Time Magazine recently named former Guyana President, Janet Jagan, as one of ‘History’s Most Rebellious Women’. The recognition was conferred in honour of International Women’s Day. Mrs. Jagan stood among others whom the publication described as “some unlikely revolutionaries”.
Along with Mrs Jagan, the other women chosen by Time Magazine to share their illustrious title as ‘Rebellious Women’ were Tawakul Karman of Yemen, Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, Corazon Aquino from the Philippines, India’s Phoolan Devi, Golda Meir from Israel, Angela Davis from the US, Cuba’s Vilma Lucila Espín, Jiang Qing from China, Russia’s Nadezhda Krupskaya, Susan B. Anthony from the US, Britain’s Emmeline Pankhurst, Harriet Tubman from the US, Mary Wollstonecraft from Britain, Joan of Arc from France, and Boudica from Britain.
Mrs Jagan was born in the US. She passed away in Guyana on March 28, 2009 at the age of 88. Among her illustrious career were roles as Prime Minister from March 17, 1997 to December 19, 1997, and as President of Guyana from December 19, 1997 to August 11, 1999.
Her history is well-known in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean. She was 22 years old when she met Dr Cheddi Jagan in 1942. They were married the next year, and together they returned to Guyana. Seven years later they were co-founders of the People’s Progressive Party.
Mrs Jagan will always be remembered for her struggles and sacrifices to make Guyana a better place for all Guyanese. Together with her husband they succeeded in overcoming tremendous obstacles and to help shape the democracy that Guyana continues to build on today.
Time Magazine’s choice of Mrs Jagan has put her in the same league as the renowned Aquino, who led the Philippines in its 1986 “people power” revolution that removed the autocrat Ferdinand Marcos. She accomplished this with tremendous self-sacrifice and determination, even with the loss of her husband to a political assassination. She died in 2009 and is today fondly remembered as a representative of the power of peaceful, popular movements.
Mrs Jagan too will always be kindly remembered for having a similar mettle, for a contribution that was so “revolutionary” that her struggles and sacrifices will always be felt in the daily lives of an entire nation.
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The celebration of Phagwah for us in Toronto comes as a joyful reminder that a harsh winter is finally receding. This is the time when we begin emerging from the wraps of winter wear, replacing it with the bright colours that celebrate the coming of warmth and the sunshine of spring.
This is also the time of goodwill. It is the time to look into the corners of our houses where the light is showing us the need for cleaning. It is also the time for us to look within with the purpose being able to deal with conflict and the dissonance that build up in relationships. For one of the messages that Phagwah brings is that we embrace each other in harmony, putting aside differences and celebrating its glory in unity and joy.
This is the day too when the pledge should be made for our continued service to humanity, for the renewal of our dedication to its welfare, prosperity, and well-being. This is the time for equality, peace, and justice to prevail.
As we celebrate Phagwah, as we sing our beautiful chowtaals, let us also pray for those who are destitute, desperate, and indigent. As we celebrate, let us commit ourselves to helping those in need. At the same time we must not let up in our prayers for our leaders. Let us fill our prayers with words for leadership to be imbued with peace, generosity, and kindness. Together, let us all envision a better world.
We wish a happy Phagwah to our community.
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