Disease, old age and death are natural to man and must be embraced and accepted. This does not mean that we should not develop medical knowledge to fight diseases which are real and the cause of much pain and suffering. Nevertheless, what are not natural to life are lies, half-truths and innuendos. Unfortunately, this has become very much integral to our personality, and are traits more akin to conmanship.
I see very clearly the workings of the picaroon society that VS Naipaul so often made reference to in his literary masterpieces. This haste for recognition and securing our material wellbeing has made us bold and shameless, not bothering about what society would think about us. And over a period of time, we have grown immune to wrong doing.
This haste for cutting corners came with the conquistadors who murdered and killed the indigenous people and when labor was scarce, they migrated to the mainland where there were more Indians to enslave and silver mines to exploit. The coming of the other colonial powers did not correct those wrongs but perpetuated them. With the coming of independence, one would have hoped that peace, love and fair play would have prevailed but unfortunately, these prejudices have become part of our culture. Being crooked is lauded as wise and intelligent in this society. To hold high offices and not enrich oneself is being foolish as in the case of former Prime Minister, the late George Chambers.
The role of Deokinanan Sharma, the late President of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) was without a doubt outstanding. However, this cultural work since the birth of the NCIC in 1964 was preceded by many who made pioneering and significant contribution. Names that come to the fore are Bisram Gopie, Narsarloo Ramaya, Hans Hanoomansingh, Amjad Farzan Ali, Bob Ramroop, Richard Ramlakhansingh, among scores of others.
Imagine a discussion of West Indian cricket centered around Brian Lara with no mention of the contributions of Al Valentine, Sonny Ramadin, Clyde Walcott, Gary Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Gordon Greenidge, Lance Gibbs, Inshan Ali or Shivnarine Chanderpaul. To laud the contribution of Deokinanan Sharma but ignore the contribution of others including Hans Hanoomansingh under whose presidency Divali Nagar started in 1986 and the acquisitioning of lands from the government for Divali Nagar, is not only misleading but disrespectful.
Basdeo Panday once said that ‘politics has a morality of its own.’ Panday was simply speaking a truth that is laid down in the Hindu scriptures. In the Mahabharata, Bhagavan Krishna used trickery to help the Pandavas defeat the Kauravas who were known for their unscrupulous and evil ways. Being a warrior, Krishna was allowed to use such latitude to bring about defeat of the enemies. Such behavior is not isolated to the Mahabharata but is found in the Iliad and the Sun Zu which lauded propaganda as a tool to win wars.
While the right to use deceit against one enemy is allowed to warriors and politicians, the men of the cloth are supposed to uphold dharma or righteousness. Plays, festivals and the arts remind the population that truth would always triumph over untruth. The message of Divali is one of light conquering darkness, thus making Divali the ideal festival and platform to spread that positive message amidst the social chaos stalking the land.
The antecedent of evil using the guise of piety to perpetuate wrong was visible in Ravan’s disguise to kidnap Sita. Ravan, in a most cowardly act took the guise of a sadhu after luring Ram and Laxman away from Sita. Ravan should have confronted Ram at this stage of the Ramayan. However, the authors of the epic wanted to develop and establish the cowardice of Ravan.
One day everyone is going to meet his Waterloo as the saying goes. However, in Trinidad we have the Waterloo Cremation Site to bring to an end our rendezvous with lies, half-truths and innuendos. We must come to terms with the reality that our education is a tool to get the task done and not necessarily a definition of who we are. Unless we exorcise this ‘certification’ and realize that success comes form hard work and not being pushed through SEA, CXC and CAPE and finally becoming a professional only to discover our inadequacies.
Sat Maharaj, Bhadase Maraj and Basdeo Panday struggled for the name and fame they enjoyed. Their qualification was not an entitlement. In fact, Bhadase Maraj and Sat Maharaj had limited education but knew the value of hard work and sacrifice to achieve one goal, not the current culture of chopping off the necks of perceived rivals.
Half-truths, lies and innuendos are not going to bring success to the opportunists. They are only going to become more frustrated and God alone knows what passes through their minds during their final days. I have seen the Hindu Seva Sangh split down the middle for the whims and fancies of a few opportunists and today nothing is left of that once vibrant social and cultural organization. This culture of half-truth, lies and innuendos continues to flourish and is most visible on the stage of Divali Nagar where the Stuart Youngs can make the crudest and vilest remarks against womanhood and be given a platform to speak on family values! Darkness has certainly prevailed over light at Divali Nagar!
