Indian People in America: How It All Began

The history of Indian people in America is both fascinating and complex, shaped by early encounters, struggles, and unique stories that have often been overlooked in mainstream narratives. Today, there are approximately 5.4 million people of Indian origin living in the United States, making them the second-largest group among Asian Americans. But have you ever wondered how this journey began? Who were the first Indian individuals to step onto American soil? And how did they become a part of the country’s history?

Many people are aware of stories like the iconic “Man from Madras” who was spotted in Massachusetts in 1790, but these tales only scratch the surface of a much deeper and more intriguing story. It all started with a man named Sick Keesar (also anglicized as Sheikh Kesar), believed to be one of the first Indian people to ever reach the shores of the United States—long before the 1790s.

First Indian on American Soil: Sick Keesar

In 1785, not even a decade after the United States declared independence, Sick Keesar landed in America. His arrival would mark a significant moment in history, as it would establish a connection between the fledgling United States and India that would shape the future of both countries. Keesar’s arrival wasn’t planned, nor was it voluntary. It was, in fact, an involuntary journey that would lead him from Bengal to the heart of the American Revolution.

Keesar’s story is remarkable not only because of his status as an early Indian in America but also because of the way his journey intersected with the Founding Fathers, especially Benjamin Franklin. Before diving into how this pivotal encounter unfolded, it’s important to understand the circumstances surrounding Keesar’s voyage to America and the challenges he faced along the way.

How Sick Keesar Ended Up in America

The tale of how Sick Keesar came to America begins on the high seas. Sea trade in the 18th century was dominated by Europeans, who sought not only raw materials from Asia but also manpower to fuel their ships. Among the most skilled sailors at the time were the East Indian lascars—men from Bengal, Gujarat, and other parts of India. These lascars were well-known for their navigational skills and understanding of the Indian Ocean, making them highly sought after by European merchant ships.

Keesar, along with several other lascars, was employed on a Dutch ship called the Pallas Indiaman, captained by John O’Donnell. The ship set sail from Canton (modern-day Guangzhou, China), with a promise that after a brief stop in Batavia (present-day Jakarta, Indonesia), the crew would return to their homeland. However, things didn’t go as planned.

When the ship arrived in Batavia, Captain O’Donnell failed to keep his word. Instead of allowing Keesar and his men to return to Asia, the captain decided to continue the journey to America, leaving the sailors with no choice but to continue sailing under duress. As Eugene Ferguson writes in his 1956 book Truxtun of the Constellation, the lascars were forced at gunpoint to navigate the Pallas to Baltimore, Maryland, a voyage that lasted for seven months.

During the voyage, conditions were grim. Keesar and his men were reportedly starved and mistreated. According to Kaur’s research, the sailors were only given one biscuit per day to survive, and Keesar’s son was taken from him. The horrific conditions they endured reveal the harsh realities of life for Indian sailors during the colonial era.

Arrival of Sick Keesar in America

In the summer of 1785, the Pallas finally docked in Baltimore, leaving Keesar and his crew stranded in a foreign land with no resources, no means of support, and no knowledge of the language or culture. Having been so badly mistreated during the journey, Keesar and his companions were destitute, with nowhere to go and nothing to eat.

Keesar and his fellow sailors eventually made their way to Philadelphia, where they sought help from the local community. Thankfully, a merchant named Levi Hollingsworth took pity on the stranded sailors, offering them food and shelter. Despite the overwhelming challenges they faced, the sailors managed to survive, thanks to the charity of the local people. But survival wasn’t enough. Keesar and his companions wanted justice for the mistreatment they had endured aboard the Pallas.

Appealing for Justice: A Remarkable Legal Journey

In Philadelphia, Keesar and his men filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council, requesting legal redress for the abuse they had suffered. Although the sailors did not speak English, they found mediators who helped them navigate the complex legal system. The sailors appealed to the council’s sense of justice, hoping to see their grievances addressed.

What makes Keesar’s story so unique is his understanding of the political and legal landscape of the newly-formed United States. He did not simply plead for mercy; he appealed to the principles that the country had been founded on—justice, fairness, and the ideals of liberty. According to Rajender Kaur’s research paper Tracing the Roots of South Asian Presence in the Early Republic, Keesar’s actions were a “remarkable narrative of protest and agency,” as he strategically mobilized the judicial system to seek justice for his mistreatment.

Benjamin Franklin’s Role in Keesar’s Struggle

Keesar’s appeal to the Pennsylvania Executive Council caught the attention of none other than Benjamin Franklin, who was then serving as the president of the council. Franklin, one of the most prominent Founding Fathers of the United States, was known not only for his political influence but also for his interest in science, literature, and social causes. In this case, he intervened on behalf of the sailors, urging the council to assist them and ensure they were treated fairly.

Franklin recognized the importance of handling this case with care, stating that it was vital for the newly formed United States to uphold its reputation as a nation of justice and humanity. He didn’t want Keesar and his men to return to their homeland with a negative view of America. As a result, the council authorized a series of expenditures for the sailors’ sustenance, including hundreds of pounds of beef and bread.

However, after a year of support, the situation for Keesar and his companions worsened. The Pennsylvania Executive Council decided that the sailors should be sent back to Baltimore, where they would be left to fend for themselves. Eventually, the captain who had initially brought them to America agreed to take them back on his next outbound voyage.

Mystery of What Happened to Sick Keesar

The fate of Sick Keesar and his fellow sailors remains shrouded in mystery. Did they make it back to India? Did any of them remain in America and become among the first Indian immigrants? While we don’t have definitive answers, scholars believe that Keesar and his men were likely among the first people from India to set foot on American soil.

Keesar’s arrival in America in 1785 was over five years before the appearance of the so-called “Man from Madras” in Massachusetts, who is often cited as the first Indian in the U.S. Furthermore, Keesar’s journey predated the arrival of Indian immigrants who would go on to form the early Indian diaspora in America in the mid-19th century.

His story is an important piece of the larger puzzle of how Indian people began to make their presence felt in America—decades before the significant waves of immigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Keesar’s arrival is a reminder that the history of Indian people in America stretches back much further than most people realize.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Indian Presence in America

The story of Sick Keesar offers an intriguing and lesser-known glimpse into the early history of Indian people in the United States. While his story remains incomplete and some questions remain unanswered, Keesar’s arrival in 1785 marks a key moment in the long and complex journey of Indian immigrants to the U.S. His story is just one chapter in a larger narrative of struggle, resilience, and triumph.

Today, as the Indian-American community continues to grow and thrive, it’s important to remember the early pioneers like Sick Keesar who were among the first to forge a path to the land of opportunity. Whether through hardship or triumph, the history of Indian people in America is an inspiring testament to perseverance and the pursuit of justice. From the early days of Keesar’s journey to the vibrant Indian-American community of today, their presence in America continues to shape the nation’s story.

For those interested in learning more about the history of Indian people in America and how it all started, it’s crucial to delve deeper into the early experiences of people like Sick Keesar, whose legacy continues to live on, despite the passage of time.