yes, five days horses wagon towed wood, 2x4 and 2x6. So, fire wood, stove wood, nice pair of horses, I still remembered them, I still see them. B. S.: Did he ever talk to yen. about his early experiences like you were fairly young at that time, but you sort of sit and talk about old good days or his days in India, when he left India etc.? Informant: Oh, yes, he says, there was not much there to eat down •$ in India first, that is why he came here? B. S.: So, the conditions there were pretty rough? Informant: India was bad so he came here and then they started bringing us over here . B. S.: How did he find out about Canada? Informant: Well, they told me that they started coming over, our family, Johals, they were the first one to come over, they built the Saw Mill, page 7 they built their own Mills in Victoria too, as they built down here. So, they send the word back to us to come over, they have got the money here and you send it back then you have the money to come over here you see, my father came over here worked and send money over there and brought me here. B. S.: Your father is living? Informant: No, he died. B. S.: What about your father, did he ever talk about his experience? Informant: Oh, everything yes, everything about him. B. S.: He started working in Mills as well? Informant: Yes, Saw Mill, fire wood. B. S.: Same thing your grandfather did? Informant: Yes, but he drove the truck, instead of the horses. B. S.: I see, that is what all he did for the rest of his life or --- ? Informant: Yes, oh, no, he was wrestler, champion wrestler in Canada. B. S.: Is that right, what was his name? Informant: Gurdas Singh. B. S.: Now, could I ask you a thing, which may be bit personal, you said, you married a British woman? Informant: Yes, English. B. S.: How your parents reacted to that? Informant: Well, I will tell you that, that was really an experience to me, you see, when I was about six seven years of age something like that, I was engaged in India, my grandfather engaged me in India, some girl a very rich family, but never cared about money. Talking about school, I started going with two girls there and I fell in love with this one and by the time she was going to have a baby out of our love. So, my father he was sort of going to kill me, and her --- B. S.: He said, he would kill you? Informant: Oh, yes, he said he is going to just ship me back to India. And her father, they did not like her to be with Hindu, East Indian, so, we were both in trouble, finally, I ran away from home, she went to Victoria and had a baby, keep her away from me, she comes back and we both ran away with the baby too, Kulchan Lake. I started working there for about three four months, they could not, they wanted me back be- cause I was a top sales man there for woods business. They wanted me back here, and Christmas Day back, just before Christmas after New Year, I was picked up by the police, took me in front of the judge again, page 8 he asked me, what I was doing? I said, well, working this and that, how much make a deal, well five dollars a day sometimes make one hundreds dollar on sides, people used to make lot of money on sides, side mean you go up to thedoor sell wood, I charge you 15 dollars for it, so, you had the deal with your uncle or who had the business, just pay him five dollars for each load, if you sold 15, you put ten dollars on the left hand pocket and put his five on the right hand side pocket. So, you take to him 25 loads a day, 25 loads of wood everyday to sell them in eight hours you are making $100, and 125 dollars a day extra, never mind the five dollars. So, all that money goes to the beer bar everyday, lot of money. If you make 80 or 89 dollars extra a day you are just like a millionaire at that time. You buy ten cents a glass of beer at that time, you see, turned to alcohlic. B. S.: So, then you got married to that girl? Informant: No, three children, and then she is still with me, I went through alcoholic, I went to jail airing all different things. B. S.: Why did you go to jail? Informant: Well, East Indian people, we all got no turbans on there, East- Indian people, July the 1st there was a Sunday, I had some beer, my father and wife were with me, so my father said, give these guys bottle of beer, I gave two East Indian beer, opened the bottle with my teeth, give to them, they drank it, then as soon as they finished drinking, they said^ to me, you put your lips on it and then you gave us beer, I said, why the hell you drank the beer then, now you drank the beer and tell me after, I put the lips on it, you see. They did not like that, I said, why the hell you did not tell me that, they said, wait here we will fix you for that, I said I'll kill you go ahead. My father said, go and ask, I said no, no, dad you stay here, you got four five kids to look after, I will look after that no matter I will did, you still got to look after the family. So, I went there come out the door like high noon, way back there, they came with the guns, I was coming up, I thought they were just fooling with the toys, and I got right in here. B. S.: He shot you? Informant: Oh, yes, he shot me right on the leg, I grabbed my leg and jumped A down to put something around. V B. S.: This is the same guy, you served beer? Informant: Same guy, I gave the beer to. B. S.: He shot you first? Informant: Yes, he said he is going to shoot my dad, we were still arguing you see, with each other. --- B. S.: He was East Indian too? Informant: Oh, yes, my dad was going to go out and fight with him, he was in the reafcaurant, I said, no, no dad stay here, he is drunk or all that I said, I will look after him. I thought he is just kidding, we went in page 9 the house, the gun came out and they shot me here and I pulled him down, and