Guyana Inc Magazine Special Indian Arrival Edition No. 2

Annual Publication 2018

Modern Guyana owes a Lot To The Contribution of East Indians

Special Indian Arrival Edition The Contributions of East Indians to Guyana’s Cultural Development

THE GLASS CEILING HAS BROKEN… Guyanese East Indian women hailed for their continued progress

YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW: The Indo-Guyanese

DR. AMARNAUTH DUKHI - GUYANA'S FIRST LOCAL NEUROSURGEON

DR. ZULFIKAR BUX

- GUYANA'S FIRST EMERGENCY MEDICINE SPECIALIST

Founder and Publisher Teshawna Lall, BA, MBA

CONTENTS

Managing Director Frank Sanichara Marketing Iconic Marketing & Printing Rozana Mohamed Design Iconic Marketing & Printing Cover Photos Amanda Richards Editorial Radhay Prasad Misra Tota Mangar H.E. Mr. V. Mahalingam Indian Action Committee Central Islamic Organization of Guyana ISKCON Kiana Wilburg Tiffanne Ramphal Rae Dawn Brusch Romlata Tewari Feona Morrison Sharmain Grainger Gordon French Royden James 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE ...........................................................................................................................................

5 EDITORIAL- YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW: THE INDO-GUYANESE .................................. 6 THE STORY OF OUR ANCESTORS ..................................................................................................................

8 UNKNOWN SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ISLAM AND HINDUISM ............................................................ 12 MODERN GUYANA OWES A LOT TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF EAST INDIANS ................................ 12 CIOG - PROVIDING LEADERSHIP FOR GUYANA'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 38 YEARS ...........................................................................................................................

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ZARA REALTY - CONTINUING A TRADITION OF SUPPORT TO GUYANA .......................................... 14 THE RELIGIOUS VIEW OF SUICIDE ................................................................................................................

15 THE EMINENCE OF SIR SHRIDATH RAMPHAL ......................................................................................... 16 DR. ZULFIKAR BUX - GUYANA'S FIRST EMERGENCY MEDICINE SPECIALIST ..............................

18 DR. AMARNAUTH DUKHI - GUYANA'S FIRST LOCAL NEUROSURGEON ......................................... 20 KOMAL CHAND - A TRUE SON OF THE SOIL ............................................................................................. 22 TOTA MANGAR - GUYANA'S MOST TREASURED HISTORIAN ON EAST INDIAN ANCESTRY ... 24 BHASKAR SHARMA - GUYANA'S ONLY "SANGEET ALANKAR " OPENS NATIONAL INDIAN ORCHESTRA ....................................................................................................

26 INTERESTING FACT ON THE HESPERUS ..................................................................................................... 26 DAVID DABYDEEN: THE MOST PROLIFIC LITERARY ICON OF OUR TIME ........................................ 27 CHRIS PATADIN- A RISING STAR IN THE WORLD OF CRICKET ............................................................ 28 KEVIN PERSAUD - GUYANA'S YOUNG CHAMPION RACER .................................................................. 29 THE GLASS CEILING HAS BROKEN… GUYANESE EAST INDIAN WOMEN HAILED FOR THEIR CONTINUED PROGRESS ..........................................................................

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ISKCON AND ITS IMPACT IN GUYANA .........................................................................................................

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MESSAGE FROM THE INDIAN ACTION COMMITTEE ................................................................................. 33 THE INDIAN HERITAGE MONUMENT ...........................................................................................................

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COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS REVEALED TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR. CHEDDI JAGAN ..................................................................................................

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SARASWATI VIDYA NIKETAN - THE SCHOOL THAT'S MOVING BEYOND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE ..................................................................................................................................

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CULINARY DELICACIES BROUGHT BY OUR EAST INDIAN ANCESTORS ..........................................

36 HOLIDAYS BROUGHT BY OUR EAST INDIAN ANCESTORS ................................................................... 38 THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF EAST INDIANS TO GUYANA’S CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ................. 40 UNIQUE ITEMS BROUGHT BY OUR FORE PARENTS ..............................................................................

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In nations with a heavy western inuence, such as Guyana, cultural preservation is always under threat. But if you, my Indo-Guyanese brothers and sisters, care about the integrity of your identity, then cultural preservation would always be a priority for you, as it is for me.

Because of my steadfast belief that the Indo-Guyanese culture and its heritage reect and shape our values, beliefs, and aspirations, thereby dening our people’s national identity, I have endeavoured to stay true to my roots.

I am a diehard fan of Indian fashion; I heartily enjoy indulging in Indian foods and my love for traditional Indian music is incomparable to that of any other genre. Growing up, witnessing my maternal grandmother’s devotion to her religion and enjoying Indian music with my entire family had a profound impact on my view of the Indian culture.

It deeply saddens me that Indian music and dance are not promoted nor encouraged by entertainers/ the more popular entertainment spots in Guyana. How ironic it is that this aspect of our culture is more widely preserved in places like Richmond Hill, New York, but not in our very own Guyanese community. What I believe is a possible outcome for the lack of cultural interest with this generation is the failure of parents to effectively plant that seed of appreciation of our customs into the hearts of their children, thereby creating a disregard for our beloved traditions. On a similar note, I am dismayed at the fact that Indian movies have started to deviate from exhibiting traditional Indian dress and have adopted a western style of dress. Traditional Indian wear is slowly becoming ancient history.

Overall, I have embraced my culture with blinders on and I have strived to ensure that my children are endowed with knowledge and richness that embodies the Indo-Guyanese tradition. This is because I understand that culture denes our evolutionary identity. It helps us to understand our ancestral values and even improves our self-awareness, keeping us rmly grounded on the path of purpose.

Our cultural traditions teach us to be responsible human beings. Everything, from marriage traditions to religious beliefs, should be valued. Without them, we are culture-less and lawless human beings, no better than animals. According to a beloved family member, the late Ganesh ‘Boyo’ Ramlall, “The younger generation should make culture one of their top priorities. They must remember from where they are rooted, even as the world brings diversity to the table.”

With that said, I stand by my principle that culture and heritage should be upheld. This Special Edition is a tangible representation of the notion that no one, or anything for that matter, should be allowed to hide our culture, much less attack or destroy it. After all, a world without our diverse culture will not be as colourful as it is now.

Teshawna Lall,

BA, MBA

Founder & Publisher

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 5

EDITORIAL Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow:

The Indo- Guyanese

By Radhay Prasad Misra

The history of the then recently formed colony of British Guiana was changed fundamentally on 5th May, 1838 with the arrival of two coolie ships, the WHITBY and the HESPERUS, both of which had sailed from the port of Calcutta earlier in the same year.

The apprenticeship system for freed slaves of African origin was about to come to a st premature end on 1 August, 1838, some two years before it should have culminated, when the first East Indian indentured labourers arrived on these shores.

Never before in the new world of the Americas had Africans and Indians been placed together in the same industrial environment and this historical event has been followed by a number of others over the past 180 years leading to the current unfortunate state of polarization between Guyana's two main ethnic groups, the Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese.

After the slave trade was abolished in 1807, the slave population of the former Dutch colonies of Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice began to decline, falling from about 100,000 in 1812 to 82,824 in 1838, seven years after these colonies were joined to form British Guiana.

At the time of the abolition of slavery in 1834, the British Government paid £20,000,000 in compensation to slave owners in the West Indies and British Guiana, the latter receiving £4,297,117 as compensation for the 82,915 enslaved persons in the colony.

As the apprenticeship system was being brought to its premature end, the declining amount of apprentices on the sugar plantations were unable to cultivate the higher amount of acres of sugarcane, resulting in the decline of sugar production from 71,280 hogsheads of sugar in 1836 to 38,444 hogsheads in 1839.

Sugar planters had anticipated this drop in production and had mulled the introduction of alternative supplies of labour to offset the declining numbers of the apprentices, many of whom were 6 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

leaving the estates to work elsewhere or to settle in uninhabited riverain areas along the Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and smaller creeks.

One of these sugar planters, John (later Sir John) Gladstone (1764-1851), wrote th on 4 January, 1836 to the Calcuttabased firm of Messrs. Gillanders Arbuthnot & Co. stating, “You will probably be aware that we are very particularly situated with our Negro apprentices in the West Indies, and that it is a matter of doubt and uncertainty how far they may induce to continue their services on the plantations after their apprenticeship expires in 1840. This, to us, is a subject of great moment and deep interest in the colonies of Demerara and Jamaica. We are, therefore, most desirous to obtain and introduce labourers from other quarters, and particularly from climates something similar in their nature”.

Gladstone had already known that Indian indentured labourers were contracted to sugar estates in Mauritius where they were held in high regard as efficient labourers by the planters of that island; and he wished to have a number of these indentured labourers contracted to his plantations in the West Indies.

As a result of the interest of Gladstone and fellow planters of British Guiana, including the brothers John and Henry Moss (owners of Plantation Anna Regina), the first two coolie ships sailed from India with a total of 440 persons, 17 of whom did not survive the crossing of the Kaalaa Paanii.

These immigrants were allotted to Gladstone's sugar plantations at Vreeden-Hoop and Vreedestein, as well as four more owned by others (Plantations Highbury, Waterloo, Belle Vue and Anna Regina).

The Gladstone Experiment began a process which eventually saw the introduction of just over 239,000 indentured labourers from India to British Guiana between 1838 and 1917 when the system was brought to an end by the

British.

Between 1843 and 1955, just over 77,000 of these immigrants were repatriated to India, the rest settling in British Guiana.

The impact upon the demography of British Guiana made by the increasing numbers of Indians who chose to remain in the colony is illustrated by the ratio of Indians to the entire population of British Guiana: 6% in 1851 rising to 25% in 1871 and then to 37.8% in 1891.

By the late 1960s, Indo-Guyanese comprised 51% of the population of the now independent Guyana.

During the past 180 years, the original Indian indentured labourers and their descendants, the Indo-Guyanese, have made immense and inerasable contributions to the development of the colony of British Guiana and its successor, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

These persons of Indian origin have excelled in all fields of human activity in this country including business and commerce; banking and finance; the sugar and rice industries; coconuts and other crops; fisheries and livestock; mining and quarrying; forestry and sawmilling; education and academia; medicine and law; journalism and communications; accounting and insurance; private and national security; the hospitality and aviation sectors; the alcohol and beverage industries; sports and entertainment; culture and religion; and politics and governance.

Today, a fact that is not well known but has been widely publicized by the Indian Action Committee, which has clarified and corrected statistical errors pertaining to the arrival of the WHITBY

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and the HESPERUS, is that among the 423 persons that landed alive on 5th May, 1838 were 6 male, Christian, Anglo-Indian interpreters/ superintendents (Messrs. Gabriel Francis, Henry Jacobs, Charles Sharlieb, Jacob Tenhurry, Charles James Wiltshire, and William James Young).

Not only was the demography of this th country changed forever since 5 May, 1838, but also the religious and cultural aspects as well.

Sanatan Dharma, also known as Hinduism, was introduced while Islam was resuscitated since it was already brought here from Africa during slavery but was forgotten as a result of the efforts of the European colonists to suppress it in favour of Christianity.

Along with these belief systems came their accessories of places of worship (Mandirs, Masjids); holy books (Bhagavad Geeta, Holy Quran); holy songs (Bhajans, Quaseedas); musical instruments (harmonium, dholak, tapu, dandtaal, jaal, sitar); and religious festivals and observances (Phagwah or Holi, Diwali, Janamashtami, Ram Navmi, Navtraatri, Purnima, Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul- Adha, Youman Nabi).

Cultural additions include foodstuffs (curry, dhal, roti, dhal puri, polouri, golgula, jalebi, peda, barfi, channa, gulab jamun, achaar, Muslim halwa, vermicelli); cooking utensils (tawa, karhai, lorha and sil, goblet, thali, belna); clothing and complementary articles (Sari, dhoti, shalwar, kameez, Muslim hijab, gharara/ lehenga, dupatta, khemar, bindi, mehendi, Indian jewellery, nose ring, ghunghroo); and dance forms (Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi).

The effective adaptability of the Indian immigrants and their descendants, in this geographic space in the continent of South America, enabled them to plant deep roots and establish themselves successfully and this is evident today in the business and commerce sector of Guyana where exists such recognizable names as the Beharry Group of Companies (Edward Balkaran Beharry); Dr. Yesu Persaud and Komal Samaroo of DDL; BK International Inc. (Brian Tiwarie); Queens Atlantic Investments (Dr. Ranjisinghi Ramroop); Mohamed's Enterprise (Nazar Mohamed); Robert Badal of Pegasus and Guyana Stockfields; Kaieteur News (Mohan 'Glenn' Lall); RK Security (Roshan Khan, Sr.); Mike's Pharmacy (Laikhram Singh); Crown Mining Supplies (Mahendra Persaud); Jack A. Alli & Sons (Ronald Alli); Gafoors (Sattaur Gafoor);

E-Networks (Vishok Persaud); BM Soat Auto Sales (Basheer Mohamed); Tony's Auto Spares (Tony Ramcharan); Caricom Auto Sales (Mohammed Inshan); Farouk & B. A. Amin & Sons Ltd (Farouk Amin); Abdool Hakh & Sons (Abdool Hakh); RNK Investment Ltd (Rizwan Khan); Grand Coastal Inn (Mokesh Daby); A.M Khan & Sons (Ahmad Khan); Innovative Mining Inc. (Joe Jagmohan); El Dorado Trading (Tameshwar Jagmohan); S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies And Construction Services (Suresh Jagmohan); Silvie's Variety Store (Rajendra Persaud); NTN Channel 18/69 (Anand Persaud); Roopan Ramotar Investments (Roopan Ramotar); Samaroo Investment ( Doodnauth Samaroo); Infinity Colour Shop (Kishan Persaud); Gain Mart (Lalta Gainda); and many others.

