–held in commemoration of the genesis of our Indo-Guyanese roots

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar and First Lady, Madame Deolatchmee Ramotar were among the thousands gathered at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence Sunday evening to savour the virtuosity of renowned Bollywood playback singer, Sonu Nigam.Here at the invitation of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, he was accompanied by a 25-member troupe out of Mumbai, among them some of Bollywood’s best musicians.

The concert, the proceeds of which will go towards the Sabha’s Bal Nivas home for vulnerable children, was held in commemoration of the 176th Anniversary of Indian Arrival in Guyana, and the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s 40th anniversary.

The children facility, which is located at Ankerville, in the County of Berbice, has the capacity to comfortably house close to 60. The facility materialised after a series of massive fund-raising events, including mega concerts featuring Bollywood’s singing sensations.
President Ramotar, who briefly addressed the thousands of local Sonu Nigam fans at Sunday evening’s concert, applauded their support of a worthwhile cause, and encouraged their support of other such ventures.
He also hailed the concert as being a fitting tribute to those of our Guyanese ancestors who came to these shores, and despite difficulties, managed to upkeep the Indian culture.
“Today, 176 years after,” he said, “we have the top artistes of India coming to entertain us, that is a testimony of the fact that our fore parents managed in difficult and very harsh circumstances to maintain this culture and to give it also a specific Guyanese flavour.”
On May 5, 1838, 233 men, five women and six children from India became the first batch of East Indian immigrants to arrive on board the Whitby at Highbury to supplement the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society in which Guyana today prides itself.
The concert, which also featured performances from upcoming Bollywood playback singer, Jonita Gandhi, represented the Guyana leg of Sonu Nigam’s 2014 World Concert tour, titled “Klose to My Soul”, in tribute to Indian musical legends the likes of Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar, RD Burman and Kishore Kumar.

(GINA)