Deo Gosine Comments on Diwali as NY Holiday; praises Assemblywoman Rajkumar

Trinidadian-born Deo Gosine, a businessman and philanthropist, discusses Diwali as a holiday in New York City and showered praises on Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar for making it happen. He pens:

Thanks for the good news – it has been a long and difficult effort by many among us and those who have gone to the “great beyond”. History must be kind to all those wonderful people who educated the politicians on Hinduism and made them aware of who we are and what contributions we have been making in New York State. The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha – Shiva Mandir (opened 1987) has been hosting and felicitating City, State and Federal Officials / Politicians for the past 42 years to educate and build goodwill.

We are particularly thankful and proud of our State Assembly Representative Hon Jenifer Rajkumar, a Hindu Caribbean / West Indian New York State legislator ( from Trinidad and Tobago and a devotee of SANATAN DHARMA MAHA SABHA – SHIVA MANDIR, Northern Blvd at 110 Street, Queens) who was able to take us past the finish line. THANK YOU STATE ASSEMBLY WOMAN HON JENIFER RAJKUMAR – YOU HAVE MADE US PROUD OF OUR RELIGION AND OUR PRESENCE IN NEW YORK STATE.

Dr Dhanpaul Narine, we must plan appropriate recognition and felicitation to our Honored Assembly Lady and those who have made this day possible. We at Shiva Mandir will be convening a meeting of Mandir leaders and other concerned community supporters to plan this event.

On a long term basis, we must now develop annual programs to memorialize this day and keep the larger community, Hindus and non Hindus, informed about the holiday of Divali. We should also develop and circulate information sheets / booklets, newspaper supplements for the schools and the greater community.This is a huge undertaking and will need the support and help of all our friends and wellwishers.

I look forward to working with you and others to celebrate and memorialize this achievement.

Best Regards
Deo Gosine