For many decades, these immigrants and their descendants had very little connection with India except for the occasional visits by religious persons and the arrival of Indian goods and materials brought by a few merchants; and Indian culture during that time became heavily influenced by the introduction of Hindi films and music belonging to them. Many of these movies were religious in nature and their religious songs attained popularity amongst the Indians living here.

It was not until the establishment of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in May 2004, by the Government of India to deal with all matters relating to the Indian Diaspora around the world, that major efforts were made to establish relations with Indo-Guyanese. Since then, several Indo-Guyanese have been honoured at the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and have received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman to honour exceptional and meritorious contribution in their chosen field or profession. Guyanese who have been awarded are Sir Shridath Ramphal (2003); Bharrat Jagdeo, former President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (2004); Yesu Persaud (2006); and Donald Ramotar (2015).

Nationalist politics, leading to the independence of British Guiana in May 1966, was spearheaded by the IndoGuyanese dentist, Dr. Cheddi Jagan (1918- 1997), after his return from the USA in 1943 and who, along with his wife and others, founded first the Political Affairs Committee in 1946 and then a full-fledged political party in 1950, the People's Progressive Party (PPP), which unfortunately was split asunder by the ambitions of his rival the Afro- Guyanese lawyer, L.F.S Burnham in 1955. Both Jagan and Burnham contested the 1957 General Elections as rival factions of the PPP and having lost,

Burnham renamed his faction the People's National Congress.

The history of Guyana since the 1955 split has been the rivalry between the PPP and the PNC for political power which led to violence and killings in the early 1960s followed by fraudulent elections between 1968 and 1985 resulting in the country descending into economic chaos and bankruptcy and the concomitant departure of tens of thousands of persons of Indo-Guyanese origin to more stable countries.

After the victory of the PPP in October 1992 and during its 23 years in office, characterized by continuous destabilization by the political opposition of that period, additional tens of thousands of persons of IndoGuyanese origin migrated, reducing the Indo-Guyanese component of the population from 51% in 1970 to 39% in 2015.

Since May 2015, it is believed that this level of migration has continued unabated.

Even though hundreds of thousands of Indo-Guyanese have left these shores, religious practices and cultural customs remain strongly preserved and promoted and there is little fear that these will vanish since Sanatan Dharma and Islam are extremely resilient while those IndoGuyanese who have become Christian converts still observe the old customs.

To this point, Guyana, since independence, has been a poor, underdeveloped third world country afflicted with debilitating ethnic polarization between the two main ethnic groups. Until these fundamental divisions between the ethnic groups are understood and mitigated, even with the exciting discovery of large amounts of petroleum and natural gas offshore, the future of Guyana is fraught with danger.

It is unfortunate that the majority of Guyanese politicians are not fully cognizant of the streams of division between these two groups that have retarded the development of this country and these seven streams must be studied assiduously and understood if we are to progress and move forward for the benefit of all the citizens of Guyana.

These are the (1) historical; (2) religious; (3) cultural; (4) geographic; (5) occupational; (6) economic; and (7) political streams of division.

If the citizens of this country are not advised about the issues and problems arising from these seven streams of division, society will remain polarized and many more Indo-Guyanese will depart for other shores.

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 7

The Story of our Ancestors

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By Tota Mangar, One of Guyana's leading East Indian Historians

or over three-quarters of a century (1838-1917), Indian indentured labourers were imported from the sub-continent of India to the West Indian colonies, ostensibly to fill the void created as a result of the mass emancipation of African slaves from plantation labour.

The Whitby and the Hesperus, which sailed from Calcutta to launch the Gladstone Experiment, both arrived on 5th May, 1838, in British Guiana. Indeed, they were the first boats that brought our East Indian fore parents, but they weren't the only ones to do so. Seven years were to pass before the next ship, the Lord Hungerford, also out of Calcutta, arrived on May 4th, 1845. The first ship from Madras to arrive was the Nestor, which did so on 26th December, 1845. This influx into the Caribbean in the postemancipation period of the 19th and early 20th Centuries was only one segment of a wider movement of Indian labourers to other parts of the world.

Overall, where the English-speaking Caribbean is concerned, substantial numbers of indentured Indians were imported. Based on statistical evidence, Guyana was the recipient of 238,909 East Indian immigrants up to the termination of the system in 1917. Following the abolition of slavery in 1834, and the termination of the apprenticeship system in 1838, a state of fear, uncertainty and gloom was uppermost in the minds of the then British Guianese planters. They were very conscious that a grave labour shortage on the estates would certainly mean economic disaster to themselves and to the sugar industry in general.

The mass exodus of ex-slaves from the plantations during this crucial period of 'crisis, experimentation and change' merely served to confirm planters' fear and uneasiness. This movement was not entirely surprising, as several decades of slavery had resulted in the plantation being seen as the symbol of dehumanization, degradation and demoralization, and the victims, quite naturally, wanted to rid themselves of white planter class, social, cultural and political domination, and to assert their economic independence.

With great enthusiasm and in the face of tremendous odds, they started the village movement and peasantry in the immediate post-emancipation era. The importation of indentured labourers from the Indian sub-continent was part of the continuing search for a reliable labour force to meet the needs of the powerful plantocracy.

THE GLADSTONE EXPERIMENT

In the case of Guyana, East Indian immigrants had its origin in the 'Gladstone Experiment'. John Gladstone, the father of British statesman, William Gladstone, was the owner of two West Demerara plantations, Vreed-en-Hoop and Vreed-en8 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

Stein, at this juncture of the country's history.

As a result of the acute labour problem, Gladstone wrote the Calcutta recruiting firm, Gillanders, Arbuthnot and Company, inquiring about the possibility of obtaining Indian immigrants for his estates. The firm's prompt reply was that it envisaged no recruiting problems and that Indians were already in service in another British colony, Mauritius. Subsequently, Gladstone obtained permission for his scheme from both the Colonial Office and the Board of Control of the East India Company. The first batches of Indian indentured labourers arrived in Guyana on board the steamships 'Whitby' and 'Hesperus' in May 1838, and these first arrivals were on a five-year contract. This initial experimentation was not confined to Gladstone's two estates but it involved plantations Highbury and Waterloo in Berbice, Belle View, West Bank Demerara and Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast as well.

This immigration scheme, involving Indian immigrants, commenced in 1838 with a temporary halt from July 1839 to 1845, after which it continued virtually uninterrupted to 1917, during which time 238,909 immigrants landed in Guyana. Of this figure, 75,547 returned to the land of their birth, while the remainder, who survived the system, chose to remain here and make this country their homeland.

In the main, the system of Indentureship could be characterized as one of “struggle, sacrifice and resistance” where the Indian immigrants are concerned. The system itself was closely linked to slavery. British historian, Hugh Tinker, who did extensive work on East Indian Labour Overseas, describes it as a “new system of Slavery”.

Anthony Trallope, who visited the Caribbean in the 1850s, viewed it as “a despotism tempered with sugar”. Chief Justice in the second half of the Nineteenth Century, Charles Beaumont, aptly describes it as “a rotten, monstrous system rooted in slavery.”

The late distinguished Guyanese historian, Dr. Walter Rodney, highlighted the harshness of the Indentureship system and its “neo-slave nature”. Another Guyanese historian, Dr. Basdeo Mangru, argues that slavery and indentureship showed remarkable similarities in terms of control, exploitation and degradation. In any event, it is reasonable to conclude that the very nature of the Indentureship system that prevailed lent itself to struggle, sacrifice and resistance on the part of the indentured labourers.

INDENTURESHIP

From the very inception, the system was plagued with controversy. True enough, there were strong “push” factors which motivated the people to leave their homeland, such as high levels of unemployment, chronic poverty, indebtedness and even famine, and at the same time, many

were disposed to respond to promises of better times and what they perceived as “greener pastures”.

Even so, professional recruiting agents, the 'Arkatis' in North India and the 'Maistris' in South India, resorted largely to deception and coercion to get supplies. Many were lured by way of glowing promises, and were assured of lucrative employment and enriched opportunities.

Recruiters exploited their ignorance and simplicity, and some were hoodwinked, cajoled and lured to leave their homes under false pretenses, while some were even kidnapped. Indeed, fraud, deceit and coercion permeated the whole recruiting system between 1838 and 1917.

Against tremendous odds, the immigrants struggled for their very survival on board ship. Overcrowding of the emigrant ships, inadequate food, lack of fresh water, water-borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and diarrhea, and the long and arduous voyage, made life unbearable.

In many instances, the consequence was a high mortality rate to as much as 20 to 30 percent. Immigrants consoled themselves through singing, drumming and storytelling, and of greater significance was the lasting friendship that developed among the 'jehazis' or shipmates.

In the colony, indentured labourers had to endure the critical period of 'seasoning' or adjusting to their new environment. This was no easy task, and some found themselves introduced to plantation labour very quickly after their arrival.

On the estates, the indentured labourers experienced the harshness of the system. It was obvious that the powerful plantocracy had effective control of the immigrant labour force. An important aspect of this control was the contract under which the immigrants were recruited. While it stipulated the obligation of the labourer and the employer, the labour laws weighed heavily against the former. As in the case of the slave laws, the plantocracy benefited immensely under the contract laws. After all, the implementation of the laws and the period of industrial residence were taking place thousands of miles from the labourer's homeland, in a social and political environment dominated by the employer. It was not surprising, therefore, that the laws were easily varied, and very often abused by the plantocracy to suit their 'whims and fancies'.

Of added significance was the fact that some Immigration Agent-Generals and Stipendiary Magistrates tended to side with the planter class. As a result, cases of intimidation, assault and battery were often covered up. Moreover, court

trials were subjected to abuse and were, in many instances, reduced to a farce as official interpreters aligned with the plantocracy while the labourers had little opportunity of defending themselves.

LABOUR WOES Throughout the period of Indentureship, immigrants were faced with meagre wage rates and unrealistic task work.

Weekly earnings depended on the number of tasks, the nature of the tasks, whether it was weeding, shoveling, manuring, planting or harvesting and the speed with which they were completed. In any event, it was the employer who invariably determined the wage rate, and whenever there was a fall in sugar prices, immigrants found their earnings minimized.

One immigration agent was baffled to know how immigrants at Plantation Bel Air existed, due to insufficient earnings to support life, while Coljar, a spokesman for immigrants, was quoted in October, 1869 as saying: “Times are hard. We cannot live on the wages we are getting; our stomachs are not being filled.”

Indian indentured labourers experienced a persistent problem surrounding the “muster roll”, which was held every morning. Non-attendance meant the penalty of a fine, which was arbitrarily deducted from their wages. The pressure of getting into the fields early in order to complete unrealistic tasks at the expense of missing the muster roll was very great. On the other hand, if he attended the muster roll and failed to complete the day's task, the end result was the same arbitrary deduction of wages. In effect, the labourer had little choice. One way or the other, he was penalized.

The Indian immigrant often went before the courts as victims of the labour laws and the legal system in general.

The planter had at his disposal several instruments of prosecution. He could prosecute for refusal to commence work, or work left unfinished, absenteeism without authority, disorderly or threatening behaviour, or even neglect. Punishment resulted in fines or imprisonment.

Moreover, an immigrant imprisoned for misconduct could have his indentureship extended to include the period in jail. This meant the immigrant was effectively punished twice for the same offence. At the same time, convictions of immigrants were inordinately high. Charges could be made on mere orders of managers and for even trivialities.

In 1863, for example, of the 4,936 prisoners who were in the Georgetown jail, 3,148 were indentured labourers.

Moreover, the Annual Report of the Immigration AgentGenerals for 1874-1894 showed an alarmingly high figure of 65,084 convictions of immigrants for breaches of the labour contract. This development reinforced the fact that the indentured labourer was far from docile. He was struggling, sacrificing and resisting. The numerous instances of cases under the labour contract were ample proof of his restlessness and non-compliance with a harsh and oppressive system.

Throughout the period of indentureship, the immigrant suffered from a paucity of social amenities. The tenement ranges or “logies” were small and unventilated, potable Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 9

water was virtually non-existent, and medical facilities and sanitation were poor. As a consequence, outbreaks of diseases tended to assume epidemic proportions.

RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT

Through vagrancy laws, immigrants had their movement restricted. This was an integral part of planter's strategy to localize labour and to place restraints on workers' liberty.

The labourer had to get a 'pass' signed by the estate manager if he wanted to leave the estate of residence. This pass system exposed the labourer to indignity at the hands of colonial police who were empowered to apprehend him without a 'pass'. Managers used it as an effective control device and also as a means of preventing workers from making comparisons of wage levels at different estates. The fear was that such knowledge could easily lead to discontent and desertion. It was because of their powers of control over the indentured labourer that planters became increasingly arrogant. Some repeatedly and openly boasted that the labourers on their estates should be “at work, or in hospital or in goal” – during working hours, such was their attitude. One Demerara planter publicly stated, “give me my heart's desires in Coolies and I will make you a million hogsheads of sugar”.

It was not surprising, therefore, that from the 1860s onwards the myth of Indian docility was to be seriously challenged. Indian indentured labourers began to openly defy the system. As a consequence, there was a steady deterioration of industrial relations, increasing working class protests and imperial investigation. “Struggle, Sacrifice and Resistance” manifested in numerous labour unrests.

Violent eruptions were occasioned by many specific and localized grievances, such as the overbearing behaviour of managers, wage rate disputes, disagreement over tasks, sexual exploitation of women by overseers and the arbitrary deduction of wages of labourers.

