Historical Novel Recounts 1907 Bellingham Race Riot
Ranjit Arab's novel «Hindoo» dramatizes the 1907 Bellingham race riot, depicting the violence and prejudice faced by South Asian laborers in Washington State.
Ranjit Arab's new historical novel «Hindoo» brings to life the 1907 Bellingham race riot, a violent episode in which white mobs attacked South Asian immigrants in Washington State. The book centers on Vasant Dashpande, an Indian teacher who flees British colonial authorities after publishing a newsletter critical of the occupation. He arrives in Bellingham with his younger sister Vinita, seeking work in the local lumber mills alongside other Indian laborers.
The novel portrays the deep-seated racism the workers encounter upon arrival. Local residents view them through the lens of harmful stereotypes, and political tensions in the town are already simmering. Henry Terwilliger, the editor of a struggling local newspaper, seizes on the arrivals as a way to boost his readership. He publishes inflammatory pieces about a supposed «Hindoo invasion,» describing the newcomers in derogatory terms. These reports, combined with the dismal and unequal conditions in the mill, create a volatile atmosphere that soon erupts into violence.
Arab does not shy away from the brutality of the period. The story includes the maiming of Patel, a friend of the siblings, whose hand is crushed by a saw due to the actions of a white coworker. Vinita herself becomes the victim of an assault. The only source of solace for Vasant is Li, a Chinese maidservant whom he is teaching to read English. Their quiet connection offers a small counterpoint to the hostility that surrounds them.
The narrative builds toward the anti-Asian Labor Day rally organized by the Asiatic Exclusion League. This event pushes the town past a tipping point, leading to riots, arson, kidnapping, and widespread racist violence. The novel starkly illustrates what one character calls the «caste system based on race» that existed in pre–World War I America. Arab uses straightforward prose and a focus on the grim realities of poverty and bigotry to deliver a story with significant emotional weight.
While the book is effective in its depiction of historical injustice, critics note that many of the characters remain underdeveloped. The sparse worldbuilding leaves little room for the players to stand out as individuals. Some figures, particularly the newspaper editor Terwilliger, verge on caricature, with his manner compared to that of a silent-movie villain. Despite these weaknesses, the novel succeeds as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in American history, when immigrant communities were scapegoated and subjected to horrific treatment.
«Hindoo» serves as a powerful work of historical fiction that sheds light on a frequently overlooked event. It connects the personal stories of its characters to the broader social and political forces of the era, offering readers a window into the experiences of South Asian laborers in the Pacific Northwest at the turn of the century. The book is a testament to the endurance of those who faced such persecution and a sobering look at the consequences of unchecked xenophobia.
