The Parliamentarian: Book Review
‘A call within a call: All politics is local’ by Parasram Ramoutar
Review by former Minister and Member of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, Winston Dookeran.
Human justice in our land. “What ‘human justice’ can do is solve, or attempt to solve, concrete problems of individual and societal life: to enact and enforce norms, to create institutions, to design processes, all with that one goal in mind – to solve actual problems” – Mauro Capelletti, a scholar of eminence of all times, on legal justice and the pursuit of political freedom.
Mauro Capelletti reminded us that among the “challenging life problems of our epoch” are also listed the problems of human freedom and dignity. The solutions to these problems should “unite all men of goodwill, whatever their race, nationality, and faith …. and give us a basis for designing a philosophy of life for individuals and nations of our epoch”.
‘A call within a call: All politics is local’ is an autobiography that captures the essence of the life, the ideas and deeds of journalist Parasram Ramoutar and his story follows the meaning of the quote above.
The pages of this book tell the adventures of a young man, driven by the quest for human justice making choices in his life of a practical nature that has always been consistent with his inner beliefs.
Politics was at the centre of his actions, but a politics that deals with the problems of human liberty and justice. Throughout his many expressions, as a community activist, a journalist, an educator, a political aide and even in the world of international diplomacy, the story reveals an unwavering desire “to solve concrete problems of individual and societal life” and to create institutions and design processes “all with one goal in mind to solve actual problems.”
Parasram Ramoutar, who first attracted my interest through his articles as ‘the man from Toronto’ while he was a student there, as he commented with vigour and purity on the affairs of the day. Later, he would be a local government councillor in a remote village constituency in a small Caribbean country. However, he has also accumulated more political achievements than most elected Members of Parliament of his time, which brought him roles of a judicial nature, and rewards of international recognition. His life’s journey is indeed an inspiration to the next generation of students of international politics and community service. These lessons are attested to through the many episodes of courage, service and diplomacy that fill the pages of his masterly account of his many actions, events and encounters – at the local level and even in the company of world leaders. This is the unimaginable story of humility and action, where in the Vedic tradition his ‘thoughts, words and deeds’ are in unity. ‘A call within a call: All politics is local’ is a unique expression of one man’s life journey – that continues today – to unite all men of goodwill in pursuit of truth, freedom and justice. As the story unfolds in this autobiography, the teachings become clearer, the advocacies are never in doubt and the struggles of life look so much easier to overcome, in retrospect.
Winston Dookeran, ORTT, PBS, is a former Member of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago and served as Minister of Planning and Development, Finance, and Foreign Affairs. He has written/edited several books on economics and is presently Professor of Practice at the Institute of International Affairs, University of the West Indies.
‘A call within a call: All politics is local’ is an autobiography by Parasram Ramoutar, an international journalist and Communications consultant from Trinidad and Tobago. He received the Hummingbird National Award for Community Service (2002) and the Rotary Paul Harris International Fellow Award (2016). The book is available to purchase via Amazon.
The Parliamentarian: Book Review
‘A call within a call: All politics is local’ by Parasram Ramoutar
Review by former Minister and Member of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, Winston Dookeran.
Left: The journalist and author, Parasram
Ramoutar at an international conference in China.
