Indo-Guyanese are people with roots in the Indian subcontinent who are citizens or nationals of Guyana. They are often referred to as Indians or East Indians. Indo-Guyanese make up a majority of the population of Guyana and are the largest ethnic group in the country.

Overview

The majority of Indo-Guyanese are the descendants of the Indentured labourers who were brought from British India, to what was then called British Guiana to work in sugar cane plantations after the abolition of slavery in 1833. These indentured labourers were brought by ocean travel aboard the vessels Hesperus and Withby. Most Indo-Guyanese are Hindus; substantial minorities are Muslims and Christians.

Indo Guyanese have made significant contribution to the economic and cultural growth and diversity to the Guyanese culture,festivals such as Holi,Deepavali and Eid are national holidays along with Indian Immigration Day (also referred to as Rama Khan day) which is celebrated on the 5 May each year. Rama and Khan being the first two Indian nationals to set foot in Guyana.

Notable Indo-Guyanese

• Bharrat Jagdeo - Current President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
• Major General Joe Singh
• Balram Raghubir - former Commissoner of Police
• Rohan Kanhai - former West Indies Captain
• Alvin Kallicharran - former West Indies Captain
• Lady Shakira Caine - former Miss Guyana
• Cheddi Jagan - former President of Guyana
• Prof Bishnodat Persaud -former Director, Commonwealth Secretariat and Professor, University of West Indies
• Yesu Persaud - leading entrepreneur
• Sir Shridath Ramphal - former Commonwealth Secretary General
• Terry Gajraj - A popular artist/singer specializing in Chutney music
• Shivnarine Chanderpaul - former captain of the West Indies cricket team
• Ramnaresh Sarwan - former captain of the West Indies cricket team
• Narsingh Deonarine - West Indian cricketer
• Dave Baksh- former lead guitarist of Sum 41 (now Brown Brigade)
• Ryan Boike- LW for MNSHL TC Stangs ])
• Anil Boodhoo- IT Consultant
• Ray Sawh- Multi-Millionare
• Nicole Narain- Playmate and celebrity sex tape participant

See also

• Guyanese British
• Guyanese Canadians
• Hindoestanen
• Indo-Jamaican
• Indo-Trinidadian people
• Indo-Caribbean music
• Indo-Caribbean people
• Indo-Caribbean American people