UNREST

The first such disturbance took place at Plantation Leonora, West Coast Demerara, in July 1869. The shovel gang complained that wages were withheld because they could not complete a job on waterlogged soil. They also demanded extra pay to do the job. A confrontation between armed police and the labourers was narrowly avoided, but the ringleaders were arrested, convicted and incarcerated at the penal settlement, Mazaruni. The following year violence erupted at Plantations Hague, Zeelugt, Vergenoegen, Uitvlugt, Success and Non Pariel.

Another major disturbance took place at Plantation Devonshire Castle in 1872. The root cause of this uprising was widespread dissatisfaction with the allocation of tasks, prices offered, long hours of work, unilateral pay deductions from labourers, wages and general ill-treatment and abuse. This time, there was a confrontation with colonial police who opened fire and five labourers lost their lives, while some were seriously injured.

Riots and disturbances continued with regularity in the 1890s and in the early years of the Twentieth Century. Four 10 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

years before the termination of the Immigration scheme, several labourers from plantation Rose Hall lost their lives during a strike and disturbance.

Indeed, towards the end of the Indentureship system, labour protests had assumed various forms, including work stoppage, mass picketings, violent demonstrations, marching to the Immigration Department, assaults on managers and overseers, coupled with passive resistance, such as feigning illness, malingering and deliberately performing poor work.

Indentured labourers also struggled and made tremendous sacrifice in other areas, as for example in the face of an often harsh and oppressive environment, they persisted with their religious and cultural practices. From the late Nineteenth Century, temples and mosques began to dot the coastal landscape and their traditional languages, music, dress, food and folklore were made to prevail. In the face of language barriers, they adjusted to the needs of a Western education in order to enhance their upward social mobility. In the long run, they and their descendants emerged in the professions to become teachers, headmasters, doctors, lawyers, accountants and civil servants.

They toiled unceasingly to ensure the survival of the sugar industry and the emergence of the rice industry. They contributed significantly in the areas of village development, cash crop cultivation, cattle-rearing, milk selling and other economic activities during the period of indentureship. From the late Nineteenth Century, Indian immigrants displayed a high occupation profile in several off-plantation economic activities, including cab-drivers, bankers, tailors, carpenters, boat-builders, charcoal makers, goldsmiths, porters, small scale manufacturers and fishermen.

In recent times, their descendants have made and continue to make tremendous strides in the social, economic, cultural, education, political and trade union fields. Many of them, today, are leading sports personalities, entrepreneurs, educationists, politicians and trade unionists in their own right. Indeed, descendants of immigrants are actively engaged in every facet of life in Guyanese society of today.

Our forefathers of yesteryear have certainly been inspirational in the furtherance of national development through their grit and determination. Clearly, 'Struggle, Sacrifice and Resistance' were part and parcel of the Indian immigrant psyche during the neo-slavery system of indentureship, 1838-1917. They and their descendants have survived largely through their resilience, persistence, customs, traditions and commitment to family, which invariably promotes thrift, industry and self-esteem.

Let us show a greater sense of purpose and maturity and exercise more mutual respect, tolerance, appreciation and understanding of each other as we commemorate Arrival Day. Let us remember that there is strength in Diversity. Let us give true meaning to our Motto of 'One People, One Nation, One Destiny'.

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 11

Unknown Similarities between

Islam and Hinduism

East Indians are the largest ethnic group in Guyana, accounting for 44% of the population. This ethnic group largely follows two faiths: Islam and Hinduism.

On the surface, the two faiths are quite dissimilar. The first one is a monotheistic religion, which proclaims that Allah is the only God. The second swears by polytheism and adores several Gods and Goddesses.

But unknown to many East Indian Muslims and Hindus is the fact that there exists striking similarities between their faiths.

Below are just a few of the similarities between the teachings of Hinduism and Islam.

1. Both religions accept that God has the power and the knowledge to execute and enforce his will. It is mentioned in both the Quran and the Gita that God is the Supreme Being and has the absolute power over the universe.

2. Both religions believe that God gave man free will so that he could be responsible for his actions; that

God is kind enough to let us choose our path and be responsible for it.

3. Both religions accept that God loves those who love him and that he hears prayers. Be it Allah or Krishna, your prayers will never go unheard.

4. Both religions believe in charity, righteousness, forgiveness, compassion, and moderation in food and drink.

5. Both religions advocate non-violence.

6. Both religions state that there should be no compulsion in religion.

7. Both religions believe that remembering and reciting the names and words of God creates inner purification.

8. Both religions believe in the ultimate destruction of the world and the rescue of the pious and pure by God. Final judgment day is a common concept on which both religions agree.

MODERN GUYANA OWES A LOT TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF EAST INDIANS

By H.E. Mr. V. Mahalingam The Indian High Commissioner to Guyana The Indian Diaspora in Guyana – who are generally called Indo-Guyanese – are exceptionally exceptional.

They are now the third or fourth generation in their adopted land, have made great contributions by converting the marshy, water-logged, open fields into fertile and productive land along with their brothers and sisters of the five other races making up our country's population. With their contribution, Guyana created the world class Demerara sugar and some of the best rums in the world and essentially converted Guyana into the “rice bowl” of the Caribbean. In essence, modern Guyana owes a lot to the contribution of East Indians, and for this, all Indians should be proud.

Amazingly, East Indian Guyanese have done an outstanding job in preserving Indian culture in various forms through religious practices, food and cuisine habits; though over time, lost linguistic and family contacts from ancestral land, primarily owing to the enormous distance involved and difficult physical connectivity. It is, therefore, befitting that on the occasion of Indian Arrival Day, and other holidays of Indian influence, we reflect on and celebrate our beginnings.

Furthermore, bilateral relations between Guyana and India continue to be strengthened, as the Government of India is 12 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

currently assisting with several local developmental projects.

Currently, India is assisting with the two Line of Credit (LOC) projects – the US$15 Million East Bank/East Coast Link Road and the US$17.5 Million upgrade of three primary hospitals.

The supply of pumps for US$4 Million and an ocean-going ferry costing US$18 Million, of which $8 Million will be a grant.

Also, the establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology at the University of Guyana, which is a full grant project, is worth US$1 Million. Following a successful trial period, India will supply more Rice Husk Gasifiers, similar to the present prototype being used. The High Commission is currently in the planning stages of hosting a Rice Food Festival here which will showcase the contributions of Indo-Guyanese to the Agriculture sector.

In other areas of cooperation, India is looking to further develop Guyana's health sector and the coconut and sugar industries. It is expected in 2018 that Guyana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, will discuss further areas of cooperation, with the aim of strengthening the relationship between our nations. The relationship between Guyana and India is highly friendly irrespective of the party in power. We have been having the best of best relationships between us.

PROVIDING LEADERSHIP FOR GUYANA'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 38 YEARS fees, books and school supplies, transportation fees, medical assistance, and a stipend. Sponsorship for these Orphans comes from the Zakaat House, State of Kuwait, Canada, United States of America, the United Kingdom and Caribbean countries at large. Annually, a grand Fun Day for all the orphans is held. The children enjoy a variety of games, lunch and snacks and a bag of goodies. The Business community and individuals at large are encouraged to sponsor an orphan.

The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) was formed on July 1, 1979 with its primary focus being to help Muslims locally through an organized body.

Over the years of its existence, the CIOG has grown and expanded so much so that it now assists non-Muslims. The CIOG is a nonGovernmental organization that has affiliation with over 130 Masjids throughout Guyana.

Its mission today is to provide leadership for the Islamic community of Guyana in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah (Way of life/conduct) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Upon Whom Be Peace) and to meet the spiritual, social, economic and general welfare needs of the society.

WORK OF THE CIOG Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Provides for the less fortunate with a monthly monetary contribution (Zakaat).

Over 1,244 Muslims receive an average of GY$5,500 monthly.

Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) -through sponsorship, it takes care of 425 children. This includes school

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Funeral service- Due to the non-availability of any place to take care of Muslim funerals, the CIOG embarked on the service of burial of Muslims. Funeral arrangements of non-Muslims are taken care of in some cases as well. This service is provided on a cost recovery basis and in some cases, is provided free.

Education and Dawah- It provides training to persons within various communities, who in turn, assist in teaching and educating persons in Islam.

Schools- CIOG operates two schools. While these institutions of learning provide regular academic subjects, it also provides Islamic teachings for some of the students. It provides assistance in this regard to many Muslim parents who are unable financially but would like their children to have a religious upbringing; hence, the schools are being run on a cost recovery basis.

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 13

ZARA REALTY

Continuing a tradition of support to Guyana Zara Realty, an organization based in Queens, New York, USA, is one that focuses on providing facilities mainly for housing purposes. Founded by the late George Subraj in 1982 – a Guyanese who migrated to the United States in the 1970s – the business is one that has been known to meticulously cater to the needs of its clients.

Subraj was able to realize immense success through his business endeavours, which in turn exposed his philanthropic nature, allowing him to eagerly give back to his homeland in any way possible. In fact, he started giving his support in the areas of health and education in Guyana.

Sadly, Subraj passed away in November of 2016. Be that as it may, his work lives on through his family.

During an interview with the Guyana Inc. Magazine, Subraj's brother, Jay Sobhraj, and son, Tony Subraj, revealed that the founder of the company was essentially an entrepreneur determined to achieve his goals.

“After working various jobs in Queens, he saved up enough money to buy his first building, the beginning of a lifelong investment in his quality, affordable housing business – Zara Realty.”

In fact, the duo revealed that, “Zara Realty has never sold a building it has purchased in Queens, New York and has renovated and improved thousands of apartments in the communities it serves.”

Incidentally, many of the establishment's clients are Guyanese immigrants living in New York. According to the principals, even after the death of Subraj, the establishment is one that has maintained a strong professional team which works with clients to help them meet their respective needs.

The Zara team is one that swiftly responds to their concerns and works to ensure that they are provided with the highest quality service possible.

“Generally, maintenance staff are assigned to each building and are on site and available when needed,” they revealed. “In New York, we rent out primarily studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments, furnished and unfurnished, with new appliances, 14 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

Anthony Subraj, center, is honored at the Indian Diaspora Council International celebration of the anniversary of the end of the Indian indenture system in Queens, N.Y. From left to right: Consul General of Guyana Barbara Atherly, Vrinda S. Jagan, (granddaughter of Cheddi B. Jagan) and Gloria Subraj (widow of George Subraj)

renovated kitchens and bathrooms, with full amenities such as laundry in the building, dishwashers in individual units, in some buildings balconies and roof decks for recreation,” the principals revealed. To them, tenants are like family. For this reason, they shared, “We encourage communication between staff and tenants and we arrange frequent tenant appreciation events for adults and children where there is food, entertainment, raffles and, most importantly, a sense of camaraderie among people in the building. That is the greatest gift we can give.”

Tony Subraj added too, “It is incredibly meaningful to be recognized for our charitable work. My father [George Subraj] believed that compassion and virtue begin with action, which is why he started the Subraj Foundation to provide vital medical care to people in Guyana.

My family and I are proud to continue that important work and to expand and improve upon it.”

The Foundation, now run by Tony

Subraj, sponsors the corneal and kidney transplants. Most recently, it partnered with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] to offer free eye care at the hospital and at clinics strategically located across the country, including Berbice, Yakusari Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, Black Bush Polder and the Linden Hospital complex. More than 1,000 patients were seen in just a few days, receiving eye care for ailments related to diabetes, hypertension and other medical problems, as well as free glasses. In addition to this, nine corneal transplants were completed, bringing the total number of transplants performed in Guyana in collaboration with the Subraj Foundation to 72. The Foundation pioneered this type of procedure in Guyana, as well as supporting the country's first ever kidney transplant, a service that it continues to support to date.

Jay Sobhraj revealed that he also runs a foundation, called the Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj Foundation, which sponsored the Psychology degree program and the cyber security initiative. He noted that since cybercrime has been found to be especially rampant in Guyana and the police are not trained to investigate it, moves have been made to lend support in this regard. The objective, he said, is also to educate the public and the business community on cybercrime even as he pointed out the “do's” and don'ts” to help avoid becoming a victim. The support to the police force, he revealed,

“is to continue our goal of bridging the gap between the Police and the community. Community policing is very productive in preventing crime and very helpful in assisting in criminal investigations around the world, so why not in Guyana?”

An Information Technology [IT] Centre sponsored by the company has been helping to bridge the gap and create opportunities for the local Guyanese to be trained for IT jobs. Support from Zara Realty has also been forthcoming in the areas of sport and even more unbridled support has been assured by the principals for Guyana.

THE RELIGIOUS VIEW OF

The 2017 Statistical Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO) lists Guyana as the nation with the largest suicide rate in the world.

But particularly disturbing is the fact that this scourge is prevalent mostly within the Indo-Guyanese community.

In fact, suicide rates are present in every Region of Guyana, with Region Six (Corentyne, Berbice) having the highest rate, and Region Two coming second, followed by Region Three. These are all regions which are predominantly populated by Indians.

And since among Indians, Hindus are in the majority, it follows that there is a high rate of suicide among Hindus.

The Hindu scriptures speak out against suicide. The Vedas declares it as “Atma Hatya”, sinning or committing a grave crime against one's own soul. The suicidal person is depriving his soul of the opportunity of a body. That soul will wander in the mid-region until the period that was originally allotted for its duration in the body finishes. Manu, the Hindu Law

Giver, also condemns suicide in his Manu Smriti (5: 89-90). He declares: “Libation of water (jalanjali) shall not be offered to those who have committed suicide.”

As for East Indians who follow the Islamic faith, they should be reminded that Allah frowns upon this course of action. It is said in Islam that the person who commits suicide is destined to go to hell.

The same is said for East Indian followers of the Christian faith.

While we are aware of the religious take on suicide, it still does not negate the fact that East Indians seek this terrible course of action for reasons which include: abusive relationships/ domestic violence or having to deal with an unfaithful partner. But whatever the trouble or circumstance may be, persons are encouraged to remember that suicide is never the answer.

