Brick thrown from the SS Komagata Maru (1914)

Brick thrown from the SS Komagata Maru (1914)

Komagata Maru
Sikh Immigration
Anti-Imigration
Major J.J. Mathew

Physical artifact symbolising the Komagata Maru incident in 1914, this brick was thrown by passengers onboard at Policemen boarding the ship out of desperation and as a sign of resistance and frustration of being denied entrance into Canada. The brick was retrieved and collected by Major J.J. Mathew, who is recognized as Vancouver’s first city archivist, to symbolise the lawlessness of Sikh immigrants a view which was prominent at the time particular among citizens of European origin. However, in a contemporary it is recognised as a symbol of resistance against the deliberate exclusionary immigration laws. This artifact demonstrates the changing meaning attached to an object and how it reflects the changing societal norms and attitudes.

Unknown - collected by Major J.J. Mathew

The Museum of Vancouver, Collections, Komagata Maru

http://www.museumofvancouver.ca/collections/object/brick-thrown-ss-komagata-maru

Creation date not known
Collected 19 July 1914

Salma Latifi

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N/A

Material Object

20th century British Columbia