July

The Japanese steamship, the Komagata Maru sailed into Vancouver's Burrard Inlet with 376 passengers on May 23, 1914. Punjabi entrepreneur, Gurdit Singh Sandhu (from Sarhali) chartered the ship with the vision of helping his people and of challenging Canada's exclusionary immigration laws that blocked immigration from India to Canada.

Upon arrival, the passengers were categorically denied entry as immigration officers and politicians deemed the ship violated Continuous Journey laws since it had not sailed directly from India. Only 22 passengers, who were returning immigrants, were allowed to re-enter the country. As the legal battle in the BC Court of Appeal ensued for weeks, the passengers were denied basic human rights such as food and water. The Indian Shore Committee, comprised of local Sikhs, helped the passengers with provisions for their safety and comfort along with legal assistance.

Sadly, the resulting media coverage elevated the hostile environment as the Canadian public showed a lack of empathy and compassion for the plight of the stranded Komagata Maru passengers. Unfortunately, the Court of Appeal reached a unanimous decision in favor of the Canadian Government, stating they did not have the authority to interfere with the immigration department's decision to deport the ship.

Not having the funds to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court of Canada, Gurdit Singh and his fellow passengers sorrowfully accepted the Court's decision. Everyone aboard the Komagata Maru were issued deportation orders and on July 23, 1914, and the vessel was forced out of coastal waters and ordered to return to Asia. Tragically, upon return to India, the ship was fired upon and 20 people were killed and over 200 were imprisoned.

Gurdit Singh managed to escape and went into hiding until 1920. On May 23, 2016, the descendants of the passengers of the Komagata Maru gathered in the House of Commons to hear the Hon. Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, issue a formal apology for the discriminatory treatment of their forefathers on behalf of the Government of Canada.