Religious leaders contend that it is never too late to turn to good social support systems such as a place of worship, community activities, sports, etc.

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 15

THE EMINENCE OF

SIR SHRIDATH RAMPHAL Sir Shridath Ramphal, also known as 'Sonny,' was born on October 3, 1928 in New Amsterdam, Berbice. He was the eldest of James and Grace Ramphal's five children.

Sir Ramphal attended primary school at Grove, East Bank Demerara. He attended a secondary school which was founded by his father and was later enrolled at the Modern Educational Institute, which also was run by his dad. Sir Ramphal also attended Queen's College and later left Georgetown in 1947 to study law.

He was called to the bar from Gray's Inn in 1951, earning his Master's Degree at King's College, London in 1952. After his return to Guyana in 1953, he was appointed Crown Counsel and Assistant AttorneyGeneral at the age of 25. In fact, he set the record for youngest Attorney General of our time.

Further to this, Sir Ramphal was appointed as Solicitor General in 1959. Ramphal also liked the idea of Caribbean integration. He was a proponent of the Federation of the West Indies, serving as its Assistant Attorney-General between 1961 and 1962. However, the Federation designed to bring together Caribbean countries, crumbled after Jamaica rejected it in a referendum, and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago decided to quit the grouping.

A disappointed 'Sonny' left the region for Harvard University on a coveted Guggenheim scholarship before moving to Jamaica to practice law. It was from there that Guyana's then Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham, invited him to take up the post of Attorney General in 1965 and to draft the country's Independence Constitution.

In the years that followed, he took on the post of Minister of State in the Foreign Ministry and, in that role, he became an architect and advocate for CARIFTA and then CARICOM. He also headed a team of gifted diplomats in carving-out a respected place for Guyana in the international community.

In 1957 and 1990, he was the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations and was the leading lawyer for Guyana in the maritime feud between Guyana and Suriname.

16 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

He was als

o persistent in getting the South African Government to free Nelson Mandela.

Ramphal's articulateness was described as being in a class of its own. Critics said, “He was media savvy, even if on occasion a trifle wordy. He was a skilled negotiator, with a sharp legal mind.”

Additionally, his views on the dangers of the environment were well ahead of their time. This world renowned Guyanese was also one of the first people to recognise – and to warn of – the dangers of global warming. He told the Inter-American Development Bank, back in 2000, that global warming exposes the Caribbean to more frequent and more intensive storm surges and sea level rises.

Sir Shridath will be 85 soon and received the Commonwealth Life-Time Achievement Award in London last June. It is one of many such awards that he has received over the years.

He has also published over 25 works, receiving several honorary degrees along the way from prestigious Universities such as Oxford in Britain and Yale in the US, among others.

His contributions worldwide are endless but in all, he can be described as an exceptional being.

But even in his 80s, there is nothing holding back this erudite Ambassador. He holds the post of Co-Chair of the Commission on Global Governance, President of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and Chair of the International Steering Committee of the Rockefeller Foundation's Leadership in Environmental and Development (LEAD) Programme.

Sir Ramphal is also playing a lead role in advising Guyana in its territorial issue with Venezuela.

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 17

DR. ZULFIKAR BUX Guyana’s First Emergency Medicine Specialist Many of us believe that we are born with an ingrained passion to fulfill certain goals and ambitions. For a young Zulfikar Bux, it was definitely cricket, or so he thought. He was convinced from a tender age that becoming a renowned cricketer was the path he was firmly destined to be on. This was quite believable because he played incredible cricket for a Berbice youth team.

But his father Tazeen Bux, on the other hand, was convinced that practicing medicine was his son's destined forte.

SIMPLE UPBRINGING Born to Tazeen and Balkumarie Bux on April 17, 1984 at Fyrish Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Dr. Bux is the third of four children.

His father, a seasoned agriculturist, was forced to uproot the family a few times during Dr. Bux's childhood in order to fulfil the requirements of his work.

Most of his childhood days were spent in Cotton Tree Village on the West Coast of Berbice.

In fact, he disclosed that over the years he fell in love with the village, so much so that even today he has remained grounded there.

This translates to him driving from the Berbice Village every day in order to practice his profession at the Georgetown Hospital.

“I don't see myself going anywhere else. I don't care how frustrating things get in Guyana, somehow or the other I have gotten addicted to that village. If I had my way, I would be living and doing everything in Berbice, especially in my village...

Probably that is the biggest reason I am still in Guyana,” confided a blushing Dr. Bux. He is of the firm belief that Berbice is almost a separate and more hospitable world when compared to areas like Georgetown. And he knows this all 18 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

too well because, for a short period, he rented an apartment in the city.

“I did not know who I lived next to, people said hi sometimes... I have been to the US, Trinidad and a few other countries and you see the same thing. But where I grew up in Berbice,

Dr. Bux. It wasn't until his early teenage years that the young Bux was overwhelmed with the realisation that indeed he was birthed for all things medicine. It all hit him like a ton of bricks when he witnessed the demise of a neighbour from a medical condition that he learnt was very avoidable.

Bux is now a very reputable doctor practicing at the country's premier public health institution – the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

He recalled all too well that he was about 13 years old when one of his neighbours, a diabetic, became gravely ill to the point of becoming unresponsive. He was seen at a health facility but died shortly after.

It was later discovered that the neighbour was suffering from hypoglycaemia, a condition caused by low blood sugar.

it's nothing like that,” asserted Dr. Bux. As he reminisced about his younger days, Dr. Bux related, “My neighbours in Berbice practically brought me up when my family migrated. I didn't have to worry about anything... I could've just walked into their (neighbours) kitchens, take whatever I wanted and they never accepted payment from me. When I had birthdays, they would celebrate with me. I could sleep at any of their houses, the love you have there, it's not the kind you see anywhere else.

That was the kind of atmosphere I grew up in and it is the same kind of environment I want to bring my children up in and grow old in,” said

“The fact that nobody could have looked for signs of low blood sugar made me realise that this was the level of health care we were getting. All somebody had to do was give him some ice cream or even a little bit of sugar water and he could have been alive today. This was the turning point for me,” confided Dr. Bux. Although determined to eventually pursue a career in medicine, as a young boy, Dr. Bux desperately tried to balance his studies with his passion for cricket. After all, he was convinced that there was no

reason he couldn't be the best at both. He was smart enough to master both. His father, however, encouraged him to focus more on medicine.

Before long, cricket had taken a back seat and his focus was trained on completing his secondary education with the view of commencing the Medicine Programme at the University of Guyana (UG). He had barely started his studies when his family got an opportunity to migrate to the United States (US). But Dr. Bux disclosed that even as a young boy he was not prepared to abruptly bring his studies to an end.

Becoming a doctor and taking up residence in another land was never an option for him. This was in light of the fact that he was driven by thoughts of, “It's not what my country can do for me, it's what I can do for my country...”

He eventually admitted that becoming a doctor was one of the best ways that he could ever contribute to his country.

The young Bux was essentially left behind and had to live on his own, but not without his family's enduring love and support.

He had attended the Rosignol Primary School and then the New Amsterdam Multilateral School. It was after completing his Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations and finishing up his advanced secondary studies, that he applied and was accepted to pursue the pre-med programme at UG. While encouraging words from his father were enough to keep him on track, Dr. Bux confided that it was really his mother who helped him to remain focused along the way.

“She was always keeping in contact with me by phone... I can't remember a single day she didn't call me. She was supporting me in every way possible. She would have given me everything she had just to ensure that I reached my goal. She is the one that helped me to become the person I am today,” said an emotional Dr. Bux. After graduating from UG, he started practicing as a General Medical Officer at the GPHC. But in order to become a specialist in his field, he had to undertake some training overseas. Dr. Bux admitted that he wasn't too anxious to venture overseas but it was necessary if he was to specialise in Emergency Medicine. He was not going to settle for just being a general practitioner, he was aiming to fill a void that was gravely lacking at that time.

Through strategic collaboration between the GPHC and the Vanderbilt Medical Centre in the US, which is regarded as a top Emergency Medicine hospital, the young Dr. Bux was able to access specialist training. “I was like the lab rat... I was the pioneer when it came to Emergency Medicine here.

A lot of people were skeptical about it but I was actually ready for this. Three of us were interviewed (for training) but I was the only one who made it through and graduated,” recalled Dr. Bux. “It was a system where I had to trust them (the experts at Vanderbilt) to train me,” recounted Dr. Bux, who after completing the programme became the first Emergency Medicine specialist in the country. And according to him, “It just goes to show that you can be elevated to the highest possible level of your profession and do the best you can by staying right here

in Guyana,” asserted Dr. Bux. Since his training, he has paved the way for seven more doctors to follow in his footsteps, and he is confident that in the next five years the number of specialists in this field will amount to at least 20. He also received a scholarship to attend the Harvard Chan School of Public Health where he successfully graduated from the Global Health Delivery program.

Dr. Bux is now the National Emergency Medical Director and Heads the Accident and Emergency Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

The introduction of Emergency Medicine specialists like Dr. Bux into the public healthcare system does not only mean improvement in the service offered at the GPHC, but rather the country as a whole.

According to Dr. Bux, “an Emergency Specialist can figure out and manage a patient's condition in a way that no other physician can.

It could be a gunshot wound or even a heart attack and an Emergency Specialist can deal with cases like that and more in a safe and efficient manner. Patients can actually be treated and stabilised by emergency doctors.”

It has been recognised internationally, Dr. Bux noted, that Emergency Medicine is in fact the face of the whole public health system, and it has been for this reason that he has graciously taken the lead to advance this mandate.

Dr. Bux has been mastering this task well.

He, however, hasn't forgotten his love for cricket and spares a little time at nights to nurture his cricketing talent.

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 19

Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi – Guyana's First Local Neurosurgeon With a vision to transform Guyana's health sector into a modern regional marvel that will improve the lives of its citizens, Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi is well on the way to achieving this goal. far flung areas lacking proper healthcare,” Dr. Dukhi shared.

In 2014, Dr. Dukhi etched his name into medical journals when he returned from studies in Cuba as Guyana's first local Neurosurgeon.

Upon first meeting him, it hits you all at once. He has a brilliant mind and comforting personality with the evident burning desire to provide internationallyaccepted neurosurgical services to Guyanese. Dr. Dukhi grew up with his parents, Bisnauth and Sabitri Dukhi, and sister Surika in Skeldon, Corriverton, a rural community in eastern Guyana.

At the age of seven, then a village boy, Dr. Dukhi cultivated the desire to become a doctor after witnessing his grandparents struggle with poor health and with little or no access to proper healthcare.“It was a drive that was born out of witnessing the hardships that the people suffered who could not have accessed or afforded proper treatment. Not just relatives and friends, but also people of my community who were sick and their condition depreciated at home because they couldn't afford better health opportunities in Georgetown or Guyana. Upon this realization, I made the decision to pursue medicine and become a doctor. I wanted to help those in need, especially those in 20 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

He put his plan into motion upon graduating from the Skeldon Line Path Secondary School, where he wrote the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams in 1995 and was adjudged the third best graduating student. Dr. Dukhi immediately entered the University of Guyana, but at 15, he was too young to pursue medicine; the national policy only permitted students to enroll in medical school at the age of 18 onwards.

Instead, he completed a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biology and BioChemistry in 1999 and earned a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) scholarship to study medicine in Cuba.

“It was challenging,” Dr. Dukhi recalled.

“However, my enthusiasm and childhood drive kept me going, overcoming the hardships that young students face in medical school, especially in a foreign land and speaking a different language,” Dr. Dukhi stated. His brilliance was exemplified when he topped his medical school, graduating as one of the ten best students nationally in Cuba with a Summa Cum Laude GPA average of 5.49. Based on this remarkable achievement, Dr. Dukhi was chosen by the Cuban Government for an opportunity to pursue a specialty programme of his choice.

Initially, he returned to Guyana in 2006 under the instruction of the then government to serve. He worked at both the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the New Amsterdam Hospital serving in the departments of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Orthopedics. On weekends, he held clinics in his hometown at Skeldon.

SPECIALISING

In 2009, Dr. Dukhi took up the scholarship and returned to Havana, Cuba, where he pursued double masters –specializing in Family Medicine and primary health care strategies, and a full residency Master's Degree, specializing in Neurosurgery at the Calixto Garcia's Medical University Hospital, considered one of the most globally respected centers.

“I knew from my time working in Guyana that there wasn't any neurosurgeons here and most of our people with head and severe spinal injuries were either left to suffer, die, or who could afford it were medivac overseas.”

Embracing the challenges, Dr. Dukhi was inspired to pursue this goal knowing that, at the end of the day, there will be light for the people of Guyana. He completed his residency, graduating with first class honours.

“Guyana needed someone with the knowledge and skills to deal with critical injuries such as brain tumors, a fractured skull, and spinal injuries, etc.,” he acknowledged.

That is exactly what has happened since he returned in December 2014. “Now I am here to serve and help those in need to the best of my ability,” said Dr. Dukhi.

MOVING FORWARD With several years of experience as a physician and with training in the United States and in the Caribbean, Dr. Dukhi shared the view that Guyana is still lacking on many fronts in the medical arena. According to him, Guyana lacks a lot of specialty care – not just human resource capacity, but also infrastructural and technical needs.

“Although we have improved, I think

around the world the health sector has advanced with new modern infrastructural and medical developments that have aided advanced health care based on research and clinical evidence based medicine. Locally, we have a lot of catching up to do,” Dr. Dukhi noted.

He explained that one of the issues hindering Guyana's development is that this country is one of very few around the globe where healthcare is absolutely free. It is taxing to the nation's coffers to maintain quality health care continuously free of cost to all.