start to swear to my mother you know, and that is dirty swearing word in East Indian language. I just turned him and shot him once here a and then right in the stomach. So, there were two bullets left. B. S.: So, you took his gun? Informant: Oh, yes, I took it away from him and I shot him twice and some- thing was you know if you shoot him or kill him that time was hanging in Canada, so you get hanged for killing somebody. B. S.: Yes, right. Informant: So, I just turned his gun down, turned, don't you ever swear to my mother, but he kept swearing, kept pounding his head off. Police was standing looking, and doing nothing never bothered, nothing, just looking. B. S.: The police wouldn't say anything? Informant: Well, if the police come in they would get shot you see, they were on the otherside. So, they were all standing on the side walk, all Japnese people everybody standing there watching. B. S.: It was right here in Vancouver? Informant: Yes, here on Second Avenue. Then the next door lady, I knew her daughter, she used to be my girl friend at one time, she told me that an East Indian fellow with his turban, he gave my mother five hundred dollars to go to the police station to tell that Bunt brought all of this in the truck. I went to the court, I said the mother there, I said, lady, do you know what put you in, I said, remember, go to the court tell them, so, she went to the court and told them, that the East Indian fellow paid her five hundred dollars that say, Bunt got the gun out of the truck, believe that, lady said, he brought the gun out of the house and shot Bunt first, Bunt took it away and shot him back. So, I got 30 days in the jail. B. S.: That is all you got? Informant: Yes, she told the truth after, you see. B. S.: Did your parents ever accepted your marrying the white lady? Informant: Oh, yes, she understands all East Indians' language and she makes all Indian pancakes Dal, Pakkoras etc. B. S.: But your parents accepted her? Informant: Oh, yes, they love her. B. S.: So, when did you get married? Informant: I got the licence, but I never got married, if it was not her I would not be alive, all East Indian people the old timers they know me everybody respects her, there is no one like her she could have left me page 10 long time ago, she is the one who stuck to me, I was in jail so many times, I went crazy drinking jailed about 52 times. B. S.: 52 times! Why? Informant: Oh, yes, everything was mixed up always, I was always under the influence of liquar, somebody is following me walking on the street, somebody say sure damn.1 would go and beat the other fellow and help them out. B. S.: White fellow'-" Informant: I would help them out, you see, I would not leave them alone, I know the guy if I know them well, I help them, otherwise I would not bother, they run away. Even East Indians at that time they used to play to get somebody, they had two parties. B. S.: What was the reason for those parties? Informant: Well, one side was Gills, other side was Rays, other .side they used to go down take the Temple in West Minister, going to West Minister, all of sudden they stopped us, other guys see us stop, they stopped their cars, I was only 15 orl6 years of age something like that, may be only 14, they tell me take this turban off, just one of my father's friend, So, I pulled the turban off and they left me there, I went in the jail, so, I got charge. Sometimes to Church on the Second Avenue go there and take the guys punch him by the nose. B. S.: Why would you do that? Informant: Well, I was kid, you see, I did not know what was the religion or anything like that. They were fighting, you see, I go ahead and hit them on the face, they charge me and I am in the jail. They used to get me drunk and leave me there, assault charge, I got an assault charge and went to jail, like they abused me, I should say that, that is what they did, my own people East Indian people abused me must like my uncles, they are millionaires. They have Saw Mills, I was top sales man in Vancouver, I got three shares split, one for the truck one for you one for me, three big shares, made hundred dollar, I get 33 off on third makes 66 of two third, they keep the 66 of two third my 33 would go into the drinking. So many tensions, my own uncles, my own people. so, I Auit drinking in 1971. B. s.: You don't drink now? Informant: No, since I got jailed and my licence was taken away for ten years. I never touched after I got jail for drink driving, I promised. The Judge took me out of the jail went down to Ottawa to sign for me, got my licence back, bought a $100 truck and boosted it up white man he is got 10,000 quartes of dollars he gave me free, you figure 8000x50 dollars, how much is that, let us say quick 40 000 dollars. No, 8000x50 dollars is 400 000 dollars, right or wrong? B. S.: Yes. Informant: Lot of people say oh, why you are doing this, I said, well, I get enough money to live, I am happy, I smile you know, getting over, well, page 11 you told me the other day 8000x50 that is only 40 000 and they come up to me and said, Bunt, you said, 4000x50 is only 400 000 dollars, I said, it took you two weeks to find out, I said, please don't bother me go away, come on I will buy you a coffee, no, I don't want no coffee. They cannot get into their head, they have to think about it after it goes into their head. B. S.: Listen, did you visit India sometime? Informant: No, I never. B. S.: You never been to India? Informant: Like I had no citizen paper, you see, when I came from India, there was only pass port, it said three year old boy, Bunt Singh that is all. There was, so, I had a lot of trouble then. I could not get the citizen paper, because I had not the record too. B. S.: Oh, I see. What could I ask you, few questions in