Yesterday marked the 92nd birth anniversary of a remarkable and great Guyanese, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, widely regarded as Father of the Nation because of indomitable, determined, persevering and unflinching struggle for the independence of this country and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. His entire life was dedicated to the struggle for a better life for the people of this country. Unlike many professionals he could have practiced his dentistry and make millions but instead he chose to immerse his life into the long and hard battle to make this country one in which there is social justice and a better standard of living for all its peoples.
In this battle he came up against seemingly insurmountable obstacles from both local and international forces which worked tin unison to resist the revolutionary changes which Dr. Jagan sought relentlessly to bring about so that his objective of social justice could become a reality.
On the local front, there were forces who were more concerned about satisfying their lust for power and others who wanted the political and economic status quo to remain in tact so that they could continue enjoying the good and luxurious life at the expense of the poor masses.
At the international level, the battle which Dr. Jagan led was caught up in the Cold War period when many countries were struggling to break the yoke of colonialism and imperialist exploitation. So the task was an uphill one as he had to battle against the combined forces of the international and local reactionaries, and in the process the national unity which was achieved in the early 1950s, and which was dearest to his heart, was ruptured resulting in the perhaps the biggest political setback in Guyana’s history.
But Dr. Jagan being a model patience, persistence and determination never lost heart. In fact, he became more determined and resolved to bring back national and working unity which he described as “the spirit of 1953.”
Volumes have been written about the life and epic struggle of this great man, and many more volumes could be written about his monumental struggles, but most of the writings on him focus on him as politician and his valiant struggles. And this is understandable because his entire life was inseparable from politics and political struggles.
However, the non-political life of Dr. JJagan is perhaps equally great as his political life. His honesty, humility, morality, incorruptibility, decency and discipline were impeccable. As a family man and parent he was a role model. His children have always attested to this fact. As the senior sibling among his brothers and sisters he nurtured and cared for them in the most loving and affectionate manner and ensured they all received a sound education and this treatment was even extended to his nieces and nephews. Of course, the support from his life partner, Janet Jagan was pivotal and instrumental in ensuring his siblings and members of the extended family were well taken care of.
This aspect of the great man’s life is largely ignored because it gets devoured by his many political triumphs and achievements, but it is most important and pertinent in today’s world where such values as honesty, morality, incorruptibility and discipline are on the decline much to the detriment of stability and progress in our society..
Dr. Jagan himself did not have an easy life growing up and studying as he came from a sugar plantation from parents who were indentured labourers and lived in a logie, going to school barefooted and looked after cows and worked in rice fields among other forms of physical labour. So he grew up in poverty and could identify with people whose lives were enveloped in poverty and therefore it is not surprising that he dedicated his entire life towards improving the lives and welfare of the poor and downtrodden.
In the US, he had to work and study, doing all sorts of odd jobs like washing dishes in a restaurant etc to fund his studies and at the same time cope with the racial prejudice prevalent at the time in that country. But from a young age he demonstrated unusual determination and will to succeed which no doubt contributed immensely to his monumental achievements in life and steeled his character.
The life and works of Dr. Jagan should be a must for those who have aspirations to be successful and become a role model in life