By Dr Somdat Mahabir
As practicing Hindus, we are happy and grateful to Modi Ji for visiting Guyana, in particular SVN. My wife, Lalita, and I were fortunate to meet and interact with Modi Ji at SVN during his visit. Others from Queens NY area who were invited and attended the historic visit at SVN included Joey Ramnarayan Ji, Surindra Diaram Ji, and Ramesh Deochand ji — all long-standing supporters of SVN.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji, Ravi Dev, the HSS Sanghchalak of Guyana, and Srimati Nirmala Singh Ji, Principal of SVN welcomed Prime Minister Modi Ji at the entrance of SVN. Modi Ji was then escorted by Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji to the Siva temple shrine, the Hanuman shrine, and the main Mandir. The Prime Minister conducted Puja at each of the shrines and at the main Mandir. Upon exiting the main Mandir, the Prime Minister stood attentively witnessing SVN students singing Vande Maataram. Swami Ji then escorted PM Modi Ji to two classrooms. The PM also signed SVN’s guest book. India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Jaishankar who also met Swami Ji previously accompanied the PM to SVN.
This was not Modi Ji’s first visit to SVN. Modi Ji and Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji as well as Mananiya Ravindranauth Maharaj (Ravi Ji) of Trinidad were Sangh kaaryakartas in Bharat (India). Modi Ji stayed with Swami Ji during his previous visit to SVN, which was a private visit because at the time he did not hold any government office. Also at SVN for the visit were Ravi Ji Maharaj (Trinidad) and Dr. Vijaynarayan Singh (Trinidad), the most prominent surgeon in the Caribbean.
There is a lot of important information, pictures, and videos about this visit – including personal conversations between the PM and Swami Ji. We plan to host a Zoom program about it and I will provide information once Pujya Swami Ji is available. It is really humbling and amazing to witness the amount of work and running around that Swami Ji is engaged in on a daily basis. I pray that Parameshwar gives him the blessings of good health so that he is able to continue for a long time to keep Sanatan Dharma alive in Guyana.
Somdat