PART ONE: Interview with 97 yr old Mansee Subiah on Tamil Heritage in Trinidad 

I am from Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India. Living in Canada. Her tamil dialects are valid. I can understand. God bless you paati(grand ma).☺️😢

I'm from Tami Nadu and I can understand her Tamil..... awesome that she still remembers Tamil....I'm proud of her 🙏

6 lakhs Tamil people's have been living in SA..Happy to see grandma speaking tamil ..வாழ்க தமிழ்

What a touching story. I am from Trinidad and this breaks my heart so much. I am half indian and grew up with my indian family. Alot of families have gone through what she's gone through. Both my great grandparents were from India. My great aunts and grandmother went to visit india to see the motherland. God bless this lady for telling her story.

I am from Varanasi and really happy to see this. That lady is "Tamil" wherein that Man is speaking in "Awadhi/Bhojpuri" but still they are confortable speaking with each other. Sometime lady is also speaking in Awadhi/Bhojpuri and man in Tamil... This is the beauty of Us Indians, we may be away from our motherland but our diversity is unbreakablea, unthinkable...Love you Dadiji

Amazing that Tamils also settled in Trini dad and Tebago ......I'm 4th generation South African Indian. Majority of the South Indians were left in South Africa. My great grand parents also worked in the sugarcane fields and tea estates. Shared the same struggles. Hello in Tamil is Vannakum.

Emotional interview to watch iam fromTamilnadu and studied in Thanjavur. Amazing how she remembers tamil words after so many years Currently living in South Africa we have similar old paati's here in south africa as well they do speak tamil like this Paati . Sad to hear about her death May her soul rest in Peace Paati.

This right here, GOLD. The Indian diaspora especially in Guyana and Trinidad needs to see more of this. Our history is so unique but many of us don’t know much about it. And this only the experience of one Tamil Trinidadian woman.

I’m from Trichy Tamilnadu. I’m closer to Thanjavur! This ammachi (grand ma) is precious, she is a Tamil woman. It’s like seeing our lost ancestor. Talking to her would be like looking at our past 😭😭 May God bless her with long life.❤️❤️❤️ “Amma Enga pora, veetukku poraen, inga kunthu, naan Enna solluvaen, amma enga va,” - all these she is saying are colloquial conversation sentences in Tamil. The older gentleman is speaking in hindi to her. This shows that people from different ethno-linguistic groups from India were moved to work in Trinidad!

This lady speaks Tamil and Bhojpuri. So cool! :D

I am from Madras, Tamilnadu India. This gives me goosebumps. Knowing some trini ppl speak tamil

I am an African and I'm so blessed by her words! The culture is very interesting. May her soul Rest Perfectly!

Indrani, Thanks so much for documenting her stories. When she talked about her mother's birthplace , she started to cry. That's really made me cry. If she is healthy enough to travel, I would like to arrange her a trip to Thanjavur [தஞ்சாவூர்]. One of the greatest Tamil poet, Maha Kavi Subramaniya Barathiyaar [ மகா கவி சுப்பிரமணிய பாரதியார்] written many poems about the plight of Tamil people in these places almost 100 years ago. Thanks again. God bless you grandma! I learned a lot from you today.

We ended up in Fiji Islands and we are just like her.

Tamilnadu govt must take steps to sponcor those want to visit their homeland and educate them tamil

The Indian cricketer Robin Singh.... he is from Trinidad and moved to India.... Played for india....And now settled in Chennai permanently. He is of bihari heritage but can speak Tamil too bcoz there were Tamils in Trinidad. His family and relatives still lives in Trinidad. But Robin Singh has now married , and has decided to stay in India.

Thank so much for documenting this conversation with the Elder. Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname and Jamaica just to name few of the East Indian diaspora in the Caribbean. Bless

Golden Documentryfor tamils, love from Tamilnadu.

Oh my goodness - Tamil background in Trinidad and Tobago Indian history confirmed for me. I often wondered about this, I am a Muslim from T&T and I am married to a Hindu Tamil from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) for over thirty years. I am very blessed by Allah because from my time, I am one of a very, very few people who left T&T all those years ago and reached far areas of Allah's earth, Sri Lanka and Australia being my anchors. The Tamil greeting to welcome someone is Vanakkam. I absolutely love this priceless historical gem. Alhamdu Lillah.

Heart touching story.God bless her. 400,000 tamils from Singapore wish her long and happy life🙏

Angel of a woman this story makes me feel melancholy R.I.P. Mother Mansee Subiah.