With Guyana on the verge of becoming a major oil producing country in 2020, Dr. Dukhi is hopeful that the health sector will see vast improvements.

“We need a lot of financial resources to build infrastructure, develop human resource capacity and improve research to maintain a health sector which is of a high standard comparable with the developed world.” He has started the work, building neurosurgery in Guyana since his return. He is currently training four doctors who are able to perform certain procedures under supervision. Dr. Dukhi is currently networking with the University of the West Indies, Jamaica and McMaster University in Canada to potentially create a post graduate neurosurgery program in Guyana.

“There is a lot of work to be done; it takes a lot of energy and a lot of commitment to pursue such a program at the Master's level. It will involve many local stakeholders who will have to work collectively to

create training programs of the highest standard. If we can pull this off in Guyana, which I do hope in the near future we can, then we are moving in the right direction,” Dr. Dukhi stated. His advice to young people is to follow a career path that they will enjoy.

“Although sometimes I would spend nine non-stop hours on a surgery to remove a major brain tumor, I enjoy my job.

Most times, fatigue only sets in after the final suture is in,” Dr. Dukhi stated.

Dr. Dukhi recognised that our young people must harness their potential, noting that even if someone leaves high school with 20 subjects, it means absolutely nothing unless they can use it as a stepping stone to creating a meaningful academic career to serve their country and humanity. In this sense, he also recognised that civil society and the government should facilitate these brilliant minds with opportunities to pursue tertiary education.

Since his return to Guyana, Dr. Dukhi has already performed many groundbreaking neurosurgical procedures. For example, when police officer Victor Fausette was shot in the head by a man of unsound mind in 2015, he was operated on by Dr. Dukhi and the warhead was successfully extracted from his brain.

Gunshot wounds to the head are always life-threatening, but today, young Officer Fausette is back at work, serving the Guyana Police

Force in full capacity.

Recently, Dr. Dukhi has also partnered with Precision Spine USA to insert the first Vault C implants in South America on two paralyzed patients with spinal injuries. He is very proud to say that both patients are now back on their feet after their successful surgeries. As Aristotle said, “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work”.

He ended with a childhood advice, “My dad once told me that all your riches can be taken away from you, but education and knowledge will always stay with you. Your knowledge is what will take you forward whenever things may appear difficult. Get yourself uplifted; the best way to do so is to get yourself educated.”

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 21

KOMAL CHAND A true son of the soil Mr. Komal Chand has been contributing to the country's Agriculture Sector for decades, since before his rise to Politics and Trade Unionism.

He told this magazine, “Before I got into sugar and became a part of the sugar union in the 1970's as a young man, I have always been in Agriculture. I was always on the workers side ensuring that everything is good with them in their respective fields; be it rice, sugar or whatever. I am grounded in Agriculture.”

Mr. Chand currently serves as President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and is also a Member of Parliament for the People's Progressive Party Civic shadowing Agriculture along with his colleague Dharamkumar Seeraj.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union (GAWU) is the largest trade union in Guyana and in the Caribbean. It was founded in 1946 as the Guiana Industrial Workers' Union. After failing in the 1950s, it was reformed as the Guyana Sugar Workers' Union in 1961 but changed its name to Guyana Agricultural Workers' Union in 1962 before becoming GAWU later that decade.

Mr. Chand started in GAWU as an Organising Secretary and moved through the ranks to General Secretary and eventually President.

It was during his tenure at the helm that GAWU's membership spread far and wide to include workers in the garment, lumber and rice industries, fisheries, the Demerara Harbour Bridge, among others.

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Some functions, in a nutshell, would be to first represent workers’ interests with a view to ensuring their rights and benefits are expected. Secondly, to engage the employer in collective bargaining to improve wages, benefits and conditions of work, and thirdly, to engage government towards the improvement of the rights of workers generally.

Mr. Chand, now 73, told this publication that his entire working life has been in the Agriculture Sector, but because of the impact sugar had on the country's economy, he felt he could have made a contribution there. “I have been associated with sugar and sugar workers' issues since 1975. As you know, sugar has been and remains an important part of our economy and this has dominated Agriculture for decades in this country. Sugar is the reason for our people remaining on the coastline.

It is responsible for our Agriculture,” he pointed out.

FAMILY SUPPORT Mr. Chand has been married for more than three decades and is the father of three children, all of whom he described as young professionals. He said that his success in the Agriculture Sector in this country is due to the support of his family, since they stood by him despite sometimes being out of the home for most of the day or sometimes being away for days.

“Fortunately for me, my wife is the daughter of a sugar worker who used to work in the fields, cutting cane in the Versailles' estate, which was at the time privately owned.

She understood the challenges of the sugar industry, the hardships that workers had to endure and my dedication to the union and to workers' issues”, he made known.

Chand went on to say, “My wife and children understood that a lot of my time was dedicated to work, even many weeks on Sundays. I had absolutely no objection from them, even though I felt I was dedicating too little time to my three children.

My wife's support was a big boost for me to work hard,” he said.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Mr. Chand, a lover of cricket, told this publication that even to this day, he is still into the sport but he is not too much into the excitement associated with the game now, referring to the T20 matches- the biggest party in sports. He prefers to look at test match cricket. His alltime favourite cricketer is Guyana's very own, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Chand feels that the West Indies team can never find a replacement for Chanderpaul.

The lover of chicken curry told this publication that he personally feels that his contribution to the Agricultural Sector and Politics has been satisfactory and he is ready to hang up his gloves.

He said, should his party call on him again to serve as a Member of Parliament, he will decline and lend his support from outside. He could not say though how soon he will retire from the sugar union.

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TOTA MANGAR Guyana's most treasured Historian on East Indian Ancestry If ever there is a need to learn about the detailed history of Guyana's East Indians, then renowned Historian and Former Dean of the School of Education and Humanities, Tota Mangar, is the man to turn to.

Mangar has delivered presentations and even taught about Indo-Guyanese history for more than 50 years. He holds a stellar record, not only as a historian, but as a school teacher.

The father of two is vastly experienced in writing history pertinent to that of the 19th and 20th Centuries of British Guiana. To this date, he is still a reservoir of research and is readily tapped into for lectures at conferences and universities. One of Mangar's proudest achievements is his research which led to Guyana being placed on the UNESCO World Heritage Register of “Documentary Heritage of the Indian Indentured Labourers”.

BRIEF LIFE CHRONICLES Looking back at his life, Mangar has no regrets.

He was born in a mud-walled, thatched roof house at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast. Life for Mangar and his nine siblings who followed began in the same thatched roof houses built with walls of mud. It was the first set of houses built after the indentureship period. Mangar's grandparents were among the Indian indentured labourers who were lured to British Guiana. His research shows that a total of 536 shiploads of indentured workers came.

He attended St. Agnes Anglican Primary, where he stayed on and wrote the College of Preceptors Exams. Mangar was then enrolled at the Normal Educational Institute, a privately-run secondary school in Queenstown. After writing the London GCE Exams, Mangar was employed as a teacher in the secondary department of St. Agnes School.“Being a teacher in those days brought a certain respectable status to your family,” he noted.

In 1973, he graduated as a trained teacher and went back to St. Agnes where he taught for a further two years. He then left the Essequibo Coast to pursue a degree in History at the University of Guyana not long after. He mentioned, “I like history; I find it a challenge. It's about how you 24 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

analyze and interpret the information that gives it life and meaning.”

After graduating from University, Mangar was attached to the Ministry of Education's Research Unit. In 1982, he was promoted as Head of the North Georgetown Secondary School's Social Studies Department. He completed his Master's Degree in History at the University of Guyana and left North Georgetown Secondary in 1988. A few years after, he was named a Senior Lecturer and was given indefinite tenure at the University in 1999. While there, he held many administrative positions.

He served as Acting Vice Chancellor in 2009. Over the years, he served as a Guest Lecturer at Carter Brown University in Providence Rhode Island.

At the Federal University of Roraima, he served as guest lecturer on Guyanese and West Indian History.

His impressive record saw him sitting on many boards. These include the National Subject Committee on Caribbean History in the 1980s and 1990s, the National Archives Advisory Committee, the National Museum Development Committee (Chairman) and the current teachers’ training college, CPCE, from 2005-2007.

In 2001, Mangar received a Fellowship to the Carter Brown University. In 2003, he received the University of Guyana's 40th Anniversary Special Award for Distinguished Service, and then in 2008, he also received one of the University's Long Service Awards.

In 2007, the Indian Arrival Committee awarded Mangar for “Outstanding contribution to the development of Guyana and as a distinguished Indo-Guyanese”.

Some of Mangar's research work includes 'Planter Class Power and the Struggle for Constitutional Reforms in Nineteenth Century British Guiana' and 'Conceptualization and History of the Guianas'.

Mangar became a teacher because of the status that was attached to the profession, and he is proud to have lived up to the reputation that is expected of those who teach others.

Today, he remains a celebrated historian attached to the Ministry of Education.

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Bhaskar Sharma Guyana's only “Sangeet Alankar”

Opens National Indian Orchestra Indian Arrival Day, which was observed on May 5 last, saw the grand launching of a National Indian Orchestra.

This is the brainchild of legendary Guyanese musician and international recording artist – Bhaskar Sharma. The artiste revealed the initiative during his trip to Guyana to cover the April Bartica Regatta.

Some seasoned musicians who are willing and welcome the idea of a national Indian musical outfit of a professional stature have already been contacted to join the Orchestra. Other interested musicians are being invited to auditions.

The format of the group will include harmonium, tabla, sitar, flute, dholak, tassa and other traditional Indian instruments. The original purity of “Shastri Sangeet” – real Indian classical music - will be pursued; along with contemporary rhythms for the younger generation who love the best of Bollywood music.

It must be noted that the leader of the orchestra, Bhaskar Sharma, remains Guyana's only “Sangeet Alankar” – the equivalent of a Ph.D in Indian vocal music – a first for Guyana, the Caribbean and anywhere else in the Indian Diaspora!

It should be remembered also that Bhaskar Sharma, in 1974, assisted the then Indian Cultural Centre in Albion, Corentyne, Berbice in its activities of teaching classical Indian music with the harmonium – of which he is adept. Tabla classes were also conducted by the worldclass Professor, Hasmat Ali Khan.

Many would remember the late renowned Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, who supported the visionary Prime Minister L.F.S. Burnham in his establishing of the Indian Cultural Centre in Guyana. This institution today has many of its senior students around the world teaching Indian music, especially in North America and other countries.

Some of these musical operatives include Mumtaz Ally (Khatak dance teacher), Devika (Khatak dancer and sister-in-law of the late Reepu Daman Persaud), Ramkissoon Singh – who has been teaching nation-wide in Guyana; and Bhaskar Sharma – a retired Professor of the Board of Education in Ontario, Canada.

Additionally, it was during the time of the late Forbes Burnham as President that Indian musicians were paid for their art and excellence at the Maha Sabha, over which previous Speaker of the Assembly, Sase Naraine, was President.

According to Bhaskar Sharma, “We will invite all heads of the Hindu religious organizations in Guyana – including the Aryan Samaj and also Islamic groups nationwide to participate and support this musical initiative, as we will be introducing and teaching both Hindi and Urdu to all practitioners of this sublime art.”

For more information, contact Founder-Director Bhaskar Sharma at 1-416-759-6397 or email: equalitygroup@rogers.com. The Guyana contact person, Ramkissoon Singh, can be reached at 592-220-7475.

INTERESTING FACT ON THE HESPERUS The Hesperus was one of the two vessels that were chartered to convey the Indian Immigrants who sailed from East India to South America on January 29, 1838.

The ship carried approximately 165 persons. After a journey of about 96 days, it arrived in British Guiana on May 5. Passengers battled to stay alive and sadly thirteen people died on this voyage. Passengers from this ship were sent to the estates of Vreedestein and Vreed-en-Hoop.

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David Dabydeen: THE MOST PROLIFIC LITERARY ICON OF OUR TIME

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uyana has been the birth place of some of the Caribbean's most critically acclaimed writers. But not many can claim to have the unquestionable respect and adoration of international writing bodies like David Dabydeen. The uncanny mastery of the literary arts by this Indo-Guyanese for the last 40 years has cemented his place among the world's literary icons.

Today, this distinguished gentleman is an accomplished critic, novelist and intellect whose skills remain unmatched.

Dabydeen was born to Veronica Dabydeen and David Harilal Sookram on December 9, 1955.

He grew up with his mother and her parents in Plantation Zealand. At a young age, his parents divorced and his father, an Attorney-at-Law, had migrated to England, leaving his mother and five siblings behind.

At the age of seven, David and his siblings moved to New Amsterdam with his mother, where he completed his primary education. He attended the Vryman's Erven Government School where his path to academia was first molded.

He was very successful at the Common Entrance Examination, and although resources were scarce, he secured a place at Queen's College.

At the secondary level, the young writer thrived with assistance from eminent

teachers and inspirational students like Eric Phillips, who is currently affiliated with the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA).

At the age of 13, he migrated to London to live with his father and entered a totally different school life. This new life was quite mesmerizing to him as a writer. He enrolled in one of England's outstanding schools, and was lucky to again be entrusted in the care of a terrific English teacher who pushed him towards one of the best universities in the world. But with his drive for academic success, he still felt like a second class citizen because he belonged to an ethnic minority.

Be that as it may, David was not discouraged. He made best of England's resources, especially the colossal number of books available and the scholarships that were at his disposal.

Dabydeen studied English Literature at Cambridge University in 1974, and in 1982, commenced a doctorate at the University College of London. He was then awarded a research fellowship at Wolfson College, Oxford. In 1984, he landed a job as an academic at the University of Warwick and taught there for 26 years. He was appointed Director of the Centre for

Caribbean Studies and Professor at the Centre for British Comparative Cultural Studies at the University some 13 years ago.

