At a wonderfully organised Book Launching on Thursday at the National Library, iconic Guyana and West Indies great Alvin Kallicharran launched his inspiring autobiography entitled ‘Color Blind.
The Alvin Kallicharran Charity Foundation which includes his wife Patsy, Pastor Lawarence White from the USA and the Author of the children’s book Tony McWatt, have embarked on a two-week trip to Guyana where they will visit several schools in Georgetown and Berbice to distribute the books and give motivational speeches.

The 75-year-old Kallicharran who has scored 87 centuries and 32 fifties, 620 runs from 505 First-Class games, explained that his book is not about his achievements as a cricketer but rather his journey through life that got him to where he is today.
Just 5 feet, 4 inches in height, Kallicharran played in the 1975 and 1979 World Cups which West Indies won and had an international career which spanned from 1972 and 1981.

Kallicharran is the only Guyanese to score centuries in his first two Tests. He scored his debut ton against New Zealand at Bourda to register the first of 12 Test hundreds.
“Many have asked why I named book ‘Color Blind’. When I played for Guyana, there were Indians and Blacks in the team and when I played for 30 years with Warwickshire in County cricket it was the white-man who provided me with a job playing cricket.
I never saw color …just fellow human beings who helped me…I was color blind. Basil Butcher give me my first bat while Lance Gibbs was my teacher.

As little boy growing up in Port Morant I would listen to the radio when Rohan Kanhai was batting and would dream, I was him. I made centuries as Kanhai every night when I was sleeping” disclosed Kallicharran with a laugh.
“There were times when I failed but without failure you will never know the value of success,” he told the gathering which included students from several primary and secondary schools including Queen’s College, the Alma Mater of McWatt who resides in Cananda.

Copies were distributed to all of the schools and to the National Library and University of Guyana (UG) Library while Chief Librarian Emiley King spoke about the importance of reading.
The Ministry of Education will purchase 200 of the children’s books for the primary schools.
Mrs. Karen George eloquently introduced the speakers while Pastor White, on his second trip to Guyana, commenced the programme with a touching prayer.

Also speaking from the head table was UNICIEF Area representative to Guyana and Suriname and Special representative of CARICOM, Nicholas Pron.
“UNICEF will continue to advocate for the rights of the child. It’s the 38th anniversary of the Rights of the Child so this is a Christmas Gift,” said Pron with grin.

Students from St. Ambrose Primary School read excerpts from the children’s book ‘Alvin Kallicharran Guyana’s Pocket Dynamo Little Giant’ while students from the St John’s College and North Georgetown Secondary read sections from ‘Color Blind’.
There was also an educational video presentation of Kallicharran’s journey while two renditions from the late Dave Martin (Where are your Heros and Cricket in Jungle) were played.
Today the foundation will visit two special needs schools. The Ptolemy Reid Centre and the David Rose School.