In 1914, a ship called the Komagata Maru set sail with 376 hopeful Indian passengers seeking a better life in Canada. What followed was a blatant display of institutional racism, imperial arrogance, and a resistance movement that would echo across decades. Now, over a century later, Punjabi actor and filmmaker Tarsem Jassar is bringing this forgotten tale of defiance and injustice to the big screen—revealing the buried truths behind what was once known as Guru Nanak Jahaz.
A Man and a Mission: Baba Gurdit Singh
At the heart of this powerful story is Baba Gurdit Singh, a fearless Sikh entrepreneur who refused to accept racist immigration laws as fate. He chartered a Japanese steamship and renamed it Guru Nanak Jahaz, determined to legally transport fellow Indians to Canada, a British dominion supposedly bound by principles of equality. His act was more than a voyage; it was a rebellion in motion.
Racism Disguised as Policy
What awaited them in Canada was anything but welcome. Facing the threat of a so-called “brown invasion,” Canadian authorities had imposed policies designed to exclude Asians: an impossible $200 entry fee (equivalent to years of wages), a requirement for direct passage from India (no such route existed), and denial of fundamental rights including voting, property ownership, and employment in key sectors.
On May 23, 1914, when the ship reached Vancouver, newspapers branded it an “oriental invasion.” Out of 376 passengers, only 23 were allowed to disembark. The rest were detained on board—stranded, humiliated, and treated as criminals, for two full months in the harbor.
Legal Battles and Global Protests
Canadian Sikhs rallied in solidarity, raising $22,000 for legal fees. Telegrams were sent to King George. Appeals reached the highest levels of the Canadian judiciary. But the Supreme Court held firm: “We cannot interfere.” On July 23, the ship was ordered to return. Justice, it seemed, had been outsourced.
Budge Budge: A Massacre on Indian Soil
Tragedy followed even after the ship’s return to India. At Budge Budge near Kolkata, British officers attempted to force the passengers onto a train headed for Punjab. The men, hoping instead to first pay respects to the Guru Granth Sahib, resisted. The British response was swift and brutal, 20 people were killed, 29 were injured. A massacre, on home soil, of Indian citizens who had done nothing but seek dignity abroad.
Legacy of Courage
Baba Gurdit Singh, the man who dared to defy empires, went underground. He resurfaced in 1922, voluntarily surrendering after years in hiding. His resistance became symbolic—a precursor to India’s larger freedom struggle. His story, long overshadowed by other independence icons, is now being restored to its rightful place in history through Jassar’s film.
A Film That Challenges Amnesia
More than a historical drama, Jassar’s film serves as a wake-up call. It challenges collective amnesia, forcing audiences to confront a century-old injustice that still resonates in today’s battles over immigration, race, and colonial legacy. In a time when history is often rewritten or forgotten, “Guru Nanak Jahaz” is not just a movie, it’s a revolution.
