Dear Editor:
I wish to take this opportunity to commend Dr. Mohan Ragbeer for his timely, well-written and interesting article: "Remembering Gandhi" in your October 19 issue. He has vividly and eloquently expressed Gandhiji's biographical profile, with thoughtfulness and profundity for any serious reader to have a glimpse of the life and guiding principles of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, and most admirable and well-respected human beings that ever walked the face of this earth.
The article is timely, essentially for too many reasons to elaborate on in this letter. But October being the month we celebrate Gandhiji's birthday (born October 2, 1869), World Mental Health Day (October 5), the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 10), World Teachers Day (UNESCO), the Festival of Light – Diwali (October 26), National UNICEF Day (October 31) and considering that October is also known as the National Domestic Violence Month, with the global population expecting to hit its 7 billion mark by the time you almost finished reading this newspaper, "Remembering Gandhi" is just the appropriate article to give us pause to refresh our way of life for the 21st century.
I also wish to take the opportunity to congratulate Dr. Ragbeer on the celebration of his 80th birthday (reported in ICW). His contribution to community life and the Indian diaspora, particularly in the Hamilton area, and his contribution to Indo Caribbean World, need no introduction.
And as if by intention or coincidence, Dr. Ragbeer also introduces us in his last article to the debut book: Mohandas K. Gandhi, Thoughts, Words, Deeds - His Source of Inspiration: Bhagavad Gita written by prominent Criminal and Immigration lawyer, Ramnarine Sahadeo. Sahadeo has been practicing law since 1980, and is also a founding member of the Sanatan Dharma Educational Foundation of Canada. His book reinforces the principles of Gandhiji as explained in the Bhagavad Gita and the teachings of Hinduism for the universal brotherhood of man to live in peace, harmony and contentment with one another.
Readers can view the book online at:
http://ramsahadeo-gandhigita.com/author.htm
Leonard Dabydeen, Brampton, ON.
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Dear Editor:
The announcement by the Honourable Prime Minister of the establishment of a school for teaching Ramleela in Trinidad and Tobago is most welcomed and the people of Dow Village appreciate this move by the People's Partnership to assist in promoting the teachings and value of the golden pages of the Holy Ramayan at a time when there is decay in moral and ethical values in our society.
A short historical perspective of Ramleela revealed that the divine play was first portrayed in Dow Village California by indentured immigrant Gadja Singh (deceased) aided by Mahadeo Lalla (deceased) an artesian and educator who built the props in the year 1880. The descendants of these two men, the late Babu Boochoonoo Singh dubbed "Mr Ramleela" because of the years of dedication to the divine play and Ganess Lalla (deceased) an artesian like his father, continued to stage the play for years before the younger people took over the reins of staging the play.
In the past the actors slept in the Dow Village Hindu Mandir observing a period of fasting and performing daily worship.
The venue at which Ramleela has been staged for the past 131years became the permanent home in 1990.
Members of the community are calling on the Member of Parliament to have The Dow Village Ramleela Grounds declared a Heritage Site and to erect a bust of the late Boochoonoo Singh "Mr Ramleela" in honour of the man who ensured that the divine play endured the test of time and citizens are able to enjoy the Ramleela as part of our cultural heritage to this day. Funding for this project can be realised from the community aided by the government of our country. It is unfortunate that Boochoonoo Singh "Mr Ramleela" and his family were not recognised by the government in the past for their dedication and contribution to culture in the form of Ramleela. Perhaps this was due to the shortsightedness or prejudice by past governments.
Ramleela teaches us that people should not abuse power, and they should live their lives with respect, dignity, morality and integrity and respect for women. People from all walks of life can learn from the lessons of this divine play.
Shyankaran Lalla, via e-mail
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Dear Editor:
I take this opportunity to congratulate the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team, especially the captain Daren Ganga on their outstanding performance in the recently concluded IPL Twenty 20 competition in India. They have indeed made us proud in the world scene.
I would also like to give my support to Daren Ganga for articulating a point of view that Trinidad and Tobago has quality cricket players who can compete on the world stage by themselves. In other words, he believes without any doubt that Trinidad and Tobago cricketers exposed on the international scene would enhance and further improve their cricketing minds and skills.
More youths would now apply themselves more assiduously to the game with the knowledge they stand a positive chance of playing cricket on the world stage. Cricket administrators would now focus more diligently on those under their charge. The cricket centre at Balmain would now be fully utilised.
The irrational attacks on Daren Ganga by those in office and high position for putting this commendable issue of Trinidad and Tobago playing cricket on its own must be condemned.
These individuals are old fashioned and it is in their nature to resist change. It is interesting to note that Caribbean countries have their own football teams competing on the world stage. We need to follow this direction now with regards to cricket.
I once again commend Darren Ganga for bringing such an issue on the national agenda.
K Lackan, Couva, Trinidad |