-announces plan to name national asset after founder, Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud

BUILDING a foundation of positivity, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has helped and supported thousands of Guyanese and in lauding the organisation for its work and 50 years of service, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that a newly acquired national asset will be named after its founder, the late Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud.

The Head of State, who on Sunday joined hundreds of Indo-Guyanese for the organisation’s 50th Anniversary celebration at the Pt Reepu Daman Persaud Dharmic Sanskritik Kendra in Prashad Nagar, reflected on the resilience of the organisation over the last five decades.

“Today, we are faced with many challenges in this world [and] it is organisations like these that build a human character, that build the human spirit, that build the human asset to be an agent of positivity,” he said in his remarks.

He further emphasised the importance of positivity and lauded the organisation for its continued innovation and impact.

While acknowledging the Dharmic Sabha’s milestone, the president encouraged continued progress towards a brighter future.

“50 years of service by this organisation to support positive thinking and a positive way of life cannot be understated or underestimated. And I thank you on behalf of all of Guyana for the work you have done in the last 50 years and I look forward with great enthusiasm to see what the next 50 years will bring, because this organisation is a dynamic organisation. It is a thinking organisation. It is an innovative organisation. And I know you will find new ways every day to do what you do better,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Vindhya Persaud who currently heads the organisation, reflected on the work of the father and the founder of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha.

“If pandit were alive today, he would have not only [recalled] every one of your names but your entire generation and that is how long the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha would have existed in this country,” she said.

The organisation was established in 1974 and at that time according to Dr. Persaud, there was a void that needed to be filled.

“It came at a time when leadership was necessary, when there was political turbulence and when there was a void needed to be filled and he did not just walk into leadership, his leadership emerged from the petition of Hindus across the length and breadth of this beautiful land of ours.”

Prior to his passing in April 2013, Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud presided over the Sabha for 39 years.

Since its founding, the Sabha has created, organised, and maintained a variety of programmes and events that have suited the requirements of Guyanese. The Sabha has about 125 affiliated mandirs spread across Guyana and consists of eight branches/Praants. Its youth and women’s wings, Dharmic Naujawaan and Mahila Mandalee, provide support. There is a Praant of the Sabha branch in New York, United States.

Passionate about education, health, the welfare of women and children, development of youths and social issues, the Sabha has programmes in those areas.

The Sabha has a Playschool, Nursery and Primary Schools adjoining the Dharmic Rama Krishna Mandir. Very soon, this will be expanded to include a Secondary School. Currently, construction is in progress of a new and modern school complex which will allow for an excellent academic programme, smart classrooms, sports, cultural and religious education and a robust extra-curricular programme.

Through its Voices Against Child Abuse Programme, the Sabha opened Bal Nivas – a shelter to house children who were victims of abuse in 2014.