On the first Sunday of every month, the Imdadul Islamic Centre feeds the "poor, needy and homeless". But on Sunday February 3, 2019 they were joined by members of the Holy Blossom Temple who were there to observe and participate in this exercise.
It was a memorable and historic moment for members of both parties because of the bond of unity that was enhanced between the Muslims of the Imdadul Centre and their Jewish brethren from the Holy Blossom Temple.
A friendship was already forged many years ago when a "Ring of Peace" was formed around The Imdadul Centre by members of the Jewish Community showing their support for six fallen Quebec Muslims murdered in the January 29, 2017 attack on the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec (CCIQ).
This bond was further strengthened recently during the "Ring of Peace" at the Holy Blossom Temple and other Synagogues showing the solidarity of Muslims in support of the Jewish community after the attack on a Synagogue in Philadelphia in the fall of 2018.
For many years now, approximately 40 students along with their parents, a Rabbi and teachers from The Holy Blossom Temple, have attended sessions at The Imdadul Islamic Centre to learn about Islam, Judaism and the Abrahamic Faith in recognition of the fact that all Muslims and Jews are cousins.
The visitors from The Holy Blossom Temple on February 3, expressed their admiration and love for the program of preparing food and packaging them to be distributed to the less fortunate. They were thankful for the opportunity to take part in this noble venture and look forward to visit again.

It's not often one hears of someone whose life was turned upside down due to wrongful incarceration but who, with faith and resilience against injustice, walked away free with a profile that included the tutoring of math, science and the Quran to fellow inmates.
That was one of the heart warming stories, among others, last Saturday night at the Elite Banquet Hall where Warren Abbey received the Malcolm X Award for Black History month, courtesy of this year's 7th Annual One Love Gala. Malcolm X fought against anti Black racism in America in the 60s but this injustice continues decades later, as evidenced in todays’ widespread racial profiling.
Warren Abbey, like several others, was applauded for fighting for his freedom after believing in his truth.
Keynote Speaker at the evening's Gala was Tahera Ahmad, Associate Chaplain and Director of Interfaith Engagement at Northwestern University. Also gracing the occasion was The Hon Dr. Kirsty Duncan, MP for Etobicoke North and Minister of Science and Sports. They both touched the audience with their moving thoughts and compassion.
This year’s One Love Gala's charity of choice was the "Looking at the Stars Foundation". Established by Dmitri Kanovich the Foundation's main purpose is to deliver free classical music recitals by world-class artists as gifts to institutions and organizations whose members may not have an opportunity to experience live classical music in a traditional setting, or those without access to traditional venues. Since 2015 the Foundation has had 25 sessions in the prisons of Canada.
The diverse Chaplaincy community social started some seven years ago by Chaplain Habeeb Alli and friends, when the former federal government threatened to end chaplaincy programs in federal prisons.

Well known community and religious icon, freedom fighter and Hindu scholar – Dharmacharya Pt Ramlall – passed away in New York City on Saturday, January 26, 2019 after a prolonged period of illness.
Born on February 28, 1928 in Guyana (then British Guiana), he immigrated to the USA in 1974.
“Ramlall is a well-known Vedic scholar and founder of the Arya Spiritual Center in New York. He is a well-loved doyen among Guyanese religious and political leaders, a legend as one of the most influential leaders of the Hindu faith of Guyanese heritage.
“From an early age, he had a passion for learning all about Hindu religion and culture, and with equal verve, fighting to better the lot of fellow Guyanese. These have forged in this humble and affectionate Guyanese, commitment, vigor, and boundless energy to be a fearless leader in the fight for freedom from injustice under colonial rule in British Guiana, and a learned exponent of Hindu Vedic thought, an accomplished scholar of Sanskrit and Hindi.”
(From the Biography of Pandit Ramlall by
Kenneth Persaud, August 27, 2008)