Since then, David has published and edited hundreds of books.

His achievements over the years enabled him to be recognized and nominated as a member of UNESCO's Executive Board where he functions in the post of Honorary Ambassador to Guyana.

Dabydeen also renders his intellectual self to the promotion of literary work in Guyana. He has been doing this since 1992.

In his own words, the critic notes, “I was asked by the then President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, if I could help promote scholarship and publications in Guyana. So ever since then, this is what I have been doing whenever I come to Guyana. I sometimes take some writings back (to England) with me and go to the various publishing houses and ask them to see if the materials could be published.�

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CHRIS PATADIN

IS A RISING STAR IN THE WORLD OF CRICKET

Indo-Guyanese are not only making remarkable and notable strides in the areas of music, business and agriculture, but they are also dominating in the sporting arena.

The talented cricketer, Chris Muneshwar Patadin, is one shining example in this regard.

Born on January 24, 1989 in Georgetown, Guyana, Patadin started his sporting career at the age of 18 when he played for the Guyana Under-19 team. He shared with the Guyana Inc. Magazine that it was while growing up that he realized his passion for the sport. He said that his biggest goal in life was to work towards being good enough to join one of the most sought after teams – the Guyana Under-19.

When he learnt that he made the team in early 2007, Patadin was elated and felt proud for being selected to represent his country on the international level. He likes to reminisce back to this day since it serves as a source of motivation.

Patadin is a left-handed batsman and also a left-arm fastmedium bowler. He has played for the Suriname International Team in England and Indiana, Eastern American League in New York, and the Commonwealth Cricket League in New York. He was later named Most valuable player (MVP) for those teams in the years 2016 and 2017 during the Common League in New York. In fact, Patadin secured top scores with many centuries during that tournament.

As it relates to his family life, Patadin shared that he spent his formative years with his parents, Roxanne and the late Naitram Patandin, in Industry. The talented sportsman noted that his biggest inspiration was his father, since he was his main supporter, no matter what the circumstances were.

When Patadin's father passed, the charming young man said it was the most difficult time for him.

The cricketer shared, “He always wanted me to meet my goals and even though he's not here with me, I still think of him and I keep on going as strong as I can.”

Previously, Patandin trained at Everest Cricket Club and Demerara Cricket Club. He also played for the Green Line Independence Cup in New York. While he represented Demerara at Inter-county games in New York, he also represented well at the New York All-Star in the Rockaway T20 tournament.

He is currently playing for Majestic Cricket Club in New York for the Common Wealth Cricket League, which is one of the popular Cricket Leagues in North America.

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Kevin Persaud Guyana's Young Champion Racer

Kevin Persaud is one of Guyana's young champion racers. He declares his father, Mr. Narendra Persaud known as Smiley, to be his biggest inspiration. He credited his father as being his sole source of

motivation and the person who inspired him to start racing.

Mr. Persaud is a mechanic and before every race he would ensure to give Kevin little pep talks to motivate him, ensure his bike works 110% and, after each race, he always stands by his side whether he wins or not.

Kevin's racing career began in 2013. At only fourteen years of age, he finished ahead of all the other international competitors. He was the youngest motorcycle racer on the grid. In 2014, all of his races ended with him being placed on the winners' podium. He gained two first places in the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship Leg held in Guyana and finished second in Guyana's 'B' Class Superbike Championship and collected the ‘Most Improved Rider’ trophy. He toured Jamaica and Barbados in 2015, representing Guyana, and gained all top-five finishes. He later moved on to

the professional 'A' Class for the final leg of the races held in Guyana where, once again, he was able to capture all top-five finishes.

He notes that the year of 2016 was a less productive year due to a few setbacks. He toured Trinidad and was only able to gain top ten finishes, but later in the final leg, attained top-five finishes in Guyana. In 2017, he dominated the first race meet and went on to claim the 2017 Guyana Superbike Championship.

Unfortunately, this year (2018) he started off with a back injury due to a crash but was still able to gain a few podium finishes.

His only fears would be that of snakes, disappointing himself and others and failure. Kevin is the true replica of a champion.

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THE GLASS CEILING HAS BROKEN ….Guyanese East Indian women hailed for their continued progress

I

ndentured emigration (18381917) had different effects on the population in Guyana, based on an individual's gender, religion, class, caste, race, location and age.

While the shortage of Indian females during the early indentureship period might have resulted in an improved status for some Indian women in Guyana, it also led to various forms of control and servitude. During the later indentureship period, Indian women were 're-casted' through the blending of Indian religions and cultures, and the rebuilding of the Indian male family structure, both of which served to divide women and reinforce a male's control of females' labour, sexuality, reproduction and mobility.

Women were bonded labourers within the Indian family after they completed their period of indenture and indentureship was abolished.

But from that time to now, the progress that East Indian women have made in this country is immeasurable. That's according to Former Government Minister, Activist and now Member of Parliament for the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Indranie Chanderpal.

Chanderpal, who also chairs the Women and Gender Equality Commission, told this magazine that East Indian women only started to come into the public domain after universal adult suffrage was born in 1953. “I think all women, specifically East Indian women, believed they had a voice and deserved much more, after adult 30 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

suffrage in 1953”.

The winning of the 1953 National Election in Guyana saw women being elevated for the first time and three women were elected to the Legislative Council as well as to the position of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

Chanderpal said that women thought then, as much as they do now, that they had a right to cash in on all society had to offer.

“You know, in the days of the British, East Indian women, particularly Hindus and those in Islam, were not afforded access to education unless they converted to Christianity. Many did not, and because of that, they were disenfranchised. I believe now though, the glass ceiling has been broken and we have come a long way, but there is still a long way for us to go”, she told this magazine.

She went on to say, “Look at the number of East Indian women lawyers and doctors we have, look at the number of teachers and business women. And though there are many who may want to get into politics, because of our political culture, they opt to stay out. But just look at the strides and contributions East Indian women have made on the political front to this country.”

Chanderpal also credits the progress and success of East Indian women in Guyana to the work of the Women's Progressive Organization (WPO) who had undertaken to carry out several initiatives to encourage women to step up and take the mantle. “The WPO had rigorous

campaigns all across the country to encourage our women to come forward, to let their voices be heard and to be a part of changing times, to have an education and things like that.”

May 27, 2018 marked 65 years since the Women's Progressive Organization was formed in 1953.

The rationale for such a formation became necessary because of the poor conditions women were living under and the absence of basic rights for them.

But even though East Indian women made significant progress post 1953, the establishment of the National Service was another stumbling block in the way. Chanderpal recalled that parents were unhappy when their daughters had to be away from them, “and females, particularly East Indians, were not able to do things like graduate. Only after the National Service was removed were females able to do so”, she noted.

Chanderpal said that when she became a Government Minister for the People's Progressive Party in Guyana in 1993, she tried to visit as many communities as possible where women were mostly impacted by the indentureship and national service eras and work to encourage them to embrace the notion that there is more to life than what they grew up witnessing or was a part of.

OLD CULTURE STILL LINGERS Also speaking to this publication is a successful East Indian doctor and also a Member of Parliament for the People's Progressive Party, Dr. Vindhya Persaud.

For Dr. Persaud, the old culture where the men go to work and the women stay at home to look after the children and to cook is still very much alive in Guyana. Though not prevalent like before, she said family thinking has had a lot to do with this. She noted, however, that East Indian women are now coming to grips with the times.

“You know, this whole thing about the men going to work and the women staying at home to do house work, for me, I will say it is because of cultural pressure. There are many mothers who struggle to raise a family in this fashion and not much attention has been paid to them.

What we are seeing happening now is a change in the way East Indian women think, and though women are still being stymied, in terms of employment, I would say we have come a long way; but I can tell you, we still have far more to go,” she noted.

For Dr. Persaud, while East Indian women have had a change in their thinking, some are still reluctant to come to the fore, for whatever reason. “I need to see more East

Indian women CEOs, more politicians, more ministers, more educators… We just need to get up and get and we must let the men know, not just for East Indian women but for women across the divide, we must let our voices be heard and let the people know that it's our time now.”

Dr. Persaud said she is elated to see that more women are accessing education today and taking the lead in Science and Technology. “But more need to join the conversation on topical issues”, she stressed.

EAST INDIAN WOMEN IN RURAL GUYANA While East Indian women on the coastland continue to progress, those in the more rural areas of the country are not benefitting from the National pie adequately, Dr. Persaud observed.

“I would want to see more development for women in those areas. They are being disadvantaged, it's like they are not a part of us; we don't hear from them, we don't hear about them.

Often times, people feel that these women are not important because of where they are, but we need to include these women, we need to empower them and we need to have them on the forefront,” Dr. Persaud said.

Former Manager of Radio Guyana Inc., now business woman, Surida Nagreadi also voiced her concerns on this issue. For her, even during indentureship days, women started to make their voices known.

“The 'A woman's place is in the home' perception of the feminine image has been there for as long as I can remember. This notion was particularly prevalent back in the indentureship days; women were disproportionately represented as they were thought to be less 'economical'. However, during those very days, women began fighting bravely against a system of oppression and exploitation, where Kowsilla was one such martyr.”

Today, she said, East Indian women can be proud of their accomplishments.

“Fast forward to many decades later, it's evident the progress women have made in Guyana, particularly Indian women. Many of whom today are C-Suite Executives, politicians, business owners, respected professors, top sport players, military personnel and the list goes on. We continue to make headlines and influence decisionmaking processes. But our world is ever changing and education will be our vehicle to continue this progress. We need to reach out to our young girls and mothers and empower them to raise their aspirations, to fight for what they believe in and to reach out for opportunities to live their dreams.”

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ISKCON and its impact in Guyana The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), popularly known as the Hare Krishna Movement, is an international confederation of more than 650 temples and several community projects- Vegetarian restaurants, Eco-farms, to name a few.

ISKCON belongs to the GaudiyaVaishnava Sampradaya – a monotheistic tradition. It is scripturally based on the 5,000-year-old Sanskrit text BhagavadGita, or “Song of God.” ISKCON traces its lineage directly to the speaker of that sacred book, Lord Krishna, who is revered as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and to Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 16th century incarnation of God who emphasized the chanting of Hare Krishna as the most effective means of achieving self-realization and love of God in this present time.

In 1965, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, at age 70, journeyed alone on a cargo ship – “Jaladuta” from India to America to bring the teachings of Lord Krishna to the West. On July 11th, 1966, Srila Prabhupada formally registered the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New York City and thus inaugurated the Hare Krishna Movement.

The organization bases its philosophy on the ancient Vedic scriptures. These include the Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, the 30volume Srimad Bhagavatam and the 17-volume CaitanyaCaritamrita. Krishna devotees teach that people are not their material bodies, but rather eternal spirit souls, and that all beings are interconnected through God, the mutual father. In the Vaishnava culture, God is known by many names, but primarily by the name “Krishna”, which means “the All-Attractive Supreme Person.” ISKCON members believe that the same God is spoken of in all major literatures of the world. ISKCON teaches that the goal of life is to develop the love of God. The Love of God is realized through the practice of ‘bhakti-yoga’ or devotional service. This ancient system of yoga imparts the art of keeping God in the center of all human activities. To achieve Krishna Consciousness effectively, members chant and meditate upon the holy names of Lord Krishna: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In addition to daily chanting and meditation, ISKCON members practice their faith by attending regular worship services, reading the Vedic literatures, exchanging sanctified vegetarian meals and deepening relationships among other Krishna followers.

The members also practice four “principles of religion”: compassion, truthfulness, cleanliness and austerity. To uphold these principles and to concentrate the mind and senses on their spiritual quests, practitioners follow four basic rules of conduct.

They are strict vegetarians; avoiding eating of meat, fish or eggs.

They also refrain from gambling and illicit sex, and do not smoke nor indulge in alcohol or use drugs.

ISKCON began in Guyana way back in 1975 when Krishna devotees from America came to Guyana. The organization was later registered on October 1975. Today, there are 5 temples established across the three main counties of the country, with its main branch on just the outskirts of Georgetown in UG Road, Cummings Lodge. There are also several preaching center setups in the villages.

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Over the years, ISKCON has benefitted the people of Guyana in many different ways through its many activities. Some of the main events include street chanting, distribution of spiritual literatures, temple and outdoor festivals- Janmasthami, Ratha and Pada-yatra, sanctified food distribution and attendance of reachout programs.

Street chanting or “Harinaam” was introduced here in Guyana since devotees visited the country. It involves Krishna devotees singing the Holy names of the Lord through the streets and villages. This singing is accompanied by instruments such as the Mrdanga – drum and Karatalas – cymbals. This chanting is significant since it brings to all people remembrance of God's holy names. It also spiritualized the atmosphere and brings peace to the hearts of many who hear.

Distribution of spiritual texts, pamphlets and magazines has been occurring across the country from Crab Wood Creek to Bartica for many years. ISKCON’s devotees recognize the vital need to share the ancient teachings of Lord Krishna to everyone so that they can get an opportunity to understand the goal of the human form of life and to revive their dormant love for the supreme father, Krishna. ISKCON in Guyana is known for organizing many multi-racial, cultural and religious festivals. One such large event is the annual Festival of the Chariots- Ratha-Yatra.

There, the Lord of the Universe, Lord Jagannath (Krishna), rides a huge chariot and is pulled along the streets by everyone who comes. This festival is significant in that the Lord leaves the temple and takes to the street to give benedictions to everyone, especially those who cannot make it to the temple. The cart pulling signifies pulling the Lord to one's heart thereby becoming peaceful within and being always under the Lord's protection and shelter.

