Canada hasn’t always been the land of understanding and acceptance of perceived differences between humans that it is viewed as today. There have been a few moments in Canadian history that leaves the taste of dishonor in the mouths of Canadians and humans alike, and like most countries of the world were not alone in this.

One of the darkest moments in Canadian history happened in Burrard Inlet along the BC coast on an infamous day in Canadian life May 23, 1914, some 94 years ago. The Komagata Maru, a Japanese steam liner filled with 376 desperate, hungry and persecuted immigrants from India arrived along British Columbia’s coast line after a month long voyage from India.

After two months of frustration, in which the ship was guarded by Canada’s first warship MHCS Rainbow, the Komagata Maru and its 376 occupants were turned away from the land of milk and honey and told to leave, marking one of the darkest days in Canadian human relations on the planet and a black stain on the honour of Canada.

This week, the Canadian government announced they would acknowledge the mistakes made by the government concerning the affair and subsequent rejection of 376 hard working immigrants, and provide commemoratives grants to compensate individuals for the infamous event in Canadian history. Government officials stated they are deciding on the proper forum and way to apologize to the 376 humans whose plight was ignored by the Canadian government on that black day in Canadian racial laws.

This is a welcome announcement for India’s people, the descendents and living members of the ill fated Komagata Maru still living in Canada and has been along time in coming, what took them so long?

The Komagata Maru incident is recognized today as one of the most infamous examples of the discriminatory immigration laws in Canada in the early 20th century. Indo-Canadian groups have for years called on the government to issue a formal apology and finally acknowledgement of our countries past mistakes is forth coming.

In the past few years the Canadian government has made more such disclosures and apologies for other examples of Canada’s discriminatory immigration laws in the early 20th century, to Chinese immigrants forced to pay a discriminatory head tax, to Italians, Japanese, and Ukrainians. We Canadians’ should be proud that Canada can be seen as a fare and just country in the world again, a false impression we have for years tried to project.

Once we put all the black days behind us and admit the mistakes our government has made in the name of the people, we can make sure such indiscretions in Canadian racial policies, are never seen again.

Now, all Canadians’, including immigrants from India, can go on and work together to make Canada the place of racial harmony and understanding that the majority of Canadians want.