OF the more than 100,000 Indian indentured labourers who crossed the Atlantic to work in the West Indian canefields, there are only three still alive in Trinidad and Tobago.
One of them is Samoondarie Doon, who was born aboard a human transport ship bound for Trinidad.
Doon, who will be 100 years old in October, was honoured yesterday at the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain, in recognition of the Indian Arrival Day holiday today.
The other two ex-indentured labourers still alive are Samoondar, who turned 100 years old in January, and Soondarie Jattan.
Since Jattan does not know her birth date, she celebrates her 108th birthday today, Indian Arrival Day.
Much of Doon's life journey has been recorded by grandson Michael Salazar, 46, who calls her Nanny.
Doon was born on the boat SS Mutlah. Her mother Makhani was 25 years old when she arrived in Trinidad.
The SS Mutlah was also the same ship on which Siewdass Sadhu, who built the famed Temple in the Sea in Waterloo, arrived in Trinidad at the age of four.
Doon was ten days old on October 14, 1912, when she arrived on Nelson Island, the same year the RMS Titanic sank.
She only recently found out, through research, that her birthday is on October 4. "This was a mystery (the birth date) to me and all my family," Salazar said.
Doon's mother came from Patna, one of the oldest and largest cities in India. It is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, on the south bank of the Ganges River.
Doon recalled being told by her mother that the journey from India was not an easy one, with rough seas and illness on board. Her father, who was a cook on the ship, died. His body was thrown overboard and her mother was only told of his death when she arrived in Trinidad.
Today, Doon lives at St Charles Village, Manahambre Road, Princes Town—the area where she grew up as a child.
She was married at the age of 12 to her husband of 24 years whom she met on the Petit Morne Estate at Usine Ste Madeleine where she spent her early life.
She attended the Jordan Hill Presbyterian Primary School. Doon did not know then that she was married, because she began living with her in-laws in Broomage, Princes Town, before the actual wedding took place.
Money was sent from her family in India to pay for the wedding. Her husband died on Christmas Day, 1948. Doon was then 36 years old.
Salazar said the move from St Charles to Broomage greatly impacted the life of his grandmother who missed her St Charles home.
She worked for 25 cents per week on the estate. After the country won its independence in 1962, Doon still worked at the sugar factory, planted a garden and sold Indian delicacies at her former primary school.
She said the war days were difficult for her because food was rationed.
Salazar said his grandmother is "free, single and loves to mingle".
Doon is the mother of two—Phyllis Doon-Drupatee, 72, and Monica Joseph- Bissoon, 79, grandmother of ten and great-grandmother of 19.
She had only one sibling, Linton Tayloo, who died about 30 years ago when he was in his 60s.
Salazar said his grandmother "plants everything" and is an excellent cook.
Even though she was a Hindu for many years, the past 30 years of her life has been spent as a Christian. Doon now attends the St Charles Church of God.
Doon's wish before she dies is to visit India although she is a bit concerned about the long trip and flying. She is in good health with no chronic illness. She walks and speaks well.
She has never left the island of Trinidad except to visit Tobago as she never acquired a passport due to difficulties in obtaining the necessary documents that were needed to apply for it, Salazar said.
"Until now, we do not have her emigration pass," he said.
