PROFESSOR/Pandit Jai N. Misir, an English Professor at Hudson Valley Community College in Schenectady, New York, held approximately 10 lectures in Guyana during his ‘Guyana Mission’, which started on July 6 and continued until July 15 last. The students at Jai Jai’s Learning Centre encouraged him to spread the teachings of the Bhagavad Geeta throughout Guyana as part of their Human Development Initiative Project, or H.D.I.P.
Pandit Misir spoke at Eccles Vishnu Mandir, East Bank Demerara; Bush Lot Vishnu Mandir; Miss Phoebe South Mandir; Whim Waterside Mandir; Zeena’s residence (No. 64 Village) all Corentyne East Berbice villages; and at Leguan, Essequibo Island, Region 3. There were about 10 lectures, with an audience of between 300 and 500 persons at each session. Pandit Misir was also interviewed by Guyana television on the programme “Close Up”.
The “Guyana Mission” was successful because of Pandit Jai’s message. Using the Bhagavad Geeta, he explained to his audiences  that we are all “potentially and essentially divine.” He chose this approach because he understands the majority of Guyana’s population are plagued with superstitious beliefs, instead of believing in our own ability to improve our condition.
He told his audience that we blindly rely on pandits who use Hinduism as a business by exploiting the people through astrology, palm reading, face reading, planet reading, etc. He said those pandits are incapable of helping us.
He said this movement towards the external will entangle us, because it takes away our faith in ourselves and in God. However, the Pandit explained that if we move to the internal and find the force that drives us, we will realise our strength, our divinity.
Pandit Jai believes that self-realisation will lead us all to progress; but to get there, he asserted, spiritual and secular education must be imparted to everyone.
His message left his audience speechless, but content.
The demand for his return to Guyana is overwhelming, so preparations are being made for Pandit Jai’s return to Guyana next year.
Also, the H.D.I.P’s committee at Jai Jai’s Learning Centre is constructing a webpage that will accommodate the adoption of mandirs desirous of having materials for teaching. Eccles Vishnu Mandir and Miss Phoebe South Mandir volunteered to be adopted by the H.D.I.P.
Other developments include a possible monthly television programme featuring Pandit Jai N. Misir.
Apart from his other activities, Pandit Jai donates his time to teaching at the Schenectady Hindu Temple’s learning centre in New York.