The role that history plays in a family and a community

GUYANA is a country rich in people, culture, and tradition. Our past is a beautiful tapestry of people from around the globe. But many of us do not know our past, specifically our family’s past and history. And the past, family history and cultural background are far more important than one may think. Knowing where one comes from adds to a strong and unique sense of self. It is knowledge that can be passed down for generations to come. It is a story of the past that can guide the future.

Biswam Shiwprasad has lived in the village of Plantain Walk for several years. He grew up in the community. He left for many years and returned after the death of his parents. His parents valued family, and what better way to honour their loved ones than by keeping their story alive.

Biswam has moved from and returned to the village of Plantain Walk multiple times. It is, however, where he grew up and where he settled down with his family at the age of 53. “Plantain Walk was a really quiet area. My grandfather bought up the land that was called Plantation Walk,” Biswam shared.

He explained that the Plantain Walk he knew was home to more farmlands than houses and the people of the village were far less. Biswam explained that almost a hundred years ago, his grandfather came to Plantain Walk, bought land, and began a family. He shared that his grandfather was from India.

Although he would have liked to know more about his family’s past, Biswam still knows more than many people today do. He told the story of his grandfather, who hailed from India. Almost a century ago, he came to Guyana and settled down in Plantain Walk.

The community at that time still had remnants of colonisation and was primarily a farming area before people began to take up residence in the village. “Plantation walk is what I knew this village was named. My grandfather bought land and shared it among the family and my grandmother got the plot of land I am living on now,” said Biswam. His home marks the beginning of Plantain Walk as the first house in the community.

“The village was a farming area, and then it was shared out as a house to people,” Biswam shared. One could only imagine the work that needed to be done by the first people of Plantain Walk to build a new community. His family legacy and history, Biswam shared, was largely preserved by his parents. They made sure to keep photographs and stories of the family elders.

Biswam has kept these photos and stories that he now tells his son, eight-year-old Andrew. “I have photographs with my grandfather, but I only know so much. I know that he was from India and came here and married my grandmother, who was Guyanese. That was more than a hundred years ago,” Biswam shared.

Because of its proximity to Vreed-en-Hoop, Plantain Walk housed every service needed by the people of the community. With everything from banks and supermarkets to a hospital and pharmacy, all necessities are housed either in the village of Plantain Walk or the next village over.

Originally, Plantain Walk was like many of its surrounding counterparts in the respect that they were small villages with small populations. And in small villages, everyone knew everyone else. However, Plantain Walk has recently seen a rise in its population, says Biswam. More people have come to the community. Whereas some come to settle down, others start families or businesses.

“Plantain Wall now is very different. There are a lot of new and strange people who have come here to live. I know most of the people because I was born here,” said Biswam. He is, however, very happy and optimistic about the community’s newcomers and says that regardless of who his neighbours are; he strives to have s good relationship with them.

Peaceful, welcoming, and having a sense of family are some ways to describe the community of Plantain Walk. It is also one way to describe the atmosphere at Biswam’s workshop. He has been a mechanic for more than three decades. “I am 53 and I started mechanic work when I was just 15.” He learned the trade from his father before him and has mastered it over the years.

Entering into Biswam’s workshop at his Plantain Walk home most days could guarantee a few friends happily talking. The community is close-knit and supportive of each other. Many weekends are spent by Biswam, his neighbours and friends celebrating the simple achievements of life as they share stories new and old. They share the stories that keep the sense of community and family strong.