FOUR charitable Guyanese cultural groups based in the United Kingdom (UK) yesterday donated £800 to the Dharm Shala Home in an effort to assist the management of that organisation.

This donation was made through the First Lady’s foundation, and First Lady, Mrs. Deolatchmee Ramotar, upon handing over the cheque to the manager/Secretary of the Dharm Shala, Ms Kella Ramsaroop, and her sister Pamela Ramsaroop, explained that the groups – namely, the Sanatan Cultural Society, The Caribbean Hindu Cultural Society, the Caribbean Islamic Cultural Society, and the Dharm Centre — have recognised the good work of the Dharm Shala in Guyana, and as such have decided to assist the organisation.
The First Lady acknowledged the founder, Pandit Ramsaroop Maraj, who, seeing it fit to help humanity with whatever little he had at the time, made a home available for the homeless even though times were hard, and was able to provide a place for the destitute despite not being in a proper financial situation himself.
She said the humble Pandit provided the less fortunate with material and spiritual needs, and built them a church as well as a temple.
After his demise, one of his sons, Mr. Harry Ramsaroop, left his job to take over the Dharm Shala, running it up to standard. Similarly, Kella Ramsaroop, assisted by Pamela Ramsaroop, daughters of Harry Ramsaroop, left their jobs to manage the facility, the First Lady noted.
She added that the money donated was accumulated after the organisations would have hosted a charitable event (a cultural show) to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of Indian arrival to Guyana; and concluded that she is indeed privileged to hand over the cheque to the Dharm Shala on behalf of the organisations. She urged the Dharm Shala management to continue its good work on behalf of the destitute.
Kella and Pamela Ramsaroop thanked the First Lady and requested that she convey their gratitude to the donor organisations based in the UK for their contribution. They assured that the donation would be of immense help to the inmates of the facility.
Kella Ramsaroop explained that the Dharm Shala houses about 70 inmates, and provides approximately 200 meals a day for the less fortunate persons.
She noted that most donations received by the Dharm Shala are local, and they rarely receive overseas assistance, which makes them extra thankful for this generous contribution.
She also explained that as grand daughters of the humble Pandit Ramsaroop Maraj, she and her sister were both happy to carry on his good work, and make a difference to society.
The sisters remembered the struggles of their grandfather and father to bring the facility to where it is today, and vowed to keep it running, as it is a blessing and serves as a great benefit to those who are less fortunate.
In 1921, a Hindu Religious Society was formed, and it manages the Dharm Shala.
With a few donations, Harry Ramsaroop supplied the greater part of the finance towards building a Hindu Temple and school for the children of the area. Hindi and English were taught in the evenings.
Later, the Pandit made arrangements for the construction of a soup kitchen, over which he built a chapel for Christian worshippers in the area.
All of these accomplishments occurred in the period 1921-1926. The Pandit’s main focus was to provide accommodation, food and other essentials for the poor and the needy. To this end, he solicited funds from the public. It was certainly no easy task, but he persisted, and never admitted defeat, no matter how difficult and unwelcome he was made to feel in certain quarters.
Eventually, with local donations, he was able to construct two larger, wooden, two-flat buildings at 125 and 126 King Edward Street, Albouystown, each building providing accommodation for 200 persons. The buildings were opened in 1929 and 1933 respectively. These buildings came to be known as the Dharm Shala, or Home of Benevolence, for all races.
The Pandit then turned his attention to Berbice, where four Dharm Shala buildings were erected. A Dharm Shala building with one section for males and another for females, and affording all amenities, was built in 1941, followed by a Hindu Temple in 1942. A caretaker house and a school later completed the Berbice complex.
The Pandit had hoped to extend his benevolence to the county of Essequibo, but it was not to be, as his health had been failing for some time, and he died of a heart attack on the morning of October 11, 1950.
He had built 11 Dharm Shala buildings between the years 1922 and 1943.
After his death, his son Harry Saran Ramsaroop took over as his successor and the story of the Dharm Shala continued. And like his father, he was a firm believer in the power of prayer.
He had to make a personal sacrifice in taking over from his father, because the Dharm Shala buildings were in a state of disrepair. Therefore, a Dharm Shala Fund Repair Committee was formed. His sincerity, commitment and honesty won the day, and he was able to receive help from very influential sources.
Four years after his father’s death, two new, massive concrete buildings were erected at 125 and 126 King Edward Street, Albuoystown.
The dilapidated St. Francis of Assisi Chapel was built over, and the soup kitchen was removed from its original site to accommodate a new chapel.
The Dharm Shala continues to provide for the needy and the less fortunate with donations from organisations and private individuals.