By Indrawattie Natram
President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS), Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud has said that Indentureship has opened a new chapter for Guyana, unfolding a rich Indian Culture. According to Dr. Persaud the Indian culture has been preserved, sustained and practised throughout hundreds of years since the Indian ancestors arrived on the shores of Guyana.
Dr. said that the Sabha – the country’s largest Hindu Organisation – has over the years played an integral role in the promotion and sustenance of numerous facets of the Indian culture through various art forms.
“We at the Sabha always focus on providing Edutainment for the Guyanese people. Our annual arrival day celebrations countrywide have reflected on the traditions of the past while celebrating the achievements of Indians through various art forms,” Dr. Persaud said.
Speaking on Indentureship Dr. Persaud said, “Indentureship is an important part of Guyana’s history; the efforts made by the Indian ancestors must be remembered. When Indians arrived in Guyana, they brought their own cultures, way of life and religions. These have contributed to the cultural richness of Guyana and we as Guyanese must be encouraged to preserve it- at no time should we be divisive,” Persaud said.
History
Dr. Persaud said in celebrating the 181st Anniversary of the Arrival of Indians to Guyana, the nation must reflect and contemplate on the significance of the many contributions made by Indians to Guyana. On that note, she said the Indian ancestors must be applauded for their efforts and the rich legacy they left behind.
Speaking on the history surrounding the arrivals of Indians to British Guiana, GHDS President explained that between the years 1838-1017 239,909 Indian immigrants arrived in British Guiana. They were brought during the colonial period to work on the sugar plantations.
“If one should examine the history one would find the inhumane conditions, oppression and indignity Indians suffered, life for them under the plantocracy was dull and oppressive, their feelings were manipulated and every norm of human rights was violated with experiences of miseries. Our for- parents never dreamt of such when they boarded the Herperus and Whitby Ships on January 13, 1838,” Dr Persaud said.
She added that the arrival of Indians to Guyana paved the way for a viable sugar industry and instead of importing sugar Guyana began to export. At the end of Indentureship, it also created the passage for indentured labourers to enter various fields such as business, law, medicine and engineering.
Activities
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has been integral in the promotion and sustenance of numerous facets of that glorious culture. Over, the years, the Sabha’s annual arrival celebrations have reflected on the traditions of the past while celebrating their achievements.
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Dharmic Kendra, affiliated institutions and mandirs are known for training young people in various art forms, Hindi and Sanskrit, and cookery, as well as its noted programs like Kala Utsav, Naya Zamana have been the launchpad for many fine, young artistes in music, dance and drama.
National and countrywide events like the Diwali Motorcade, Chowtaal Samelan, Phagwah Melas and Holi Utsav has facilitated the enjoyment of religious festivals with their accompanying traditions by all Guyanese.
Arrival day activities are held in all its Praants nationwide- Essequibo, Upper, Central and East Berbice and West Berbice.
Music has always been an inherent part of the heritage bequeathed by the Indentured Immigrants to their descendants and it will be celebrated in all its glory when the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha presents a concert and dinner this evening at the Dharmic Kendra in Prashad Nagar. The extremely talented Ben Parag, a young man of Guyanese parentage who rose to fame on Starplus’ TV reality show “Dil Hai Hindustani” will be the featured performer and he will present a wide range of songs in classical, folk, ghazal, old and new Bollywood genres. Ben, who now resides in Mumbai, India performed in front of a number of celebrity judges including Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Balan, Karan Johar and Shekhar Ravijiani. He got outstanding reviews and is currently pursuing a career in music in the Hindi Music Industry. Ganindra will bring the traditional flair of “raag/raagini or taan” singing to the event. This style of music has been promoted by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha as it remains one of the few types of traditional genres that remains alive today. Artie Sookhai – Khelawan of Emerging Voices, Season One
will be joining the line -up of singers. The art of dance will be explored through new choreographies and performances by Dharmic Nritya Sangh in folk and classical styles.
The Essequibo Praant will also be hosting a cultural programme in observance of the day from 16:00 hours.
Yesterday, the Central Corentyne Praant hosted a Cultural programme at the Tain Kendra, West Berbice and another cultural programme at Bath Shree Krishna Mandir while the West Coast of Demerara hosted one at Ocean View Mandir.
The East Berbice Praant will be hosting a lecture on May 10.
