ONE of the outstanding and most endearing traits in the persona of Shri Prakash Gossai was his humility, which caused him many instances of self-doubt and self-depreciation; which, in my estimation, hallmarks greatness because some of the most powerful men whom I have known, including some of Guyana’s most successful entrepreneurs, Dr. Jagan, and Guyana’s current President, have shared this common trait with Prakashji.

Thus it was that the defining opportunity of his life – winning the Mukesh singing competition, which precipitated his international fame and the establishment of the landmark Bhuvaneshwar Mandir in New York, would have been lost were it not for the intervention and encouragement of Pandit (Pt.) Reepu Daman Persaud.

Prakashji had told me that he had gotten cold feet, too shy to go onstage, and absolutely certain that he had no chance to win the competition, so had decided not to enter at all.

However, Pt. Reep, who had absolute faith in his ‘chela’, took him to the seawall, which was during those years a calm and restorative venue where the troubled went for solace, and talked encouragingly to him for approximately one hour, eventually eliciting from him a promise that he would try his best, regardless of his personal doubts.

Pt. Reep then drove him directly to the venue, where he sang “Naina Hai Jaadu Bharay”, accompanied by outstanding musician, mandolin player David Singh.

Of course the judges – Messrs Prem Persaud and Ayube Hamid, and Mrs Devnauth from the Indian Cultural Centre, all unanimously declared Prakashji the winner, after which Pt. Reep took him home.

Pt. Reep recalled that Prakashji, with his trademark humility, said to him afterwards: “Baba, me can’t believe me win”, in the simple local dialect that he never gave up, despite his intellectual and international status.

The first prize was a trip to Canada, from where Prakashji travelled to New York in the USA where, because of a shortage of science teachers, Prakashji was offered a teaching position, which led to his being domiciled in the USA and the eventual establishment of the Bhuvaneshwar Mandir.

Prakashji credited his love for music, and his artistry with the harmonium, to his father, whom he said began teaching him these arts, of which he was no mean exponent himself, from childhood.

His father also inculcated into him a deep devotion to the Lord, as well as adherence to Hindu dharmic principles, which were the moulding and guiding principles defining a life that became immortal through renditions of melodious supplications to the feet of Bhagwan Ram.

The relationship between Pt. Reep and Prakashji had begun long before the event of the Mukesh singing competition.

When Prakashji began living in Cummings Lodge while he attended UG, he actively became a part of Pt. Reep’s entourage of young chelas, travelling with him to various religious functions in every part of the country, and accompanying him on the harmonium, although Pt. Reep was himself quite a skilled player of this instrument.

However, whenever he wanted someone to play for him he only chose the best, and Prakashji was indisputably one of the best harmonium players he has ever known, with an immeasurable repertoire of songs, coupled with knowledge of the Hindu scriptural texts.

When Prakashji moved to Georgetown he began regularly attending the Barr Street mandir, where Pt. Reep presided.

Pt. Reep recalled Prakashji playing the part of a Chowkidhaar in the Dharmic Sabha’s musical play, “Prahalad”, which was shifted to St. Rose’s from the Queen’s College auditorium because of objections from some factions, after which, moved by the message of the play, which is the integral message in the Hindu festival of Phagwah, of “good triumphing over evil.” Prakashji vowed to always live his life in ways that would propagate these messages enshrined in the holy texts.

Pt. Reep fondly remembered Prakashji saying that he (Pt. Reep) was his icon and that he wanted to emulate him, and that he would try his best to live up to scriptural teachings, which he did, until his passing one fateful Monday morning this month of June.

Pt. Reep said that the girl that Prakashji fell in love with and subsequently married attended the Gandhi Bhavan, so Prakashji also started attending the Gandhi Bhavan. However, the relationship between guru and chela remained close and

respectful, which was in keeping with Prakashji’s lifelong messages to the youths, which was to always pay respect and obeisance to one’s teacher, or guru, in particular, and their elders in general.

Pt. Reep said that, although Prakashji reached such great heights in his religious life, he always remained respectful and polite. I myself have witnessed Prakashji bowing to Pt. Reep’s feet on many occasions.

According to Pt. Reep, Prakashji had a very beautiful handwriting and was extremely intelligent and, apart from graduating from university with qualifications to pursue a career in micro-biology, he also made a comprehensive study of the Ramayan, with special focus on Tulsidas’s version, the “Ram Charit Manus’, and he applied the principles encapsulated therein to his personal as well as his spiritual life and teachings. Pt. Reep recalled that many times Prakashji suggested to him the Kathas that he read at Yajnas and other religious functions.

Pt. Reep explained that Valmiki’s Ramayan was more grounded in a linguistically intellectual framework, while Tulsidas’ version was written in the Dahati language, so Prakashji bonded with the people in the language of the people through Tulsidas’ poetical interpretation of Valmiki’s Ramayan, the “Ram Charit Manus”.

After Prakashji migrated to the USA he still retained the close relationship he had shared with Pt. Reep, always collecting him at the airport and accompanying him on the harmonium, as he had done in Guyana, whenever the latter conducted yajnas in the USA.

