Undesirables: White Canada and the Komagata Maru -- An Illustrated History

by Ali Kazimi

In May 1914, the Komagata Maru, a ship carrying 376 immigrants from British India, was turned away when it tried to land in Vancouver harbour. Many of the men on board, veterans of the British Indian Army, believed it was their right to settle anywhere in the empire they had fought to defend. They were wrong. Enforcing the "continuous journey" regulation, immigration boats surrounded the ship a half-mile off shore, making the passengers virtual prisoners. Thus began a dramatic stand-off that would escalate over the next two months, becoming one of the most infamous events in Canadian history.

Why would Canada turn away these South Asian migrants when it had accepted more than 400,000 immigrants the previous year? Why were some of the passengers killed upon their forced return to India? How did this ship pose a threat to the mightiest empire the world had ever known? In Undesirables: White Canada and the Komagata Maru, award-winning filmmaker Ali Kazimi addresses these and other provocative questions, creating a historical framework that allows readers to view events through the eyes of earlier South Asian migrants to Vancouver, authorities of the Dominion of Canada, and imperial officials in Britain and India. At the heart of the story lies the struggle between Canada's desire to build a homogenous nation of white immigrants--preferably from Britain and northern Europe--and the British empire's need for stability.

Weaving text together with rarely seen photographs, key documents and other striking visual materials, Kazimi explores what the current federal government has acknowledged as a "dark chapter" in Canada's past. By setting the story in a global context and against the early histories of Chinese, Japanese and African-American immigrants to Canada, he shows that the Komagata Maru "incident" was far from incidental. Today, with Canada's immigration and refugee framework under intense scrutiny, the story of the Komagata Maru is all the more relevant.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Canada

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 8, 2012

Reviews

[George Ilsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While an exaggeration to say that I "read" this book, I did sample it here and there and looked at all the amazing archival materials. I have to say that I did not realize how much the Canadian government of the day had articulated a "whites only" immigration policy. For that reason alone this book is illuminating.

I've watched a documentary on the Komagata Maru incident, and this book contains much more material and insight.

Even without reading it from cover to cover there is much to glean from this detailed and illustrated volume.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story that needed to be told and the perspectives and insight was interesting. It did lack objectivity though and there was a constant idea of hinting ideas without follow up (Sikh spies for Canada amongst other Sikhs, Ghadar Party and its tactics) and constantly mixing up British and Canadian policies. Still it did shine a light on something. It just needed to be more rounded and transparent.

[Kathleen McRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! It has a well written account of the story of this ship and its fight to gain entry to Canadian shores.Mr Kazimi is also documenting Canadian racist views regarding emigrants and who were welcome as new Canadians. This book has some wonderful archival photographs.

[Vandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

looks intersting...will read it someday

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read on immigration history, race, and South Asians in Canada! Eye opening.

[Caelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read history of Canada's racist immigration policies with a focus on komagata Maru.