Happy to see tamil grandma 👵. God bless you

Awwww, how heartbreaking when she said that she often thought of her parents😢

Enga pora_ எங்க போகிறாய்- where are you going? Kooru_ கூறு_ tell Samy_ சாமி_ Lord Naan veetuku poren _ நான் வீட்டுக்கு போறேன்- I am going home. Kunthu _ குந்து-sit down I'm really surprised to see this interview. I'm also from Thanjavur ( the city where she's from).my wishes to you grandma.

Paati she’s certified Tamil 🚩

No Shaun, she was born in Trinidad. The urge to see the ancestral motherland is the wish of almost all immigrant societies around the world/ Why should she not wish to see the land of her ancestors?

அம்மா எங்கை போறே? நான் வீ(வூ)ட்டை போறன். இந்த தமிழ் ரிறினிடாட் நாட்டில் ஒலித்ததை கேட்டு மகிழ்ந்தேன் அம்மா🙏🙏🙏. I was really surprised to know that people still speak Tamil or at least remember some Tamil words. This was great. I am really glad. I appriciate all those who have made arrangements to interview this Tamil Amma🙏🙏🙏. Tamil from Tamil Eelam (Sri Lanka) origin living in Toronto, Canada

She speak tamil english bhojpuri wow. God bless u.

love this, it’s amazing hearing her speak. I myself am half Trini & Tamil and find this so intriguing

I am from South India (Bangalore) now living in Atlanta. I am so grateful to the interviewer for posting this interview. I came with my family to Trinidad and Tobago in 2017 specifically to learn about the Indian heritage. I wish I had watched this video earlier so I would have been blessed to meet this 97 year old whose heart still desires to visit her motherland--India. I am touched by Ms. Subiah's memory of Tamil and the rituals. My heart wrenched when I visited Trinidad and heard stories from 2nd and 3rd generation Indian origin Trinidadians about how their families were forcibly brought in ship by British through deceit. British owe an apology to all the colonies for the crime they committed when they ruled. How can I get in touch with Ms. Subiah? Please inform.

She is amazing . I wish I had met her when I was there in 2016 while she was alive. I was born and raised in madras India.

This is interesting. I’m from Trinidad but we never really knew much about where our ancestors came from or our language. Even my Grandparents only spoke English. But my family in Trinidad still practices Hinduism and enjoys Indian music even though we may not know the meaning

This is truly an amazing Auntie. She reminds me of my Grand Parents expressing their love for "Mother India"!!

Paati,(grand mom) I love u.. god bless you 😢😢

Very beautiful lady my best to all her loved ones peace be with her and all who read this ❤️ ♥️ 💕 💖 💜

Listening to her omg I remember my parents and grandparents so interesting I could listen to her all day

“Janani Janmabhumishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi” - My motherland is more sacred than the heavens itself. Shat shat pranam Daadi.

Yes. Thanks for the update, Indrani M'am

Pranaams,vanakkams and Namaskaars to all hindu brethren and sisters all over the indentured world.

Thank you for this gem. Have been doing a family research on connecting our roots to Trinidad and this showed up unexpectedly. So glad it did. It was meant to be. Sorry she passed.

It's so nice to hear her talk about my history

very nice and warm respect for the great lady from Tamil nadu

Much love for this beautiful lady,i am from south africa 3rd generation and loved her story

Love this lady. Good bless her.

Mansee Subiah passed away yesterday, Monday 23rd April, 2018. Funeral will be held tomorrow at 9-10am Wednesday 25th April, then to the mosquito creek for cremation.

Thanks for video! It's so inspirational and sad at the same time, because of the hardship our ancestors faced. They know the facts of the History and stories of the struggles about "indentured Labour". Disputes their struggles they always have a warm heart, they are worriers, her memory is sharp and she reminds me of my Grandma. I grew up in Guyana, living overseas and my Grandma came from India, now she's in Heaven. My grandma shared sad stories with us also. Let us continue sharing the facts and stories and the struggles in " The Sugar Cane Plantation" It will never be forgotten. God Bless !

She is Speaking tamil and english creole, a language spoken by all the people that came as bonded labours from India and africa to the Caribbean by the Britishers.

So interesting. My Trini roots are endlessly fascinating and I’m full of admiration for the people who have contributed their blood, sweat and tears over the generations. Thanks for sharing this video.

What an awesome and heart ❤️ touching story. God bless 🙏🏻🙏🏻

You are an awesome woman, God bless you love, take care cheers. 💙🇮🇳🇦🇺🤗🌹✨👍💐🌸

Reminds me of my grandmother. Remarkable stories of the hardships they faced. Stood steadfast and brought families. Todays youngsters must know these stories.