Since arriving in New York in 1974 Pandit Ramlall has identified himself with the Hindu community where he is regarded as the ambassador of Hinduism. He was instrumental in rallying many Hindu organizations to celebrate Holi or Phagwah in a big way in New York. This eventually grew into the Annual Phagwah Parade that attracts people in the tens of thousands and which will be celebrating its 31st anniversary within another two months.
In recognition of his contribution to this event Ms. Helen Marshall, President of Queens Borough, during Phagwah celebrations in New York in 2003, declared March 23rd as “Pandit Ramlall Day”, honoring him as the founder of an important fabric in the cultural mosaic of the city. The citation of the Declaration of Honor says, in part:
“This declaration acknowledges Pandit Ramlall on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Phagwah…A priest, scholar, and a leader of Guyana’s struggle for Independence. Pandit Ramlall has continued to live by his humanitarian ideals in New York, as a Union representative, as the founder of the Arya Spiritual Center, and as a pioneer of the Phagwah Festival Parade in Queens. Through his interfaith work and his special concern for children, he lights the way for all people.”
The esteem in which Pandit Ramall is held is not restricted to New York but transcends national boundaries. His work of preaching and teaching took him to several parts of the world where he was equally welcomed. In addition to his native Guyana, he frequently visited Suriname, Holland, India, South Africa, Mauritius, the Caribbean, Canada and states across the USA where he was always received and admired. Being fluent in Hindi and English allowed him to communicate with ease with his Hindi and English speaking audiences.
At an early age Pandit Ramlall showed an inclination to religious studies and by age nineteen he was already a practising Pandit. He had the good fortune of meeting and interacting with many Arya Samaj missionaries in Guyana such as Pandit Ayodhya Prasad, Professor Bhaskaranand, Pandit Narayan Dutta, Shrimati Janki Devi, Pandit Bhesh Pati Sinha and Pandit Usharbudh Arya (who later became Swami Veda Bharati). His association with these scholars left an indelible impression on his mind and reinforced his interest in delving into the scriptures, pursuing a priestly role and becoming a religious leader.
Panditji came from very humble beginnings and credits his achievements to his will to succeed in spite of challenges that confronted him. He lost his father at age four and mother by age seven and was taken care of by his chacha (paternal uncle), Goberdhan, who brought him up in a Hindi-speaking home.
He was soon working at odd jobs to earn his keep and had little or no opportunity for formal education. He assisted in his uncle’s bakery and by age nine was working with a road construction crew fetching water for them to soak burnt bricks. Later he worked in the “creole gang” in the sugarcane fields and as a housekeeper before landing a job to retrieve tennis balls in the lawn tennis courts of the sugar estate where the white overseers played. For this he was paid six cents a day.
He moved up to become an apprentice sugar boiler which led to a more senior position as a chemist, but that did not last long. He later got a job as a mailman which he held for 10 years. In the meantime he continued to pursue his studies in Hindi and the scriptural texts that enabled him to establish himself as a Pandit and build his credentials in the community. He taught Hindi and prepared students for annual Hindi conventions where students showcased their talent and versatility, particularly in reciting verses from the scriptures, singing bhajans and performing in religious plays and skits.
In the mid to late sixties, under the guidance of Pandit Usharbudh Arya, Pandit Ramlall became a leader of the Veer Dal movement, the youth arm of Arya Samaj in Guyana.
He was an indomitable leader in the fight for human rights and was a stalwart in the campaign for an independent Guyana under the leadership of Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Because of his activism, he was jailed with others in 1964 by the British government. During his incarceration at the Sibley Hall Detention Center, he taught many of the other inmates to read and speak Hindi and educated them in Vedic philosophy.
On his release from prison he started teaching Hindi at the Tagore Memorial High School in Corentyne, Berbice until he migrated to New York in 1974.
His first job in his new land was as a security guard in a Times Square store. He then moved to Cumberland Hospital where he worked as a clerk. His discipline and dedication to the job was recognized and he got promoted to the role of Hospital Caregiver. When that hospital closed he was transferred to Woodhall Hospital where he stayed until retirement in 1995.
Pandit Ramlall had a burning desire to further his studies and so he enrolled at Roshell College as a mature part-time student while still holding a full time job. There he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology and a Diploma in Education. At work he joined the union and became representative for the Local 371 Civil Service Union where he took up the challenge for workers’ rights. In an interview with Indo Caribbean World in 2013, he recalled saving the jobs of many workers who were slated to be fired.
All of this notwithstanding, Pandit Ramlall continued to dedicate his life to his community and to the propagation of his religious beliefs. He founded the Arya Spiritual Centre in New York in 1984 which today is a leading institution in that city. Earlier, on a visit to Toronto in the 1970s he was instrumental in giving birth to the Toronto Arya Samaj.
Before leaving Guyana, Pandit Ramlall worked closely with the Guyana Central Arya Samaj (then, the American Aryan League), headquarters of Arya Samaj movement in the country.
Dr Ganraj Kumar who served as Senior Vice President of the Guyana Central Arya Samaj while Pandit was there told ICW: “Pandit Ramlall was a remarkable individual who has climbed great heights. He has made tremendous strides towards the advancement of Arya Samaj wherever he went.”
Vijai Umadas, a past president of the Arya Spiritual Centre, in an invited comment told ICW: “Pandit Ramlall is an inspiration to all. He has not only gained the respect of the Arya Samaj community but the interfaith community at large in New York. He is also well respected by the political heavyweights there.”
Pandit’s dedication to serve the community saw him being rewarded with several national and international awards and recognition over the years.
In 1975, he was presented with a prestigious literary award at the first Vishwa Hindi Sammelan (World Hindi Conference) in Nagpur, India, in the presence of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and Dr. Sewsagar Ramgulam, Prime Minister of Mauritius. On the occasion of Dr. Shyam Sundar Das's Centenary Celebration organized by Nagri Pracharini Sabha, he was among thirty-two literary scholars presented with awards by the vice president of India, Shri B.B. Jatti.
Pandit Ramlall was also guest of honor at the 16th International Ramayan Conference in India attended by intellectuals and academics from twelve countries around the world. Before his health started failing, he attended every Ramayana Conference, since its inception in 1984, where he represented Guyana and the United States. These conferences were held in different countries around the world.
In 1984 Pandit Ramlall received the Vishwa Hindi Darshan Award and in 1993 was nominated as chief delegate representing the Vishwa Sahita Sanskriti Sansthan (Institute of World Literature and Culture) at the Tenth International Ramayana Conference in India. He was also awarded the honor as Chief Guest at the Kanya Kumari Seventh International Hindi Seminar in 1997.
In Toronto, in 2002, Pandit Ramlall was presented with the Vedic Cultural Centre/Arya Samaj Award at the Annual Dinner and Awards Program. He also received the prestigious Bharat Gaurav (Pride of India) Award on January 8th, 2005 presented by the India International Friendship Society (IIFS). That award reads: “For sterling community service at home and abroad, for your fight to improve the quality of life and your worthy example to inspire others to a certain remarkable achievement.” Some of the past recipients of this coveted award include Mother Theresa; a former vice president of India; movie stars; and the famous cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. In 2006, the International Arya Samaj presented Panditji with an International Service Award.
He has been appointed Commissioner of Deeds for the State of New York and Voluntary Chaplain of NY Transit Authority.
Pandit Ramlall considered himself blessed to be able to serve the community. Even in his very senior years he continued to give selflessly and lead the way to make real those cherished values of his faith embodied in the well established Vedic principle: "Make The World Noble".

(With files from Indo Caribbean World's Adit Kumar and Kenneth Persaud's Biography of Pt Ramlall)

 

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