By Frederick Halley

THE Toronto Arya Samaj/Vedic Cultural Centre has recognised two well-known Guyanese Canadians – Janet Naidu, author, educator and community leader, and Ramnarine Sahadeo, author, retired lawyer and community leader in Toronto.

The recognition ceremony took place at the Centre’s Annual Awards, held recently, and paid tribute to the two outstanding Guyanese for their achievements and significant contributions to the community at large. It was staged at a lavish fundraising dinner in Markham, Ontario, Canada, with over 150 guests in attendance.

Adit Kumar, President of the Toronto Arya Samaj (TAS), welcomed the recipients, who have now joined a list of awardees dating back almost 30 years since the centre initiated the recognition ceremony to honour distinguished members of the Guyanese Canadian community deserving of this recognition and award.

The Toronto Arya Samaj/Vedic Cultural Centre is a longstanding and reputable organisation in the Greater Toronto area, sustaining Hindu culture with a special focus on promoting Indo-Guyanese heritage through music, art, and cultural celebrations.

Mr Mani Singh, Honorary Consul of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Toronto, Canada, brought greetings on behalf of the Government of Guyana, the Guyana consulate in Toronto, and the Guyanese Canadian diaspora. Mr Singh congratulated the awardees and presented them with the “One Guyana” pin depicting the value of unity for Guyanese at home and abroad. He also acknowledged the significant contributions the awardees have made in the community.

Naidu’s many accomplishments were highlighted in professional, educational, artistic, and community development contexts, as well as her dedication and commitment to voluntary services in Guyana and Canada.

In addition to her leadership role in the field of human rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, the audience learnt of Naidu’s many leadership roles in Guyanese-Canadian organisations. She served as the Co-chair of the Guyana Independence Festival celebrations in Toronto in its early years.

As the founder of the Pakaraima Writers’ Association, which offers group support to local writers seeking publication and sharing their works through readings or book display events, Janet provides encouragement and support to writers.

Naidu, a writer and poet, has published four books of poetry that capture themes of migration, resettlement, ancestral heritage, and the nuances of adapting to new lands and cultures. She also served as President of the Association of Concerned Guyanese, an organisation lending support to Guyana in its stand on democracy.

Sahadeo, a retired lawyer, has been instrumental in representing many persons who sought refuge from political persecution in their home countries by fleeing to Canada. He also helped educate refugees about the complex process of applying for refugee status and, in the 1980s, played a significant role in advocating for the Canadian government to review its criteria for granting refugee status to immigrants.

Several Guyanese also received Sahadeo’s assistance during this period. His passion for educational development and his desire to help people in Guyana are evident in his involvement with the “Adopt a School” project, following the 1992 General Elections.

Encouraged by the life and contributions of Gandhi, he wrote the book Mahatma Gandhi, echoing the words, thoughts, and deeds that became popular in the community. He also established a Gandhi Scholarship at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and initiated another milestone project to place the Bhagavad Gita in every home.

Sahadeo continues to help people in the community and provides pro bono legal services to South Asian and Guyanese groups as needed.

Adit Kumar and the Consul General both presented the awards to Naidu and Sahadeo, and the recipients delivered warm and appreciative acknowledgements upon receiving them.

The evening of musical entertainment was presented by Pandit Dave Ramoutar, accompanied by his daughter, Priya Ramoutar, and Kevin Dhar on keyboard, as well as Nanda Ramoutar and Nadia Umadas on percussion.

Dr Ganraj Kumar presented a congratulatory song dedicated to the two award recipients. It was an adaptation from Vicky Parekh’s original song, rewritten by Dr Kumar for the special occasion, and personally performed by him to the great appreciation of the recipients and the audience. One of the verses of the song referred to the recipients as “Srimati Janet Devi” and “Ram Bhai ji”, and in his congratulations, he recited, “May your courtyards always be in bloom.”

Kumar thanked the donors, advertisers in the published booklet, volunteers, attendees, as well as the musical performers, for their support and valuable contributions to the event sponsored by the Toronto Arya Samaj/Vedic Cultural Centre.

A commemorative booklet was also published for the occasion. Both recipients, in their acceptance speeches, thanked Toronto Arya Samaj/Vedic Cultural Centre for conferring the awards.

Kumar, in his vote of thanks, expressed gratitude to all the donors and volunteers who supported the programme and contributed to its success. He pointed out that Toronto Arya Samaj is blessed with a team of loyal volunteers who always rise to the challenge.