by Ashook Ramsaran
My family and I are saddened by the passing of Dr. Jagat Motwani, a dear friend, mentor, and an avid, long-time advocate of the Indian Diaspora.
Jagat met with me and urged me to join the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO). He was a founding life member of GOPIO and its Secretary General. He mentored me on many aspects of the Indian Diaspora, and we traveled together to many countries including India, the UK, Canada, and the Caribbean. He was a patient teacher, a humble man who wanted to meet people from the far corners of the Indian Diaspora and he made every effort to reach out, engage, and embrace them. He was especially fascinated with persons of Indian origin like myself from the Caribbean, heartily embraced us, and made many friends among us: Myself, Ramesh Kalicharran, Bhanu Dwarika, Vishnu Bisram, Ravi Dev, Mahin Gosine, Yesu Persaud, Deo Gosine, Roonaraine Persaud and many others.
I was with Jagat and others of GOPIO leadership welcoming Dr Cheddi Jagan of Guyana at India’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, as well as Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo on his first overseas trip; President Donald Ramotar was GOPIO’s chief Guest in India in 2015.
I was elected GOPIO’s Secretary General when Jagat’s term expired; afterward, at his urging, I became Executive Vice President and subsequently International President of GOPIO for 2 terms totaling 4 years.
Jagat recognized the historical bond of descendants of Indian indentured laborers (persons of Indian origin) to India and was fascinated by how we maintained our religious practices and cultural traditions over more than 4 generations despite being far removed and with little contact. In fact, he was elated that the GOPIO Jubilee convention was held in Trinidad in 2014 when Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar gave a warm, celebratory welcome to the GOPIO delegation at her residence.
Jagat Motwani wrote several books on the Indian Diaspora and was in the process of completing another book when he passed away. He was an Indian Diaspora advocate at heart and made it possible for many others to become involved in Indian Diaspora issues. His stature as a dedicated Indian Diaspora advocate will be sorely missed.
Jagat and his family were close to me and my family. We met on several occasions socially, including his daughter’s weddings.
Our condolences thus daughters Shilpa and Neha, and his surviving brother Lal.
