Dear Daniel
Dr Baytoram Baytoram should be encouraged for making the time and effort to research and document the history of Prashad Nagar. It is a success story that deserves its place in history. Contrary to your assertion it was not an enclave for rich Indians. My grandfather was among the first three persons to purchase and build houses there. We were in Delhi Street. And he was by no means a rich Indian. My grandfather was entrepreneurial and minded cows and planted kitchen garden. He sold milk and vegetables for a living and later opened a grocery store in Sherriff Street.
Hari Prashad was like most of us an offspring of indentured immigrants. He was entrepreneurial and took tremendous risk in purchasing the land from Bookers to develop into housing in the early 60’s. He subdivided it in 3 sections with different land sizes to meet the pockets of different groups. The north section had the larger lots. If my memory is correct the prices ranged between $1500 to $3000, affordable with some sacrifices to many people at that time. It was by no means an exploitative project.
A family friend of my grandfather bought 2 lots for his children. He lived a few houses from us in Sherriff Street, Campbellsville. He also had cows and kitchen garden and made a living selling milk and vegetables. If you consider him and my grandfather rich men then you are right it was an enclave of the rich as per your definition. My uncle who was a civil servant earning about $250 per month and our family friends who were teachers and wage earners followed suit and purchased lands and put up houses. Many persons from Kitty and Campbellville and other outlying areas also purchased lots. I am unaware of any rich person who lived there in those days.
Today things have changed.
Prashad Nagar grew over the years and the real estate value kept increasing and properties changed hands. Today you would be lucky to find original owners still there.
I commend Dr Ramharack on this project and wish him well. I refer him to the autobiography of Hari Prashad. It’s called “One one dutty build dam”. I’m sure Justice Prem Persaud, his son in law might have a copy. It tells the story of Prashad Nagar. It was released in paperback late 70’s or early 80’s.
Perhaps you can suggest to Dr Ramharack his next project. I don’t think he will be averse to that.
On another subject now that the holiest of holy, the Pope, has apologized to the indigenous peoples of Canada for atrocities to them by the Catholic Church, I wonder if he will do the same to the Indians for the Goa Inquisition and other atrocities meted out to them. One Pope on his visit to India had the temerity to say there is a “harvest of souls” there waiting for Christianity.
Kind regards
Adit Kumar
