…a role model who serves as humanitarian and religious leader

After working for many years at the sugar estate, Mukesh Persaud, took early retirement from the position of Shift Manager, then finally fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a Pandit, and he is serving his community via the mandir.

Persaud is well-known in Guava Bush Village as Pandit Suraj, and he is a true humanitarian who goes about assisting the elderly, the sick and just about anyone in need of a bit of help in ways he can manage.

The 55-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he started working at the Albion/Port Mourant Sugar Estate in 1987 as an electrician.

Persaud worked his way up to Shift Manager and was transferred to Skeldon Sugar Estate. He retired at the same estate.

It was when that estate closed he took early retirement in 2018 and became a Pandit in his village.

Persaud has lived all his life in Guava Bush and is serving at the mandir that his family built.

His sisters built the mandir in the 1900s, but it deteriorated over the years, and in 2001 when he took over the running of the temple, he began raising funds to construct a new building.

He launched a walk-a-thon from Crabwood Creek to Bath Settlement, asking for donations, but it was when he invited the late Shri Prakash Gossai to a three-night prayer service at Albion they collectively raised $3M.

The mandir, located right in the street where he resides, is a safe place for everyone, including youths. The temple is regarded as a place of worship and education.

The Pandit stated that whatever the needs of the people in the village, he would aim to fulfil through the mandir, like building a bridge for an elder.

There are 50 active members of the mandir, but a lot more people used to attend, but due to the pandemic, some members quit visiting.

Persaud explained that from money collected at the mandir, he would utilise the members’ skills, such as a carpenter, to construct the bridge for the pensioner to enhance their life.

The Hindu priest added that when they have money, he would pack hampers for the elders in the village and distribute them to those that need it the most, such as widows and single parents.

The mandir also has a feeding programme annually for the Dharm Shala. Every year when it is the birth anniversary of him and his wife, they would prepare food and feed the less fortunate at Skeldon Market.

Persaud reported that life in Guava Bush is fair. The people are family-oriented and do everything in the interest of their family and children.

“I am thankful to God because without him, nothing would have been possible and in the mandir, I proclaim the truth in accepting each other as we are,” he said.

The Pandit related that it was due to his upbringing he values religion and he is using it to unite people because his parents took them to the temple as children, so they are aware of the power of worship and prayers.

Persaud stated that he played the drums and his sister sang bhajans in the mandir.

He is the father of three; all of his children reside overseas and he got married in 1962, making it 36 years of blissful marriage.

The Pandit noted that for him, Guava Bush will always be home even though he spent some time overseas, he would always come back to his homeland.

He added that most of the old people passed away, some migrated, and the younger generation is trying to make their mark in society.

Meanwhile, via a video interview, the mother of pandit Mukesh Persaud told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is from Guava Bush but migrated to Canada.

Gaitree Sewsankar would return home every year to spend some time in her homeland.

Sewsankar, who is in her 70s, religiously comes home to Guava Bush annually to do her part in giving back to the community through the mandir.