Dear Editor,

I am sure Dr Prem Misir will be able to answer Mr Lloyd Davidson's letter [ please note: link provided by LOSP web site ] (SN, September 23, 2001) if he chooses. Scholarly references can be brought to bear to prove Dr Misir's point of view, and he already used several in his article.

However, I wish to point out that while he mentioned the similarities between indentureship and slavery, Dr Misir went on to discuss the evolution of the Indians' politics and culture within Caribbean society. We, the descendants of the indentured Indian labourers, have long since transcended the hardships and atrocities of that past and I doubt that any one of us, including Dr Misir, wish to quarrel about who suffered the most.

The atrocities of indentureship are probably overlooked because Indians have long since put that past into perspective as we work towards a future whereby we hope our children will enjoy better lives than we did. Dwelling on the horrors of the past or using it to excuse present circumstances is not the way of Indian people.