In the early years there was no integrated Hindu movement in New York, so Pt. Reep encouraged Prakashji to apply what he had so painstakingly learnt over the many years and to bring the small groups together and lead in satsanghs and preach the scriptures.

Again Prakashji expressed doubts to Pt. Reep, because he said that he had had no formal training in Panditii work, but Pt. Reep told him that not every spiritual leader had formal training, but that he (Prakashji) was respected for his diligence in observing the codes of Hinduism, and that his unique renditions in interpreting the Ramayan kathas was unparalleled and could reach the widest audiences, because most people love music.

THE REST IS HISTORY.
Pt. Reep said that Prakashji had a wonderful disposition, always calm, composed, understanding of the values propagated by Hinduism. He was humble and respectful to his elders, always calling Pt. Reep “baba”, which in itself constitutes acceptance of a spiritual father-figure.

In a household practicing Hinduism it is the oldest patriarchal figure who names a newborn child, and Prakashji requested Pt. Reep to do the honours for both his children – son Arun, and daughter, Prateiksha, whom Pt. Reep fondly called Preity.

Pt. Reep says that most of his godchildren who immigrated to the USA chose Prakashji as their spiritual head. He recalled that, on one memorable occasion when he visited the USA he attended a Yajna at which Prakashji was officiating, whereby the latter demitted the Vyas Assan, saying: “Baba, young people need to know more of you.”

And therein lays the greatness of Prakash Gossai, who always felt uncomfortable being addressed as “Pandit”, because he said that pandits are very learned persons, but he was given no choice by the many who adored him worldwide, because the knowledge that he imparted through his interpretations of the Ramayan Kathas and aspects of the Gita has enlightened and informed many who had no previous understanding of the religious texts, which he had studied intensively during a year’s sojourn in India, although they traditionally performed the rituals.

Pt. Reep recalled a Yajna he read in Trinidad, where the initially antagonistic members of a Christian church, which was located opposite the Mandir, became friendly and conciliatory after a mere few days into the readings of the Ramayan kathas.

He said that Prakashji, who played harmonium for him again on that occasion, took all the tapes and lay for hours in his basement listening to them, because he so much loved the kathas of the Ramayan, although he had favourite passages, which he expounded unceasingly, through his unique interpretive style, at the many functions over which he presided worldwide.

Born on 26th April, the same birthday as Pt. Reep’s son , Vishook, Prakashji was a Taurean, as I am also, although he was not as bullheaded as I am.

However, we shared many concerns in common and he used to call me to discuss issues that burnt his soul, such as the way some men treat their families, the depression and suicide rate in the country, the decelerating morality and behaviour of the young and their escalating disrespect for, and ill-treatment of their parents. On the last occasion he called he was very distressed over a new and rapidly-emerging phenomenon at Hindu weddings, which is the setting-up of bars in the vicinity of the venue.

He said that, apart from defiling the sacredness of the occasion, this trend encourages lawless behaviour and violence, and interference by members of the ‘bharatii’ with young women attending the weddings, to such an extent that parents are now refusing to send their daughters to wedding-houses.

This kind, caring, compassionate religious icon, who used his religion to propagate good values in humanity, passed away on the morning of Monday 16th June in New York.

His funeral arrangements and subsequent cremation lasted a span of several days, which began on 16th June with kirtans and viewing of the body from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Grace Funeral Home, continuing with kirtans and viewing from 4 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday 17th June.

He was cremated on Thursday 18th June, after pooja and final rituals, which commenced at 8.30 a.m. at the Grace Funeral Home, after which his body was transported to his residence in South Ozone Park, then to his Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, thence to St. Michael’s crematorium in East Elmhurst for eulogy and cremation.

On the morning after Prakashji died an associate called and read me an excerpt from Pt. Nehru’s speech announcing Gandhiji’s passing: “…..’a light has gone out,’ I said, and yet I was wrong; for the light that shone in this country was no ordinary light. The light that illuminated this country for many years will illuminate this country for many more years, and a thousand years later that light will still be seen in this country. And the world will see it and it will give solace to innumerable hearts, for the light that represented the living truth and the eternal man was with us with his eternal truth, reminding us of the right path, drawing us from error……”

I am expunging my sorrow through my writing because I have, like a myriad others worldwide, yet to come to grips with this immense loss, especially felt as the days go by and one can no longer reach out to a phone and call him and hear his soft voice and reassuring words, whichever part of the world he is in, and there is certainly no hotline to Heaven, but maybe these words Pt. Nehru used to comfort those devastated by the Mahatma’s death will also give solace to those who today mourn the passing of Shri Prakash Gossai, beloved son of Guyana, sincere propagator of Hindu dharm.

Prakashji, on the other hand, must be smiling, because it is certain that he now resides safely in the abode of his beloved Lord Ram.

His composition “Ayee bhi akela, jayee bhi akela” (we come to this world alone and we leave alone) is certainly not reflective of his passing, because he was borne to his Lord’s arms on the wings of the love of all those who adored him with reverence and devotion.