Preserving our literary heritage

Growing up in British Guiana
‘Growing up in British Guiana, 1945-1964’ by Joseph G. Singh
published by Sheik Hassan Printery Inc. Guyana 2011
Can you imagine yourself cycling thirty miles every day for five days a week in order to get yourself a formal education. That distance was only one part of the challenge on the road to getting an education.
The road to be traversed was covered in a burnt brick red loam material that becomes a dust storm during the dry season and an almost impassable slush in the rainy weather. Staying clean, spotlessly clean as befitting a student attending the most prestigious school in the city, Queen’s College, was not easy. Another part of the challenge was completing the demanding morning chores with enough time to cycle from home in Canal No. 1 to the ferry stelling at Vreed-en-Hoop in order to board the scheduled ferry. Missing the boat physically was like missing the boat metaphorically.
Major General (retd) Joseph G. Singh surmounted that challenge and many more on his way to becoming an outstanding citizen of Guyana in many spheres of endeavours. He was the former head of the Guyana Defence Force, former chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, former Executive Director of Conservation International Guyana, and former CEO of Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company Ltd. He is currently Chairman of the Board of the Geology & Mines Commission. He sits on the Boards of several Regional and National Institutions, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society. Singh is the recipient of many national and international awards.
That is only a small part of the life and work of Joe Singh, some of which is captured in a recently released book, a ‘record of reminiscences’, labelled ‘Growing up in British Guiana, 1945-1964’.
This slim book is overflowing with stories of inspiration and encouragement. This slim book is chockfull with ‘real flesh and blood people…no cardboard figures’ and vivid events like the author’s overland expedition to Kaieteur and back as a teenager.
David Dabydeen commenting on the book said, ‘It is a very uplifting story, it is about the human spirit and very well-written. Every Guyanese should get a copy. … I would recommend it to anybody in Guyana, any parent who wants to give anything good in terms of a book, for a present.’
Rupert Roopnaraine who wrote the erudite introduction to the book, captures the gist of the story this way: ‘Covering the years from 1945 to 1964, the narrative captures the world of his early childhood at Ogle Estate, of boyhood and adolescence at Canal No. 1, and ends in the rite of passage to manhood, the overland trip to Kaieteur and the trek from Kangaruma back to Georgetown. Running like a bright golden thread through all the stages of his development is the powerful sense of community, that intimate connectedness with family members near and far, with friends, elders, teachers, shopkeepers, farmers, most of whom – in an astonishing feat of recollections – are named and in many instances brought to life in short, sharp description.’
Singh goes into details about the community spirit and learned values like ‘honesty, courtesy, discipline, hard work and caring attitudes’ acquired by and through Sunday School, Church Concerts, Market Day and storytelling –  major influences on Singh’s life. This is how Singh sees ‘August Holidays’ as a mean to ‘friendship, bonding, physical development and character building’.  Another major influence on Joe Singh was the environment.
‘Growing up in British Guiana’ is divided into eight parts namely ‘Foreword’, ‘Introduction’ by Rupert Roopnaraine, ‘Childhood years at Plantation Ogle’, ‘The Childhood years at Canal No. 1’, ‘Secondary Schooling at Queens College’, ‘Overland trip to Kaieteur’, ‘Hike from Kangaruma to Bartica’ and ‘Conclusion’.
The ‘Foreword’ is too beautiful not to be reproduced here and elsewhere: ‘This is a record of reminiscences which have helped to shape my approach to the discharge of my professional obligations, to influence my interaction with fellow human beings, and to inform my attitude to life. It is an attempt not so much to produce an autobiography as it is to acknowledge the contributions of my extended family and of the environment of that period to my development. It is in tribute to these that I am moved to share my experiences in the hope that they can resonate with readers who subscribe to the Art of the Possible.’
That foreword is buffeted with a ‘Conclusion’ of wisdom and concern for humanity: ‘In sharing my experiences, I firmly believe that parents, extended family members, village elders, teachers and religious leaders should create an enabling environment for the younger generation to dream dreams; for them to marvel at the diversity, beauty and challenges of this world and of Guyana; and, to discover themselves through counselling, guidance and self fulfilment. Such a generation can be inspired to empower themselves to have fulfilling careers and to play a transformational role within their communities and their country.’
‘Growing up in British Guiana’ by Joseph G. Singh is an inspirational read for all Guyanese who have the desire to live a full and meaningful life while subscribing to a better world.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

What’s Happening
* You are invited to a colloquium on copyright at Morey House, Camp and Quamina Streets, on Tuesday April 24, 2012, at 1700 hrs (5pm) to mark World Book & Copyright Day. The feature presentation would be delivered by Mr Teni E. Housty and the National Library would be mounting a special book exhibition.

* ‘Literature on Television’ comprising of ‘Oral Tradition’ and ‘Between the Lines’ – is celebrating its tenth anniversary with the rebroadcast of some signal features. Both programmes are aired on NCN; ‘Oral Tradition’ is on Wednesdays at 2035 hours and ‘Between the Lines’ – first Sunday each month at 2100 hours.

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