A Guyanese American, formerly from Whim, was paid tribute to by Hon. GRACE MENG, Congressional Rep from Queens, with his name inserted in the USA Congressional record, equivalent of Guyana’s Hansard.
Ms. MENG: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ashook Ramsaran, a distinguished civic and community leader in my Sixth Congressional District” for his extraordinary contributions to life in New York City. The Congresswoman has recognized him for his hard work.
Mr. Ramsaran has been a resident of Queens, New York, since emigrating from Guyana (formerly British Guiana) in 1968. He is the third generation of Indian indentured laborers who worked on British sugar cane plantations after the emancipation of enslaved people in British colonies in 1834. His great grandfather, Pooriye, arrived in Guyana in 1853 aboard the ship Adelaide, and his great grandmother, Radhah, arrived in 1860 aboard the ship Colgrain. His family faced significant struggles and persevered under extremely harsh conditions on the plantations. Throughout the generations, they worked tirelessly to build a better life in Guyana rather than return to poverty in India.
Mr. Ramsaran was the first member of his family to attend school, an opportunity he valued greatly. He attended Auchlyne Church of Scotland Primary School and Corentyne High School through a Booker Sugar Estates Scholarship. He graduated high school with diplomas from the University of Cambridge and the University of London. He briefly worked as a primary school teacher at Yakusari Primary School, then at the Ministry of Health in Georgetown, and as a clerk at magistrate’s courts in New Amsterdam and Whim Village in Guyana.
Before leaving for the U.S.A. to pursue higher education and a better life for his family, Mr. Ramsaran married Camille (formerly Camille Ramgadoo) of Letter Kenny.
Ramsaran has embodied the American dream with courage, determination, and a commitment to succeed. While attending college and supporting his family, which included his wife and two small children, he held several jobs. He earned advanced engineering degrees from Polytechnic-New York University and persevered through many hardships, including violent racial attacks against his family and their home. With remarkable resilience, he exceeded expectations, purchased a home, quickly advanced to prominent positions in major companies, funded his children’s college education, and established a successful engineering firm in Queens, New York. He has become a role model for his immediate and extended family, as well as for others in his community.
Together with Camille, Mr. Ramsaran is the parent of Arnold and the late Gerald, and they are the grandparents of Jaden and Gavin, all of whom reside in Queens.
Mr. Ramsaran holds numerous positions in civic and community organizations, including: Executive Vice-President of the Queens Civic Congress (QCC); Chair of the Community Advisory Council for NY Presbyterian Hospital/ Queens (NYP/Q); President of the Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC); Past President of GOPIO International (2011 to 2016); Board Member of the Center for Caribbean & Latin American Studies at St. John’s University (SJU/CLACS); Executive Board Member of India Empire, a Diaspora publication; Financial Co-Chair and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Flushing, New York (FPC); Board Member of the Fresh Meadows Civic Association, New York (FMHCA); Chair of the Queens Civic Congress Conference 2022, addressing critical community issues such as civic engagement, transportation, land use, public safety, services for seniors and children, homelessness, education, real estate tax equity, redistricting, discrimination, and racial justice; Member of the District 24 AM Weprin South Asian Advisory Panel (SAAP); Member of the Queens Borough President’s Census 2020 Committee; Member of the Queens Borough President’s Civic Engagement Committee; and Delegate to the Queens Borough President’s General Assembly (QGA).
Mr. Ramsaran takes initiatives and leads efforts to landmark and secure street naming in recognition of outstanding institutions, communities, and individuals. His landmarking efforts include the Brinckerhoff Colonial Dutch Cemetery (1713), and he has facilitated street namings such as Little Guyana Avenue, Don Capalbi Way (in honor of an exceptional civic leader), Old Towne of Flushing Burial Ground Lane (a historic cemetery for African Americans and Native Americans), Brinckerhoff Memorial Way, and others that honor civic and religious leaders.
Additionally, Mr. Ramsaran has established memorials to commemorate Indian indentureship in various British colonies from 1828 to 1917, including the Kolkata Memorial in India and Indian Arrival Monuments in Guyana. Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, and other locations. He embraces his noble and selfless service to the global Indian Diaspora community in various ways, tracing his roots to a rich and enduring heritage.
Mr. Ramsaran expresses that he ‘‘feels blessed to be an American,’’ where he lives and contributes to improving the lives of others by utilizing his skills, resources, and advocacy. He is dedicated to his moral obligation and duty to give back to society—specifically to Queens, New York, and the Nation—providing him with opportunities and the freedom to progress while helping those who are less fortunate.
Queens is the most diverse county in the United States, and Mr. Ramsaran actively collaborates with many groups and organizations to address common concerns. He deeply engages with community issues of interest and importance, making significant contributions that resonate throughout the community
