Trace and Tell your Family's Empire Stories
Introduction
Chris Bisson is an actor who has appeared in successful television shows such as 'Shameless', 'Coronation Street' and 'East is East'.
Although he looks Asian and has played Asian shopkeepers and shopkeepers' sons, Chris doesn't see himself as Asian. Born in Manchester in 1975, his mother Sheila is white while his father Mickey was born in Trinidad and is ethnically Indian.
Although the family's roots are in India, over the last century the British Empire has had such a dramatic impact on their lives that they have lost all connection with the country.
Browser by chapterLatest: This story is very interesting and reflects many a...
Chris Bisson's story will be broadcast on Channel 4 at 9pm, 23rd July, 2007. After the broadcast, you will be able to read his full story here. You will also be able to watch the entire show online using 4od: http://vodapp.grid.channel4.com/c4links-web/VODLi
nk.do?t=season&i=706328&o=4oD
The show will be repeated on More 4 at 9pm, 29th August, 2007.
Time: 17:44 Date: May 25, 2010
This story is very interesting and reflects many aspects of my own ancestral Indian indentureship. Although mine is about Guyana and Chris's is about Trinidad, they bear similarities. I totally understand the whole idea about ignorance of the British people when it comes to identifying a person. I have been called 'Paki' several times, even though I'm not 'Paki'! It's quite a moving story, and the videos engage with this. I hope one day to find my own family roots! Does anyone know how I could get records for Guyana? I have researched but they say Guyana has limited resources on indentured immigrants between 1838 onwards... and especially that far back! Hoping to look at some archives in London soon though. Thanks once again for this - it's very inspirational!
Time: 17:16 Date: Oct 08, 2007
To those who want to follow up their family history - I wish you every success! I did not know my Trinidad/East Indian father when growing up, but this year, after a very long search, I finally met him. Enough said about that. However, the most important bit to me was to gain insight into this special culture that is not quite Indian and not what most British people think of as Caribbean either. And the connection is with India before partition - there was no Pakistan when the indentured labourers left. I had several search agencies on the case over many years. None of them managed to get anywhere. Shamshu Deen, the researcher who appeared in the programme with Chris, was the one who found my links and explained so much to me about the history of the East Indians in the Caribbean. He is the expert on where the original indentured labourers came from in India, which I guess is step 2! (I need time to get a grip of the Trinidad connection first). There is information from shipping records and immigration so I know Lucknow features in my background somewhere. I went to Trinidad twice and intend to go back next year with my own family. I expect we will end up saving up to go to India - some East Indian Trinidadian people are now exploring their Indian roots too. This story is not well known in the UK - I wonder if anyone ever notices there are people of Indian origin in the West Indies cricket team? And wonder how they qualify?
Time: 11:49 Date: Aug 14, 2007
chris.thankyou for your contribution .it is very intresting to find out about indentured servant from india.my family history is very similar to yours. i was also born in england(southampton).my father was fom st vincent and my mother was from england. i also have more asian/indian features just like you. .i have tried for a very long time to trace my fathers family history.i have had very little success, most of my fathers side of the family has died.unfortunately,my grand parents/my mother and father are deceased. iam intrested in all topics of this area from india, ie life in india at the time ,travel to west indies, conditions etc.life as an indentured servant. also life when comming to, england in 1957 etc, settling down ,employment,racism, mixed marriages. i have som information which my mum and dad passed on to me . also stories. one being the first time that my dad experienced snow . it is good that channel 4 highlighted about your family story. i have tried previously tried to get the bbc on the family history programme(who do you think you are)to do a topic of indentured servants and forwarding you and johnson beharry v.c. as candidates. i had no reply. iwas on the point of giving up on my family history until i saw your story on empires children .this has now given me more inspiration to do more research. iam sure that this has also helped other persons with the same background as us. it would be nice to get in touch with you to share our stories etc. i wish you every success and thank you or all your help. paul harry,southampton.
Time: 16:44 Date: Aug 03, 2007
Chris, this was great watching. Like you I too am of East Indian descent but my parents and grand parents are from the Caribbean, both Trinidad and Guyana. The 'indentured labour' aspect of Caribbean history is so often overlooked especially since it was so closely related to the earlier slave trade. But as you and the viewers gathered it was a fascinating insight inot the movement of people across the globe for purely economic reasons. Your comment about not 'feeling' Asian also echos with me and my sister. In fact whilst living out in Trinidad during my teens I never heard the term 'Asian' until I came back to London. 'Of East Indian' descent is the term used out there and 'Asian' refers to of orietal persuasion. I guess it came as a surprise to you and probably to many that there are racial tensions still occuring in both Trinidad and Guyana where politics is based on the racial divide between the descendants of the East Indians and the Africans - I wonder what Darcus Howe would make of this ... One of my own personal struggles is resolving my cultural identity. I'm not fully Indian (Asian), I'm not Afro-Caribbean, I'm not Anglo Saxon. I am a British West Indian and I'm very proud to have the ability to identify with a number of different cultures - it does sometimes make things hard. A small example - my name isn't Indian sounding and I work in a corporate environment, I often get co-workers coming to my desk (having spoken to me on the phone) and saying 'You're not Garry are you?' I get this reaction so many times from whites and Asians. I'm not sure whether to be amused or angry. Hope you got a great insight into Trinidad and our unique cultural heritage especially the food - 'doubles', that reminded me of my school days. Did you grab a 'roti' or experience Trinidad Pilau rice (Trinidad version of rice and peas). Head back in February for Carnival - it knocks the socks off of Notting Hill!! Good luck. ps it would have been good to see you complete the journey to India.
Time: 15:07 Date: Jul 30, 2007
Hi Chris, I was very moved by your story. I have realised how little I know of my background but am determined to pursue it further. My grand parents all came as indentued labour to Trinidad. They were hindus and so all of us were brought up as hindus. I have just stated to investigate the channel 4 website and with some luck and determination I shall be able to put together the puzzle. Thanks for your inspiration and good luck with your career. Tara
By Marlyn