An Indian woman’s courageous voyage in 1894 ultimately led to a fourth-generation descendant becoming Guyana’s president

In 1894, Gulzari, a 36-year-old woman from Telogepur village in Basti district of present-day Uttar Pradesh, embarked on a life-changing journey from Kolkata to British Guiana aboard the ship The Rhine. On September 25, 1894, she travelled with her children as an indentured labourer, leaving India in search of a better life. Travelling without her husband and with several children was an extraordinary decision for a woman of that era. Her journey came at a time when perty, famine and disease were driving many Indians to seek a future in the Caribbean and other parts of the British Empire.

The family arrived in Guyana in November 1894 and was initially at risk of being separated by the authorities. However, Gulzari’s determination ensured that the family remained together and was eventually moved to Plantation Success in Leguan. There, she worked as an indentured labourer and raised her children amid extremely difficult conditions. She also passed on her Islamic faith, cultural traditions and memories of India to the next generation. Her nine-year-old son Dildar later became the link through which the family’s remarkable story continued across generations.

More than a century later, Gulzari’s legacy is reflected in the highest office of Guyana. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the country’s ninth president, is a fourth-generation descendant of Dildar. Born on April 25, 1980, in Leonora on Guyana’s West Coast Demerara region, Irfaan Ali took office as president on August 2, 2020. He had already served as a member of Guyana’s National Assembly since 2006 and held ministerial portfolios including Housing and Water, as well as Tourism, Industry and Commerce. In recognition of his contributions to politics, social welfare and the Indian diaspora, India honoured him with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2023.

The story of Gulzari and her descendants is also part of the wider history of the Indian diaspora in Guyana. Large numbers of Indians were brought to British Guiana as indentured labourers during the colonial period, and their descendants have since played an important role in the country’s political, social, cultural and economic life. Gulzari’s family continued to maintain its religious and community traditions, with her descendants Dildar, his son Hanif and later Muhammad Nasim Dildar serving as imams at the Maryville Mosque. From an indentured labourer arriving in an unfamiliar land to her descendant becoming president, the family’s journey spans more than a century of Guyana’s history.

Today, Guyana and India are also strengthening their economic and commercial ties. As part of Guyana’s 60th Independence Day celebrations, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali was received at a special event at Lulu Hypermarket in Doha, led by Lulu Group Chairman M.A. Yusuffali. Lulu Group has also entered into an understanding aimed at promoting Guyanese products through its international retail network, providing them greater access to global markets. The growing cooperation reflects not only Guyana’s efforts to expand its international economic partnerships but also the deep historical connection between Guyana and India, a connection that began with families such as Gulzari’s more than 130 years ago.

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