By Shirley Thomas

THE Dharm Shala, ‘Home of Benevolence for all Races’, has celebrated 95 years of caring for the destitute and other needy persons in Guyana.On Monday, a thanksgiving ceremony was held at the Dharm Shala Complex at 156 King Edward Street, Albouystown, Georgetown to mark this occasion.

First Lady Sandra Granger also performed the distinguished task of declaring open the institution’s exhibition, featuring 50 pieces of antique artifacts taken from the site of the Old Dutch Fort– Fort Canje — in Berbice. The Dharm Shala in Berbice was built on that site.

Among the distinguished attendees were The Right Reverend Bishop Charles Davidson of the Anglican Diocese; His Lordship, Bishop Francis Alleyne of the Roman Catholic Diocese; and Reverend Terrison Riehl and Pandit Kampta Persaud, who all offered prayers of thanksgiving; Caricom Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan; Dr Yesu Persaud; Ron Robinson and Nicholas Boyer, Director of National Hardware, who did the reflections.

Hosting the programme were Pamela and Kella Ramsaroop, granddaughters and daughters respectively of founder of the Dharm Shala, Ramsaroop Maraj, and his son Harry Ramsaroop, who continued to champion the great humanitarian cause for another 29 years after his father’s death, until the time of his demise in October 2013.

The FirstLady commended the noble feat by Pandit Ramsaroop Maraj, a jeweller who, moved by the plight of the poor and needy, gave up his trade in 1921 and devoted his life to this higher purpose – the establishment of the Dharm Shala.

Observing that the Home of Benevolence was birthed in Albouystown in 1921, and in 1941 extended to Berbice, the First Lady considers it amazing that, 95 years later, the institution continues to provide succor to the needy under the stewardship of Pandit Maraj’s son’s (Pandit Harry Ramsaroop’s) daughters, Kella and Pamela.

The First Lady recalled that Pandit Ramsaroop ventured into this noble humanitarian activity with assistance from businessmen and residents, and gradually the Hindu community.

Not only did the Dharm Shala provide a home for the poor, but also religious, medical and educational facilities for them, she said.

Mrs Granger has memories of her days as a child attending St Joseph’s High School in the late 1950s when it was located in Howes Street, Charlestown.

“I was always awe-struck by the number of people who came out to the Dharm Shala, on Fridays in particular, to seek alms. But I was equally struck by the way shopkeepers would line up their coins (which were valuable in those days) to give alms to the residents as they came each Friday.”

She remarked that it was a kind of society wherein there were always people who recognised the need in others and were prepared to give back.

As the institution approaches its centenary, Mrs Granger said, it is fitting to dedicate and commemorate those decades of commemoration to this tradition of service that has continued through three generations of the Ramsaroop family.

Remarking that it was one of the longest-serving humanitarian organisations in Guyana, Mrs Granger commended Pamela and Kella Ramsaroop for keeping up with their grandfather’s dreams and for devoting themselves to the Dharm Shala.

A History of the Dharm Shala was given by Pamela Ramsaroop, while Nicholas Boyer shared reflections of his family’s humanitarian association with the Dharm Shala, dating back to the times of his grandfather who was a very close friend of Pandit Harry Ramsaroop.

He recalled that his grandfather was so touched by the mission, compassion and commitment of Harry Ramsaroop that he eventually became involved with the Dharm Shala.

Members of the private sector were encouraged to continue to donate from their largesse to the wonderful benevolent home. The Dharm Shala is an award-winning humanitarian organization, and has had visits from royalty. It has won several accolades, including those from King George.
The institution has so far constructed nine buildings between Georgetown and Berbice.