reference to the changes in the Canadian Society since you were growing up and the situ- ation now, if yojt look back 60 years, what do you think of the changes, like for example, when you were growing up and you had your dreams you wanted to do something you think you were able to fulfill those things? Informant: You mean my dreams? B. S.: Yes, like when you were growing up, all of us have dreams? Informant: Oh, no, all I want my life was exist, live good, eat good, have friends. I did not care about money, I know about money and went through my hands, one hundred dollar and sometimes two hundred dollar a day, I just give a^ay to help people out, I even did not save, I learned that my- self money does not make that, we have little bit it is ok, if we have too much, it is no good, but to me money was no problem to me, and never was, if I have a dollar now, I would give away to the poor people who needs it. I fee 1940 before the War, I wish those days would be back again, these days, now like how people are treating each other, killing and beating was not1 like that it is now a days. There are lot of our people come down, you see, they kill their own people. B. S.: Now? Informant: Oh, yes, you see, there are lot of people who were killed, they kill their own wives, bomb in their own house, in son-in-lawa's house blowing up, and that guy is priest now. B. S.: So, this was not happening that time? Informant: Oh, no, people were very good, none was like that, people were good, you need a cup of coffee or tea, the next door neighbor is there, he calls you Mr. Singh, you see, then in the street, hello Mr. Singh, Hellow Mr. Brown, hellow Mrs. Smith that is all. They called no names back and forth, there were Chinese and Japnese all color people, they respect people, you help them out, they help you out, you are 00 on the street, you say no word to nobody, J5 white people pass you, you don t say a word, how can you get along with the world, page 12 you got to speak up little bit, you get involved with them, you see. B. S.: So, you think the Canadians or.if I understand you correctly, the conditions have really deteriorated in Canada as well as the East- Indians community is concerned? Informant: Oh, yes, very much. You see, I got scared of these people. B. S.: Because of these people, of our own people? Informant: Oh, yes, lots of time I go on my van and they are walkig on the street there and young white guys in the other car out, hi, you black Hindu, well, that is ok as soon as, sometimes I stop them you see, I get out off my van and say come here, what did you say, you called me black Hindu, and don't you ever call me that, I am Canadian, I am here as long as you have been here, next time if I see you I would through you out, they say sorry, I say well thank you very much. Remember what you said don't you ever say that again. In the beer bar if anybody say that I got lot of time ca / caught in the beer bar too. I stand up and tell them, I say sure you got to call me black, I am black, I said, you know what, you would listen / to me too, before we fight, I said why the hell you people go to the damn beach to put sun tan or god damn back and spend 50 dollars to buy that stuff and you get sun tan and go to Hawaii and you spend all you got spend that, god damn money and get black, come down here and call me black^buster, oh, be a good boy, you are a good man. B. S.: Did you get into fights with these white people when they call you names like this? Informant: No, I just talk sensible, just like I said, I listen to them started arguing after that, you don't say people come on I want to fight with you, they would not say that to you, you would be ready for him then, this way you just punch him out he is not ready then. B. S.: What do you think about the Sikh agitation, particularly I am inte- rested in the implications on this community here? Informant: Well, while they are here in Canada, they should keep quiet, what happens over there they should not bring it over here, they should go over there, if they want to fight. They burn the flag and dansed things like that. You know what I mean. Say you are my friend, Mrs. your wife she is my enemy, ok, I should not celebrate that, I should come up to you and say, I am very sorry Mrs. Gandhi died, my sister died, your wife died, I am very sorry. They start the trouble here, but should go back over there. See, creating more trouble here, why not go back to India over there and fight for it. -^ut they started it here and go there. B. S.: So, you mean if they had the problem they should solve, them heare? Informant: We got enough problem ourselves here, why start more. We are lucky here we eat and sitting here right. B. S.: Is there anything else you want to renaissance your earljc experiences, your grandfather's or father's experiences,' any issue anything you want in general like your parents came, grandfather came any general page 13 thing about the sikh community or back. Informant: Well, my experience is that we like here, it is a good country. I love it, I am happy here, I wish there would not have trouble,like this never used to have trouble in I960 all started in I960. Everybody started coming from India at that time, that is where it started all the trouble. B. S.: Well, I thank you very much, I think you made very nice comments, thanks again. Informant: Well, that's ok, thank you.
Titel: |
Indo-Canadian Interview 51
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Autor/in / Beteiligte Person: | Gurcharn S. Basran, B. Singh Bolaria. (interviewer) |
Link: | |
Quelle: | icohc:49; local: Interview_51; uuid: 33cd1a49-4474-4335-b2a2-32bd010c9ced;; (1985) |
Veröffentlichung: | 1985 |
Medientyp: | Audio |
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