Dear Editor,
In a rare moment of unique concurrence Thursday night, July 31, West Coast Berbice was the domain for a cultural occasion, a religious event and a political forum. Region 5 was electrified into a sea of nostalgia to accommodate the perfect storm to transform Hopetown, Cotton Tree and D’Edward Village into a forum to forge unity from diversity, a platform for reflection and a stage to taste the essence of inclusivity.
There is an old saying, “Good things come in threes.” This concept is rooted in a Latin principle, “Omne Trium Perfectum,” translated as “The Rule of Three.” Confucius hinted on the rule of three in 500 BC in ‘Analects,’ when he wrote, “Ko Wan Ze,” – thought thrice before acting.
On the eve of observing the 187th anniversary of Emancipation, Hopetown was infused with the radiance of joy as thousands of ecstatic villagers turned up to join Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Philips (Ret’d) in the celebration, as he reminded Guyanese to acknowledge the contributions of daring and dominating Afro- Guyanese, in the development of Guyana and to give thanks to the ancestors while singing their praises.
Prime Minister Phillips urged all caring Guyanese to remember to work together stressing that, “Today, we need all our people…to work together in unity, in keeping with our motto ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” Dancing to the sound of jubilation, both the young and the elders were persuaded to gravitate towards the Congo music, music for the soul and the swaying hips.
Closer to the Berbice river, D’Edward Village was a favored red sea of flamboyant fragrance and the scene of a frenzied political gathering which occupied the community, as anxious villagers eagerly awaited the arrival of their beloved leader. A large overzealous crowd of PPP/C supporters, consisting of women and men, ignited the night to join Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips (Ret’d) along with his family.
He did not disappoint their exuberance as he extolled history, saying, “In 1950, the PPP was born out of unity. And tonight, that dream of a united Guyana—of Dr Cheddi Jagan—is alive and thriving.” The atmosphere was transfixed with the applaudable faces of all races, energized to forge a unity to build a knitted Guyana under President Ali’s mantle.
Sandwiched between a cultural gala and a political gaiety, Cotton Tree simultaneously neutralized the West Coast Berbice atmosphere with the ambiance of a Hindu religious glorification. The Caribbean American Hindu Issues Inc. (CAHII), in collaboration with the Cotton Tree Mandir, commenced a Four nights Ramayan Yajna, the theme being “Dharma and Bhakti – Duty and Devotion.”
Former University of Guyana senior lecturer in Sociology, Dr. Tara Singh, a current proficient contributor in the news media and ardent social worker both in New York and Guyana, spearheaded the organizing and arrangement for the event. He is supported by many associates, including his brother Shri Arbind, former Group Accountant for Guybridge, along with Arbind’s wife, Baby, who hails from Leonora. The group is accompanied by many New Yorkers, including philanthropist Marcus Bisram.
Thursday night’s pravacana was delivered by popular NY priest and charitable worker, Pandit Tillack Seerattan Maharaj who hails from Number 57 Berbice, founder of Shiv Shakti Mandir. In exploring the doctrines of Hindu philosophy, he expounded on the teachings of the Ramayana and lectured on the ideals of leadership as accentuated by Lord Rama.
He explained that the kingdoms of Bali and his brother, Ravan and his 2 brothers, and Lord Rama and his 3 brothers provided the background to analyze the 3 gunas (qualities), attributed to influencing the mind, body and soul in the abode of Rajasic, Tamasic and Sattvic nature.
Pandit Seerattan ventured to absorb: the trading of sides from bad to good; listening to people and their problems; and, making the subjects of the nation happy, as his concluding remark in aligning Guyana’s context with the Ramayan’s content. In conclusion, he could not resist intertwining politics with religion to convey the message of peace and tranquility with action as required with compassion. The other Pandits to present their sermon will be Pt. Dinesh Narine Harilall, Pandit Ravi and Pandit Roopnauth Sharma.
Martin Seligman, an American Psychologist, is a leading authority in Positive Psychology which forms the foundation of three pillars concentrating on the concerns of positive experiences, positive individual traits and positive institutions. In this nation’s toxic environment, the three core beliefs in the self, people and world, it is not difficult to recognize who provides, protects and preaches peace, progress and prosperity when positioning oneself to permeate positive principles, policies and practices.
Good things do come in threes as perceived in the: Trinity of Christianity – the Father, Son and Holy ghost; Islam – the Five Pillars of Islam, Believe in One God (Allah) and Character and Good Deeds; and Hinduism – Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Sustainer) & Shiva (Annihilator).
Yours Respectfully,
Jai Lall
