historian Hugh Johnston, today

[Robert Anderson <randerso@sfu.ca>]

This is about the Komagata Maru 1914, and the Apology in Parliament today.

Hugh Johnston is a distinguished SFU historian, also know for his history book about this university. But today I celebrate his fine book "The Voyage of the Komagata Maru: the Sikh Challenge to Canada's Colour Bar" (UBC Press 2014).

I doubt that the background understanding for today's apology by the PM would exist but for the continuing pressures of the South Asian communities in BC and the work of people like Hugh Johnston. His book is very thorough, very readable, and full of insight. Johnston ploughed through the archives, and interviewed knowledgeable people for his earlier version of this work, so he stands on the shoulders of other historians. And there was/is a special historical project about the Komagata Maru, encouraged at SFU Library and elsewhere, with a very informative website ("komagatamarujourney.ca").

This was once considered a minor subject, and in fact the study here (in BC) of matters related to India and Indians was considered "minor" in contrast to other histories. Hugh Johnston persevered however, and worked hard to complete and publish this new edition of his book in 2014, in time for the hundredth anniversary of the "incident" (which really a symptom of a whole system linking BC, India, Ottawa, and London. It enables us to see all the major issues embodied in the "minor".

I urge you to take a look at the book, and/or give it to a Grade 12 student as summer reading. Isn't that is where we should focus our attention for the next generation?

regards, Bob Anderson, Communication