By Pandit Vidur Dindayal
I have sweet memories of Christmastime in the forties when I attended my village school. That was at Rosignol, in Guyana, formerly known as British Guiana, then the only British Colony in South America.
The Christmas spirit takes over everyone, everywhere, weeks before the great day. Grown ups talked about what they would do for Christmas, what they would buy, the cakes they would bake, what picture the cinema would show, the picnic group coming from Georgetown. At school, events lined up to happen at Christmastime included: washing up day, sale of work, carol singing, and Speech Night.
Washing up day was play day for me. What is it to do with Christmas? Simple, everything must be clean, spik and span for Christmas; that includes the school desks and benches. The bigger pupils and teachers took all out into the school yard for a good scrubbing. For us children, with buckets full of water, soap and scrubbing brushes, it was sheer freedom, to play, run around, shout and scream with abandon.

Sale of work was held at the dance hall opposite. Our work for sale, included greens and vegetables from the school garden, small note books and greetings cards from our bookbinding class. These were displayed for our parents to view and buy. Bora, a favourite of the garden was always in short supply. The reason, part of the fun being in the school garden was eating raw the bora just ready to pick.
What I learnt from school gardening I still do today, only I should do more of it. It is so rewarding. What I learnt from bookbinding, also, I still do today. When I make a small booklet, I would bind the spine using thread through three holes and a knot on the inside. I have bound larger books too, made up of several small booklets, binding the spine together with thread and gluing muslin to cover it all.
Carols lift the heart. We sang carols heartily everyday, in addition to morning and evening prayers. A group of us went after school for rehearsal at the headmaster’s house. We volunteered for carol singing early Christmas morning from house to house. I was also in a group learning to sing spirituals. We listened to a record of Paul Robeson’s singing, the first time I heard of him. I dearly loved Swing Low, I got a Robe, Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. It is divine singing which touches the soul.
Christmas play, at Speech Night was a story about Christmas day in a snowbound town in England. I acted the part of a messenger. Dressed in a winter coat (my dad’s jacket) and a scarf, I wrote a letter with a quill pen, and gave a ‘jack in the box’ to someone. I knew nothing about jack in the box, but I made something for the play, a small wooden box, with a bedspring inside and on top of it I wrapped some rags to look like a jack. Jack was pushed down into the box. When the lid opened jack sprang out.
Christmas is celebrated almost everywhere in the world. It is a time which brings out the best in people, how we greet one another, being friendly, cheerful, kind and warm hearted. It is a very nice feeling to see so much goodness all around, to see that people care, that we look out for one another.
Christmastime is the Lord’s blessing on us all, a time of peace, love, goodwill, harmony and good cheer, most importantly one of hope for a better world. And I am thankful that there are lots of people whose life and deeds show us the way to that better world.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. With best wishes and kind regards from Vidur and family.
(Pandit Vidur Dindayal, born at Blairmont, in British Guiana, settled in London in 1962. Studied at Delhi University, and at Brixton School of Building, now London South Bank University. An architect, he was a magistrate and has held many public appointments relating to transport and disability. Fascinated with the rich cultural heritage of Guyanese, he authored two books on Guyanese achievers in UK, USA and Canada. A Hindu priest, he is keen on inter-faith activities.)

Toronto Kaiteur Lions Club observed its 25th anniversary on December 9, 2016. The club was issued its Charter on December 9th, 1991 at a ceremony attended by several volunteers who committed themselves to serving the community. Today, 25 years later, many of those charter members are still active with the club which continues its humanitarian efforts. The club continues to help the less fortunate adhering to the motto 'Where there is a need, there is a Lion'. Toronto Kaiteur Lions Club is one of the largest clubs in the region with over 20 members including several women.
Most recently the club participated in a number of initiatives to usher in the spirit of Christmas and giving. Last weekend the club supported Motivated Mothers United Association at their Christmas get-together for mothers faced with various challenges.
On December 10, 2016 the club co-sponsored Christmas with Santa at the L'Amareaux Centre in Scarborough. Members volunteered in the kitchen to prepare breakfast for over 200 families of neighbouring Ontario Housing community and supported with Christmas gifts distributed to them.
Toronto Kaiteur Lions Club also brought Christmas cheer to the residents of the Lawson Respite Home in Scarborough on December 4, 2016. This home provides support to youths with intellectual disability/autism spectrum disorder. This annual event hosted by the club provided lunch and gifts to each resident. Club members also rendered Christmas carols to ring in the season. Kim Priestley, Assistant Supervisor, told ICW "Toronto Kaiteur Lions Club has been hosting this event for over 20 years and the Home looks forward to the activity which brings lots of joy and excitement to the residents".
And on November 26, 2016, the club held its annual feeding of the homeless in Downtown Toronto where over 100 hot meals were handed out. Warm clothing and blankets were also delivered to them. Club members also drove around the city and delivered hot meals to persons who were sleeping on the sidewalk. The gratitude expressed by the recipients was enough to melt one's heart. It was another fulfilling activity hosted by the willing club members.
Past District Governor and club president, Teddy Boyce said "as I reflect on our accomplishments and struggles over the past 25 years, I am overcome with a deep feeling or pride and satisfaction, and so should be the feeling of anyone who had played and perhaps still playing their role in trying to make this world a better place, while fulfilling our motto 'We Serve'."
Current president Lion Martin Bowen, who is on his second term, has been doing a terrific job at the helm. The club will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary with a Gala Ball at Peter & Paul Banquet Hall on April 8, 2017. For more information visit the club's Facebook page.

By Adit Kumar
Three leading community volunteers were honoured by Arya Samaj Markham at their Annual Dinner Awards gala held on November 26, 2016. The awardees were Yogesh Vyas Sharma, Dr Tulsi Ram Sharma and Vijay Ghai.
Yogesh Vyas Sharma is current Chairman of Rajastan Charitable Foundation. He is also former President and Founding member of the Rajastan Association of North America (RANA). Over the years he was involved with RANA in the annual Flag Hoisting ceremony at the City of Markham Civic Centre to observe India's Independence. He was also involved in the South Asian Tsunami Relief Committee which raised funds for the 2004 Tsunami relief efforts.
Dr Tulsi Ram Sharma is a well recognized Vedic Scholar, researcher and author. Among his books are the translations of the four Vedas and the Shastras into English. Dr Sharma, now in his nineties, conducts regular classes in Vedic philosophy at the Vedic Cultural Centre. These classes are well received by the community and attendees look forward to them. A linguist, Dr Sharma graduated with first class honours from Delhi University in 1949. He proceeded to Oxford University where he completed his PhD. He returned to India where he was administrator and professor in many Delhi colleges and universities.
Vijay Ghai is a lead volunteer at Arya Samaj Markham where he is in charge of hospitality arrangements at the Vedic Cultural Centre. He freely shares his cooking talents ensuring that delicious food is already in abundance at their functions and events. He has been involved with the VCC since its inception and prior to that with the Samaj. Originally from Kenya, he moved to Canada several years ago spending time in British Columbia and Montreal before finally settling in Toronto. He and his extended family are strong supporters of Arya Samaj Markham.
The event was well attended by a wide cross section of the community and apart from delicious food, featured excellent musical items.

Authors' And Writers' Corner >