Komagata Maru

The Komagata Maru was a Japanese steamship that, in 1914, carried Indian immigrants attempting to migrate to Canada. At the time, Canadian immigration laws heavily restricted non-European arrivals, especially from India. When the ship arrived in Vancouver, Canadian authorities prevented most passengers from disembarking, citing these restrictions, despite their legal right under British India’s connections. The ship was forced to stay in harbor for weeks, and eventually, many passengers were forced to return to India, where some faced persecution and hardship. The incident highlighted racial discrimination and immigration policies rooted in colonial and racial biases, becoming a symbol of struggle for Indian migrants’ rights.