There was a general lack of recognition for the talent & national contributions given by Mohan Nandu Ji.
My Brother-in-law Gobin Ram & I, along with the entire Gemini Orchestra adored Mohan Nandu (when he performed at Uitvlugt Community Centre Band).
Even though they were staunch rivals in the singing arena in Guyana since the 1960’s, they were also very close friends, as they had such healthy respect for each other’s talent & contributions to the Guyana community.
They would take their bands & entertain the guests (for free) at any Fund Raising event for the Maha Sabha & more latterly the Dharmic Sabha. They were fierce competitors with each other, especially at the Maha Sabha Fairs (then British Guiana Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha) at (the Indian) Everest Cricket Club Ground, then the East Indian Club.
I can distinctly remember in 1963, as a member of Gemini Orchestra (Gobin’s Band), when Gobin & Mohan (Uitvlugt Community Centre Band) sang in the ‘Classical (Indian Singing) Competition’. Gobin Ram won the competition & the fans were either ecstatic or disappointed, and up to 2 o’clock on the Sunday morning were still arguing on the pavement & on the street outside of the ground on who won.
Meanwhile, all the members of both Bands went to Gobin Ram’s house in Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, where I also lived, & had a huge party until after 6 o’clock in the morning. That was the nature of their friendship as they respected each other’s talent. When Gobin ram died, Mohan Nandu was there singing all night with us during the wake, & stayed over to attend Gobin’s funeral the next day. That is the mark of a ‘True Gentleman’.
Gobin Ram was awarded the Guyana Medal of Service (MS) & was given a ‘Guard-of-Hono(u)r’ for his funeral on 2003, which I attended the funeral, travelling from NYC. Several dignitaries were in attendance including Pt Reepudaman Persaud, Minister Yuli Hanuman, Dr Ramsundar Doobay, Atty General Doodnauth Singh, several notable Guyana top singers, and of course the inimitable Mohan Nandu Ji. Mohan Ji stayed for another 2 days with our family. I think that demonstrated his friendship with Gobin Ram.
As far as I know, Mohan did not get the type of National Accolades, which he so richly deserved. The last time I sang with him was at Gobin Ram’s funeral/wake in 2003 in Ruimveldt Housing Scheme.
Maybe we can petition the Govt of Guyana to step up, even though posthumously, to give Guyana’s highest ‘Civilian Award’ to Mohan Nandu Ji, for the sheer enormity of his contribution to Guyana’s Society in culture; a contribution which Guyana cannot ever repay.
Yours truly,
Roy Dhanraj Singh