What you have learned and how it has changed your understanding? KOMAGATA MARU

I knew about the komagata maru due to being taught about it in the past. The Komagata maru was a Japanese steamship that sailed from China to Japan and then to Vancouver carrying around 376 passengers from Punjab. When the steamship arrived in Vancouver only 24 were admitted to Canada the rest were told to return to India. This was part of the exclusion law in which both Canada and United States designed to keep out immigrants of only Asian origin. The Asian Exclusion Act was a law that said for a ship to dock in Canada, the ship would have to make a continuous journey from where it started, which was nearly impossible. Since the passengers weren't allowed entry into Canada they decided to wait at the docks until they were, but days went by without food and water it got harder and harder for them to stay alive. After two months the Canadian government sent two naval ships to escort the Komagata maru out of Canadian territory. I have learned a lot about the komagata maru after doing this assignment. It made me realize that many people including Sikhs had to struggle just to enter Canada, something that I take for granted. Racism was a big key in this issue, and it happened back then and it still happens today.