This is amazing 👏 I start crying about this video.

Omg this made me cry so hard :,(

Sad to see her cry for her family 😢

i agree alf alfa. i did all my tertiary education in india and have a strong emotional and spiritual connection

OMG,amazing discovering History never thought in schools,

You make me cry grandma

Very good interview made me proud as indian today.

Love you Patti from tamil nadu, 😍😘

SitaRam , We are so fortunate to see this amazing Amma can give us her life story. God bless soul.

RIP Mother Mansee Subiah

6:06 Wow! She says in authentic Tamil " Naa enna solluven?" (What Can I say?) ...

A big respect to the lady.

She's from Thanjavur..ammapettai

Wow she is amazing speaking Tamil Definitely she longs for her mother country Like her in south Africa we also have lots of Tamil people Fortunately many visited India God bless this paati

Beautiful. Good to see Indian origin people. Thanks

Amazing times we live in. One of the oldest cultures we still can witness

God bless her. She is gold indeed in the Indian diaspora

Paati, god bless you dear, wish & pray you & all your family do good & flourish, Paati wish you can Visit your Motherland & have a Feel good moment, God bless

Blessings!Remind me of my ammaye! After our dad died she took us in and looked after us because my mum,being just 27 years old, was very depressed!

God bless you tanti.enjoy your life story.

very interesting, thank you. i am indian from Surinam and our lenguage called Sarnami is the most close to Bhojpuri.

All over world Tamil community people living in different countries should come forward and make Tamil world council as a organization to preserve Tamil by teaching them Tamil and nowadays it so easy to learn Tamil through online class and by watching Tamil movies also you can be connected with language. And also Tamil Nadu state government from Indian should make some initiative to these people at least to visit once in lifetime their native places and should conduct cultural programmed,Tamil film shows and appoint some official and Tamil teachers and send them to Tamil speaking countries to teach tamil.

Hello I am from Bihar . Surprised to hear some Bhojpuri words and lines --😃 love and regards from India 🙏

Lovely lovely.. Paati Amma.. God bless you..

Touched story of Tamil Lady (Patti). From Tanjavoor

Awesome thank u Godbless Mamma n u also fir sharing wud be awesome if u cud show us more abt tamil living in Guyana plse most appreciated Godbless n tc 💖

This is heart wrenching 😢

She looks just like my par-aaji, I loved this video!

I salute u mother.

IF ANYBODY COULD ARRANGE TO TAKE" PAATTI" GRANDMA FOR VISIT TO THANJAVUR, TAMILNADU, INDIA, IT WILL BE GREAT. I AM TAMIL FROM UK

im a malaysian indian. nice to know about guyana indians. very happy

It's not about India, it's about Tamil Nadu and the Tamilians!!!

Beautiful Ma.

She ate mostly vegetables? That's great news for the vegetarian/vegan community to use to prove to people that people won't die young of malnutrition on a veg diet. May Mansee Subiah Ji rest in peace.

God bless you😇🙏

Very nice video.and interview.

We have people like her in Fiji.

This is so sweet

In Guadeloupe (french caribbean island), there are many indo-caribbean, most of us are from Tamil Nadu too, and Kolkata. My grandmother's parents were from Tamil Nadu. She kept some recipes, but lost the language. So many people in our island are called by "samy" names, "Ramsamy", "Ramassamy", "Kandassamy", "Mounssamy" "Veerassamy", etc...our name is Marimoutou (Marimootoo/Marimuthu), many people are called "moutou", "Sorimoutou", "Kitterimoutou", etc...all of us are from Tamil Nadu!

Manasi Subbiah ..Nice to see the senior citizen in her nineties,,,,,,Respects

beautiful Ma. wish she saw her motherland.

Hy I'm from Fiji Island n my great grandfather was from India

Grand maa is very courageous woman...God bless her

6:05 நான் என்ன சொல்லுவேன் [naan enna solluvaen= what should I say] 8:06 அம்மா, நீ வந்தே [amma, nee vandhay= madam, you came?] 15:09 கூலி [coolie = salary/ slave] 15:40 (mother-in-law name) தாயி [thaayi = mother] 16:14 அம்மாபட்டினம் [ammapattinam]

The old lady can understand Tamil which is language as well as speak speaks bhojpuri (north language) very well, also she speaks English as well, multi talented old madam🙏

Rest in peace 🙏 mama you endure a lot in life

So awesome

Patti your tamil is awesome at this age

super ammamma, eppadi sugam? r u fine grandma,? i love ya wordz