In addition, ISKCON is well known for conducting food-for-life programs for many years in Guyana. Thousands of plates of sanctified vegetarian meals have been distributed, especially at Ratha-Yatra, Pada-Ytara and similar outdoor festivities. Many people recognize Krishna devotees because of the famous “fudge” (sweet) they give out. Also, every gathering, whether at the temple or outdoors, involve the honouring of sanctified food afterwards.

One of the major contributions of ISKCON is its regular outreach programs. Krishna devotees go out to meet and spend time with people in the towns and villages throughout the country to encourage them to continue to pursue spirituality. They also offer counseling and guidance to students, couples, families, or anyone who so desires it. Performance of various “Samskaras” or sacrifices for purification such as weddings, final rites and name giving ceremonies are but a few of the services being offered.

Moreover, on a weekly basis, there has been the famous “Sunday Love Feast” program occurring in all the temples. This program entails chanting the names of God, Srimad BhagavadGita discourses, worship of the Murti form of the Lord and relishing of Vegetarian feast subsequently. There are also the daily morning program, television program, music classes, Gita classes, Kirtan festivals, and many other training programs that have been taking place over the years.

ISKCON has impacted Guyana tremendously by fostering unity, peace, national brotherhood and self-awareness among all people through its widespread community services. The movement continues to grow worldwide and be of service to our country in many ways as highlighted above.

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Message from the Indian Action Committee

ven though May 5th (Indian Immigration Day) has passed, the Indian Action Committee (IAC) still wishes to extend to all our Guyanese brothers and sisters a Happy Arrival Day. It is an important occasion for us and as such, we call on all citizens to remember the 180th Anniversary of the Arrival of East Indians to Guyana.

The IAC, an organization which promotes and preserves Indian culture and deals with the issues and concerns of persons of Indo-Guyanese origin, over the years has provided Guyanese with historical information regarding the arrival of just over 239,000 Indian Immigrants who came to this country aboard 245 Coolie Ships, which made a total of 534 voyages across the Kaalaa Paanii between 1838 and 1917.

The Committee has also clarified and corrected statistical errors pertaining to the arrival of the first two Coolie Ships, the WHITBY and the HESPERUS, which between them landed a total of 423 persons, including 382 indentured males, 14 indentured females, 21 children and 6 Christian Anglo-Indian interpreter/superintendents.

As it has been doing over the years, the IAC continues to recognize the endeavours by these Indian Immigrants and their descendants, the persons of Indo-Guyanese origin, to develop this country.

As all Guyanese share in this commemoration, the IAC is cognizant of the sharp downturn in Guyana's economy over the past few years, evidence being the steadily declining economic growth rate and the worrying fact that the country's foreign currency reserves have dropped below US$500 Million for the first time since 2009; and in combination with global economic events, hardships have fallen upon the poor class of Guyanese, especially those dislocated in the sugar industry and those currently threatened by the planned downsizing of part of the bauxite industry.

The IAC is saddened by the surge in criminal activity in recent years and is shocked and horrified that, on the eve of this significant commemoration, in excess of a dozen Guyanese fishermen were brutally murdered by pirates, believed to be other Guyanese fishermen.

Today, when the IAC looks back, the organization is amazed at how those groups of seemingly helpless Indians, many of whom were illiterate, speaking in different tongues, following different customs, belonging to different religions, belonging to different castes, over the generations, managed to fuse together while seamlessly merging into the wider environment to become the strong pillar of Guyana, a young nation born out of sweat and toil, along with similar endeavours of the other ethnic groups that comprise this nation.

They have acknowledged important contributions by giving awards to persons from Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo, and are aware that tens of thousands of East Indians have made valuable efforts in all fields of human activity in this country, including business and commerce; banking and finance; the sugar and rice industries; coconuts and other crops; fishery and livestock; mining and quarrying; forestry and sawmilling; education and academia; medicine and law; journalism and communications; accounting and insurance; private and national security; the hospitality and aviation sectors; the alcohol and beverage industries; sports and entertainment; culture and religion; and politics and governance.

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 33

The Indian Heritage Monument T he East Indian immigrants truly made an ineradicable mark in Guyana's history. Before the year of 1988, which would've been the 150th Anniversary of their Arrival, there was no structure to commemorate their arrival. In August of the 1987, Dr. Yesu Persaud was unanimously elected as the Chairman of the 150th Anniversary Committee. In May of 1988, Dr. Persaud met with Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, who was the then Vice President of India, and expressed his desire to have the monument built. That occasion saw the agreement to erect a monument in recognition of the East Indians and their contribution to the Guyanese culture.

The committee then decided on a location, which was agreed to be the section of the Merriman's Mall bordered by Church and Alexander streets, North Road and Camp Street, opposite the St. Rose's High School.

A country wide competition was held for the design of the monument, which saw hundreds of entries. The winning entry was a replica of the 'SS Whitby', the first ship which arrived on Guyana's shores with the first batch of immigrants. It cost a total of $250,000 Guyana Dollars and was sculpted in bronze. It rests on a pedestal of black marble that is coloured in yellow, green and black and reaches a height of ten feet.

Mr. Balkishen designed the sculpture of the Whitby, while Mr. Albert Rodrigues was the architect with the creative mind behind the landscape.

The monument was cast in India and is now the centerpiece of the monument gardens. The structure is encompassed by low partitions that have writings of calligraphy and other illustrative scenes. The wall paintings and carvings found on its external surface give understanding into the way of life of the sugar cane workers. The Heritage site is managed by the Indian Commemoration Trust and is a beautiful reminder of the East Indian History and culture.

COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS REVEALED TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF

DR. CHEDDI JAGAN Four commemorative stamps were unveiled in May 2018 by the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre in recognition of the life and work of former President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan. The event, which took place at the Ministry of Presidency, th marked the 100 birth anniversary of the “Father of the Nation.” The four collectable stamps, two printed in black and white and two in colour, feature portraits of Dr. Jagan at various stages throughout his political career. Printed on them is the text “Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Man of the People, Former President of Guyana” and also included are his birth and th 100 birth anniversary dates, March 22, 1918 and March 22, 2018.

During the ceremony, Chairman of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Mr. Hydar Ally, described the legacy of 34 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

Dr. Jagan during the struggle for Guyana's Independence.

“It was his steadfast determination and resolve to free his people from the yolk of colonialism and poverty that really distinguished him from others of his time. He played the leading role in the struggle for Independence,” Ally said.

The ceremony was attended

by Dr. Jagan's sister, Dr. Barbara Jagan, and other relatives including Dr. Dionne Jagan-Fries and Dr. Kyle Jagan. Also in attendance were other representatives from the CJRC, the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC), the Guyana Philatelic Society and the Ministry of the Presidency. The issuance of commemorative stamps is observed as one of the national symbols, which is used, according to set criteria, to celebrate the life and work of exemplary Guyanese.

SARASWATI VIDYA NIKETAN The School that's moving beyond academic excellence Spreading over a sprawling campus, Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) is a unique educational institution located at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, in the secure premises of a Temple. The school began operations in September 2002 and has since carved a niche for itself in the field of education. With a student population of about 400, SVN is like a second home for students hailing from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. On this premise, it serves as a model institution in imparting to its students education, not only in terms of academic excellence, but also in discipline.

Swami Aksharananda, PhD Hindu Philosophy (Univ. of Wisconsin, USA), is the Founder and Principal of the school. According to him, Indian civilization and culture has long held the view that we really cannot teach anyone and that all knowledge is already inherent in the individual soul. The student must then be the focus of learning, not the teacher or the curriculum. With this in mind, SVN has embarked on a philosophy of education that is concerned with the overall development of the student.

Swami Aksharananda is of the view that our education system, a legacy of our colonial past, is severely one-sided in that while it emphasizes Western and Judeo-Christian values, it de-emphasizes the role of the traditional Indian culture inherited by the Indian child. And in this post-colonial society still dominated by Christian values, Indian children grow up to be not only diffident, but also ashamed of their cultural heritage.

Swami says that this puts Indian children at a disadvantage and hampers their intellectual, emotional and spiritual development. Because of this imbalance in our educational system, the very task of national building is lagging, as evidenced in so many areas of the society. The SVN seeks to remedy this imbalance with an appropriate cultural

year, Vamanadev Hiralall, emerged as the country's top performer at CAPE, after achieving an accumulated 13 grade ones and three grade two passes.

Swami Aksharananda input into the school curriculum. “Our values here are universal values and can be followed by anyone anywhere,� a staff in the Administrative department said. That staffer is also a past student of the school where she has been working for the past seven years.

The Guyana Inc. Magazine was told that, at SVN, the focus is not just on academic excellence, but also on molding students so that they can move on to live righteous lives. Although SVN is a Hindu school, children from other religious backgrounds are welcomed, and the school respects the religious beliefs of all its students and staff members.

For instance, there are cases when students are given time off to attend Church, Masjid, or certain religious functions. Extracurricular activities are an integral part of the system. Students have access to learning yoga, formal classes in Sanskrit Chants and Karate.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES Boasting of some of the school's outstanding performances at regional examinations, it was revealed that every year students from SVN place among the top five in the country at the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). A total of 20 subjects are offered at the CSEC level.

In regards to the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), over 15 subjects are offered to students. Last

Hiralall, then 18, attained passes in Units 1 and 2 of Pure Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Information Technology, and Unit 1 of Communication Studies and Caribbean Studies.

The brilliant Hiralall was recently awarded the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship to pursue studies in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto.

Similarly, in 2013, Rafena Mustapha, a former student of SVN, was among the region's high-flyers awarded by CXC. She was awarded for outstanding performance in humanities at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

That same year, she graduated as SVN's best CSEC student, earning 15 distinctions. She gained 10 subjects at the CAPE level in 2015. She, too, earned a scholarship to pursue tertiary education in the USA. With an alumnus of over 4,000 students, SVN is committed to giving back to its top performers. With that being said, the school has its own scholarship programme, whereby every year, the top CSEC performer, once interested in teaching at the school, is offered a scholarship to pursue studies in the USA. So far, six students have benefited from this programme.

One of the features of SVN is its unique emphasis on discipline administered with care and compassion. In a nutshell, Saraswati Vidya Niketan is a different and unique school.

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 35

Culinary Delicacies Ÿ

Ÿ

DHAL INGREDIENTS Ÿ 1/2 cup yellow split peas Ÿ 2 cloves of chopped garlic Ÿ 4 cups water Ÿ 1/2 tsp cumin Ÿ 1/2 tsp curry powder Ÿ 1/2 teaspoon ground geera Ÿ 1 hot wiri wiri pepper Ÿ 1 tsp salt

BAIGAN CHOKA

To Chunkay Ÿ 3 cloves garlic, sliced Ÿ 2 tbsps whole geera Ÿ 3 tbsp vegetable or canola oil

Ÿ

METHOD Ÿ Boil split peas along with whole garlic and wiri wiri pepper in 4 cups water on a medium fire until peas are soft and squishy. Ÿ Mix in salt, cumin, curry powder and ground geera. Ÿ In a medium frying pan, add oil, sliced garlic and whole geera. Let fry until garlic is almost brown. Ÿ Add contents of the frying pan directly into the boiled split peas and stir. Cook for an additional 10 minutes then swizzle it up so that everything mixes well together.

36| Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

Mash the pulp, tomato, and roasted garlic in a bowl with a fork or pop it into your blender if you want a nice smooth texture.

Add 1 tsp oil to a non-stick frying pan and cook 1/4 cup onion until fragrant but not translucent. Add the barely cooked, finely chopped onion, salt to taste, and wiri-wiri pepper to the eggplant pulp mixture.

INGREDIENTS: Ÿ 3 large eggplants Ÿ 6-8 garlic cloves Ÿ 1 medium tomato (seeded and cut into 6 wedges) Ÿ 1⁄4 cup onion, finely chopped Ÿ

2 tps vegetable oil 1⁄2 chopped wiri-wiri pepper

METHOD Ÿ Wash eggplants and make slits in them with a knife. Ÿ Peel garlic cloves and stick into the slits made in the eggplant. Ÿ Insert tomato wedges into the slits. Ÿ Rub the eggplant with a teaspoon of oil. Ÿ Roast over an open flame (for example, a gas cooker) until soft.

Do not grill because the taste will not be the same. The open flame imparts a smokey flavor, which gives this dish its signature flavour. Ÿ When eggplant is soft, slit the charred skin lengthways with a knife and scrape out the soft somewhat stringy pulp. Discard skin.

GUYANESE CURRY: CHICKEN/ BEEF/DUCK/MUTTON /PORK/ INGREDIENTS: Ÿ 4-5 lbs chicken/beef/pork/mutton/duck/ Ÿ 2 large onions, diced Ÿ 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped Ÿ Lime juice/ vinegar Ÿ 3 tbsp blended green seasoning (onion, wiri wiri pepper, garlic, hint of vineager, married man leaves, celery, shallot, broad thyme, fine thyme) Ÿ 2 tablespoon ground masala Ÿ 2 tablespoon ground geera Ÿ 2 teaspoon curry powder (Sujata or Indi) Ÿ 3 chicken cubes

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

1 tsp agee 3 tbsp oil 3 cups of boiling water (depending on texture of meat)

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

METHOD Ÿ Wash meat well with vinegar; squeeze half of a lime/lemon to get rid of the scent. Ÿ Place meat in a medium sized bowl, drain all the water from washing. Ÿ In a small bowl, add curry powder, geera, masala, crushed cubes and agee with a little water. Mix thoroughly until it has a paste-like texture. Ÿ In a large rounded cast iron pan, add oil and heat for about 5 minutes, then add chopped garlic and onion and let fry until golden brown. After, add blended green seasoning and bowl with the spices made into a paste. Let fry until it gets a bit dry. Ÿ Add meat, turn well until every piece is coated and leave on low heat until meat loses all the water. Ÿ Once the water from the meat is fully evaporated, add 3 cups of boiling water (or enough to submerge the meat) and cook until meat is fully tender. (Timing depends on meat.) Ÿ Optional - Add potatoes to thicken gravy.

