EACH birthday is another milestone in one’s life. As you reach the date of another birthday, the reflections force themselves on you. As you inch closer towards another year, you wonder where the idyllic years went by. Was it too beautiful to last?
I don’t care for modern society. It is not better than when I was young (not younger but young). Both the world and my country have changed since I reached the milestone of 18 and 50, and what I see I cannot say beholds me. My country rivets my psyche at the moment.
How can my fellow Guyanese deny their fellow citizens their right to vote and seek mental comfort among those who organise such denials? The optimism of the will has defeated the pessimism of the intellect. We had free and fair election this year and people’s votes counted, and those the citizens voted for took their rightful place as administrators of the country.
But on my birthday, I should avoid and evade such maudlin topics and look at the more enticing aspects of my life. I am not a believer so I cannot thank unforeseen forces for bringing me this far. I prefer to dwell on mundane life. I will skip the importance of my wife and wait until our 47th anniversary arrive next year.
But with each birthday, you thank those who helped along the way and that little help transformed your life in a big way. In this world of ours, your own existence has no meaning if you cannot allow for the existence of others. In allowing others to exist, you add meaning to your own life.
The little helpers that made my life big have all gone except my wife and Anil Nandlall. But on each birthday, I remember them and when I do, I think of the instruction they left with me before they departed – go out there and help others as we did to you. I would never have lived a philosophical life if it wasn’t for so many who believed in the circle of life.
I never went to high school. I studied for my GCE O’ Levels at the afternoon classes at Guyana Oriental College on Thomas Street where now stands Eureka Labs. The principal, Shruti Kant did not charge me one cent for my classes. He is one of the persons I will be forever grateful to. If I had a chance of becoming president in an earlier life, my first act would have been to name a section of Guyana after Shruti.
Having free GCE lessons did not guarantee you success. You had to get the books to study If you didn’t have food to eat how would it be possible to get books? One of the leading Jehovah Witnesses in Guyana at the time was Fred Phillips, the manager of the Georgetown Club who lived where Bonnie’s Supermarket is on Church Street opposite Merriman’s Mall. Mr. Philips bought all books for me.
Getting into UG was one thing. Paying the fee was another. Brian Rodway, my friend from the WPA paid my first-year fee. I went into UG and never looked back thanks to Shruti Kant, Fred Phillips and Brian Rodway. They were part of the circle of life. On my birthday today, I leave with you the circle of life:
Elton John – Circle of Life
From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There’s more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
Some say, “Eat or be eaten”
Some say, “Live and let live”
But all are agreed as they join the stampede
You should never take more than you give
[Chorus]
In the circle of life
It’s the wheel of fortune
It’s the leap of faith
It’s the band of hope
‘Til we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
[Verse 2]
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with the scars
There’s far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rollin’ high through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
[Chorus]
In the circle of life
It’s the wheel of fortune
It’s the leap of faith
It’s the band of hope
‘Til we find our place
On the path unwinding, yeah
In the circle
The circle of life
It’s the wheel of fortune, yeah
It’s the leap of faith
It’s the band of hope
‘Til we find our place
On the path unwinding, yeah
In the circle
The circle of life

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.