PHOLOURIE: INGREDIENTS: Ÿ 1 cup split peas Ÿ 5 garlic cloves Ÿ 5 wiri-wiri pepper or one tbsp of blended pepper Ÿ 1 tbsp geera

Ÿ

1 tsp salt 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp yeast 2 tsp baking powder 1 ½ cup thunderbolt flour (preferable) Enough oil to cover for deep fry

PREPARATIONS: Ÿ Include dry split peas with 2 cups of water in a medium sized bowl to cover the dhal (usually works better if left to soak overnight). Ÿ Drain the water from peas. Ÿ Using a blender, add peas, garlic, pepper and enough water to cover peas then blend until it is very smooth. Ÿ Transfer mixture into a large bowl then add geera, turmeric and salt.

Continuously stir and mix until all of the ingredients are well incorporated. After, add baking powder, yeast and flour, then mix thoroughly. Ÿ Over the large bowl in which everything was mixed, place a piece of aluminum foil wrap or a towel and let that sit for 1-2 hours. Ÿ In a frying pan or canary, pour enough oil that will cover pholourie and let that heat for 5 minutes. Ÿ With the use of a tablespoon, drop batter in a very delicate manner. (The most effective way for roundness is to take some batter into your hand, turn your fist upside down so that the batter falls through your thumb, and point finger to guarantee roundness. Our fore parents did this). Ÿ When batter is dropped in oil, it should immediately pop up. If it does not then the oil is not heated enough. Turn pholourie while they are frying so that both sides can have the golden brown colour. Ÿ Continue this process until all the batter is used without overcrowding the pan. Ÿ Drain from oil and serve hot.

COCONUT CHOKA INGREDIENTS: Ÿ 1 large yellow onion Ÿ 1 head of garlic Ÿ 2-3 wiri-wiri pepper Ÿ thyme leaves Ÿ 1/4 cup water Ÿ 2 coconuts Ÿ 5 tbsp pureed onion/garlic seasoning Ÿ 2 wiri- wiri pepper, chopped finely Ÿ 1 tsp salt INSTRUCTIONS Ÿ Break coconut in half. Drain water. Ÿ Remove coconut flesh from shell. Ÿ Chop into large pieces. Ÿ Roast coconut until edges and back are dark brown/black. Ÿ Let cool. Scrape off burnt pieces as much as you can. Ÿ Wipe with a damp paper towel. Ÿ Chop into 2-inch pieces and grind. Empty into a large mixing bowl. Ÿ Puree onion, garlic, pepper, thyme leaves in water using a blender. Ÿ Use 4 tbsp of the mixture and add to ground coconut. Add salt and freshly chopped pepper, mix thoroughly with hands. Adjust salt and pepper to suit your tastes. Ÿ Press mixture down into a bowl, mixture should be moist enough to keep its shape.

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 37

Holidays

BROUGHT BY OUR EAST INDIAN ANCESTORS

E

ast Indian Guyanese are not only followers of the Hindu faith. Christianity and Islam are also revered faiths practised by many East Indians all across Guyana. In this series, we will examine the background of specific religious observances that were brought from India by our fore parents.

YOUMAN NABI This holiday is based on the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. It is done in a celebration titled Mawlid alNabi, or Youman Nabi.

Muslims recognise that Youman Nabi also represents the struggles for justice, peace and equality. The Prophet Muhammad, On Whom Be Peace (OWBP), lived and established a global and universal religious movement now embraced by millions of mankind.

Prophet Muhammad, as the final messenger of God to mankind, brought a message of total inoculation against the evil of society. He liberated women and provided a system to maintain stability in the home, in society and in the world. He taught mankind how to preserve their

honour and property and infused in them the understanding of respect, compassion, love and concern for each other.

It is also believed that he changed mankind's way of thinking towards the recognition of God and His commandments. He influenced people's behaviour and altered their evil inclinations. He came as a Mercy unto Mankind and was emulated in his character and disposition that helped transform brutal men into sacred personalities.

Most Masjids (Mosques) will organise Youman Nabi functions and deliberate on the relevance of the Prophet's message. This includes his moral teachings. The Prophet's message of peace is particularly relevant today as humility and kindness are needed within society. The primary message of Prophet Muhammad encapsulates all that is necessary to become a good human being; as unless one is a good human being, they cannot belong to the community of Islam, because the Prophet exemplifies and characterizes the way a good human being should live.

Today, most Muslims try to follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad; but it is only the true followers of Prophet Muhammad who will heed the lessons he imparted and treat their fellow humans the way he instructed. This year (2018), Youman Nabi will be celebrated on November 21.

EID AL-ADHA At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Makkah), Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham's trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel or goat. This action is very often misunderstood by those outside the faith.

Allah gave mankind the power over animals and allowed him to eat meat but only if he pronounces His name at the solemn act of taking life. Muslims slaughter animals in the same way throughout the year. By saying the name of Allah at the time of 38 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

slaughter, they are reminded that life is sacred.

The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts in order to follow Allah's commands. It also symbolizes a willingness to give up some of one's own bounties in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need.

RAMADAN

Ramadan, which this year (2018) began on May 16 and ended on June 14, is the most important period of the Islamic calendar. It is a tremendous gift from Allah as it provides a glorious opportunity to uplift, empower, and change the daunting circumstances of an individual. The most important message of Ramadan is that our value, as human beings, is the soul and not the body. As such, during Ramadan, the body is required to go through a stage of deprivation in order to uplift the soul. It is a period that requires a break from the pop culture and saying goodbye to the endless and futile pursuit of happiness in sensory pleasures.

It calls on the believers of the faith to rediscover and reorient themselves. Muslims are expected to devote much of their time to the reading of the Qur'an, to voluntary worship, to prayers and conversations with Allah. They are expected to reflect on the direction of their life and priorities therein.

PHAGWAH

Phagwah, also known as Holi, is one of Guyana's most joyous and colourful holidays.

On this day, it is customary to see citizens wishing each other Happy Holi and dousing each other with colourful powder, buckets full of water and spraying abeer (coloured powder mixed with water) from their water guns. The men from the Hindu communities will walk around their villages singing chowtaal (Hindustani classical music) while the women are usually at home busy preparing Indian delicacies such as gulaab jamoon, gojha, gul-gula, pholourie, etc.

DIWALI Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word “Deepavali,” meaning the Festival of Lights. For most Hindus in Guyana, Diwali marks the return of deities, Rama and Sita, after 14 years of exile.

To commemorate their return, devotees light oil lamps, called 'diyas', that illuminate the path in the darkness. The festival is also linked to Mother Lakshmi – the Goddess of wealth and prosperity – and her birth on the first day of the five day-long event.

The festival is an important occasion that marks the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.

NAVRATRI

The word 'Navaratri' literally means 'Nine nights in Sanskrit', 'Nava' meaning nine and 'ratri' meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshipped.

The seeds of inner renewal are sown, watched and worshipped by devotees during Navratri and on the 8th, 9th and 10th days, Goddess Durga, Mahanavami and Vijayashtami are worshipped.

The tenth day that is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or ‘Dussehra’, celebrates victory of Shakti over Mahishasura, of Lord Rama over Ravana, and of Durga over demons like MadhuKaitav, Chanda-Munda and Shumbha-Nishumbha; that is victory of good over evil.

The last three days of Navratri are called Durgashtami (8th day), Mahanavami (9th day) and Vijayadasami (10th day). On the morning of the tenth day, there is a fire ceremony dedicated to Shiva, where the Navaratri participants have a chance to receive Shiva's blessing. The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar.

Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018 | 39

With their food, natural talents and sheer genius, our East Indian fore parents have made invaluable contributions towards the economic and cultural development of our nation.

Together, these contributions have enriched the Guyanese way of life. In this piece, we will examine some of their magnificent endowments to our society.

Indian women since ages. Its significance in an Indian woman's life can be judged from the number of jewelry gifts she receives on a variety of

FOOD

Curry - A dish of meat or vegetables cooked in a paste made from a variety of Indian spices.

Roti - A type of Indian flatbread that comes in many different shapes and flavors. Roti is served with a variety of stews and curry.

Dhal - A type of soup made from split peas. It is usually eaten with rice or roti.

auspicious occasions. Indian women decorating themselves with jewelry is not only a customary tradition, but also has a lot of values attached to each and every piece.

Some of the jewelry East Indians contributed includes finger rings, bracelets, bangles, brooches, anklets, nose rings and earrings that extend from the bottom of the ear lobe to the nose.

They have also contributed tilleries, which are heavily ornamented necklaces.

DRESS

Dhalpuri- A flat bread that is stuffed with a savory filling of ground split peas. It is eaten with sour; a type of chutney, curry, stews and vegetables.

Sweet Meats - Mithai, Pakora, Gulab Jamun, Vermicelli, etc.

JEWELRY

Jewelry has been a significant adornment for 40 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

Sari- The sari, sometimes spelled saree, is a draped dress, created from a single piece of fabric – five to nine yards long, which is wrapped around a woman's body in a variety of ways. It is wrapped around the waist and worn with one end draped over the shoulder. The sari is seen as a symbol of style, grace and cultural pride. While women wear the sari, men wear a version of the wrapped garment called a dhoti.

Dupatta/ Shawl- The shawl resembles a scarf and is a part of women's traditional Indian clothing. It protects the wearer's head as well. The dupatta has long been a representation of modesty and comes with the shalwar and lehenga.

Shalwars- The shalwar includes loose-fitting trousers tapering to a narrow fit around the ankles

paired with a long decorated top.

Kurtas- This is a straight cut, collarless shirt that falls just above or somewhere below the knees. It is traditionally worn by men but women also wear them.

nearly 3000 years. A highly spiritual and dedicatory dance form, Bharatanatyam's roots go back to the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu in South India. The dance moved from temples to theaters over time, but has retained its characteristic devotional component, expression of human emotions and stylized storytelling. The flexibility of the Bharatanatyam framework lends itself well to both traditional themes as well as modern day subjects. While it was originally performed only by female soloists, Bharatanatyam is now performed by males as well as ensembles all over the world. In its present form, Bharatanatyam is approximately 200 years old, and continues to evolve as a “living� performance art.

Lahenga- The Lahenga is a skirt which is long and beautifully embellished with beads and sequins. It is worn as the bottom portion of a Gharara while the choli is worn as the upper garment.

Jora Jama- This is the traditional garb of the Indian groom. He is dressed in this attire to stand out like a king on his special day. This outfit carries long sleeves and several pleats to the waist. To complete this look, a sehra is worn on the head. This mimics a crown but is decorated with gems and beads.

DANCES

Kathak- The Kathak is one of the six classical dances of India. The word Katha, which comes from the Sanskrit language meaning story or tale, can be traced back to Vedic times. An ancient storytelling device, Kathak originated within the Hindu temples as a means of portraying the epic tales contained within the Mahabharata and Ramayana Hindu scriptures. It combines poetry with rhythmic movement, aided in the worshipful storytelling.

Bharatanatyam- The Bharatanatyam is one of the most popular and widely practiced classical dance styles of India, with evidence dating back

Odissi- Odissi or Orissi is one of the pre-eminent classical dance forms from India which originated in the Hindu temples of the eastern coastal state of Odisha in India. Its theoretical base trace back to 'Natya Shastra', the ancient Sanskrit Hindu text on the performing arts. The age-old tradition of Odissi is manifested from Odisha Hindu temples and various sites of archaeological significance that are associated with Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, which adorn dance postures of this art form. A form of illustrative anecdote of mythical and religious stories, devotional poems and spiritual ideas emoted by dancers with excellent body movements, expressions, impressive gestures and sign languages, its performance repertoire includes invocation, nrita, nritya, natya and moksha. This dance form includes themes from Vaishnavism and others associated with Hindu gods and goddesses like Lord Shiva, Surya and Shakti.

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Unique Items Brought by our Fore Parents Apart from their exemplary taste in food and striking sense of fashion, our East Indian fore parents also brought many unique things with them. In this brief piece, we will examine some of those items and their significance.

The Lorha and Sil The Lorha is a flat piece of stone upon which a variety of cooking ingredients are crushed with a smaller handheld stone called the Sil. The Lorah and Sil were used to prepare almost any cooking ingredient that is needed in an Indo-Guyanese dish.

From crushing fresh garlic and ginger to grinding lentils, as well as making all kinds of indian chutneys, the Lorha and Sil are instrumental parts of the East Indian culinary culture.

Mandolins A mandolin is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is usually plucked with a plectrum or "pick". Mandolins resemble a guitar. They commonly have four courses of doubled metal strings tuned in unison, although five and six course versions also exist.

Dhantal The Dhantal is a traditional musical instrument 42 | Indian Arrival - Special Edition 2018

brought by the Indian indentured immigrants to British Guiana. It consists of a steel rod that is struck by a beater (a curved object shaped like a horseshoe) to create music. The fact that the instrument is also found in Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad, where big concentrations of Indian indentured laborers settled, would opine that it was most likely produced in India and easily remade in these other countries with the materials that were available to them.

Sitars The sitar is a plucked stringed instrument, also resembling a guitar, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument flourished under the Mughals and it is named after a Persian instrument called the sitar.

Dholak The dholak is mainly a folk instrument, lacking the exact tuning and playing techniques of the tabla or the pakhawaj. The drum is pitched, depending on size, with an interval of perhaps a perfect fourth or perfect fifth between the two heads. It is related to the larger Punjabi dhol and the smaller dholki.