Thursday, December 17, 2015

Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram

TRUTH, GODLINESS, BEAUTY (Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram)
by Ariti Jankie
Leave the measuring tape in the kitchen drawer, forget about the weighing scale. Brush up on your smile instead and listen to your voice in laughter.
The essence of Truth, Godliness and Beauty (Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram) awaits.
Dr Dev Ramoutar at NIRVAHNA WEIGHT MANAGEMENT CLINIC in the heart of Chaguanas holds the dream of unlocking your true self clothed in beauty with the knowledge that all things are possible.
He knows your pain and suffering. 
The curse of obesity must be removed.
Dr Ramoutar’s golden key to weight management issues stems from a real life experience and led upon his graduation from Medical school in 1972 to a total dedication to solving the problems of obesity.
“I had to be my own first patient. I had suffered in silence for too long,” he said.
A chubby child, growing into a fat boy and an obese teenager, he was bullied from childhood and has a firsthand knowledge of the humiliation associated with obesity. He understands the difficulties in all the young people who come to him, seeing himself in each patient plagued by low self-esteem.
He has made it his life’s mission to offer healthy solutions to any and everyone who seek his assistance.
In no time, you will find yourself on the road to a bigger and better life. Evidence of his ability to change lives are scattered across the world in the hundreds of people he has administered to, over the years. Each year, he gathers 300 from Nirvahna’s healthy and happy home to celebrate in an awards ceremony held this year at the Calypso Lounge, Radisson Hotel, Port of Spain. This year marks the 21st occasion and under the banner “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram” (truth, godliness, beauty) took place on November 14.
A medical practitioner, Dr Ramoutar is first and foremost a simple, caring individual with old fashioned warmth and charm. He becomes your friend and will have you laughing all the way. And as you undergo a lifestyle change, he is the mentor inspiring you to be your best self, physically, mentally and spiritually. He remains on the top of his game and if you are bold enough to ask, he is nearing 75 with a youthfulness that put today’s society to shame.
Dr Frank Ramlakhansingh graduated the same year from Medical College as Dr Ramoutar and share the vision for wellness at Nirvahna Clinic.

 “Take charge of your health,” he said in a passionate feature presentation disclosing frightening statistics of one in four adults over 18 suffering from hypertension and type two diabetes with 20 to 40 heart attacks and five to ten strokes every day.
“Those who have no time for exercise will have diseases. Start low; go slow. Only exercise can prevent and cure ailments,” he said.
Glowing with good health, Dr Ramlakhansingh observed that parents ban their children from exercise. Today, all children complain of headaches, he said, adding that out of thousands of CT scans taken none revealed brain diseases. The scan, he noted will result in cancer of the brain and cataract in 15 to 20 years.
Dr Ramlakhansingh noted that man has moved from being the hunters of food to being hunted by food. The vast range of fast food within easy reach, he said underlines the obsession with food and while free medical care is offered by government, the avenues for physical activities are minimal.
Dr Desmond Ali in his welcoming address emphasized the virtues of Nirvahna’s theme “Truth, Godliness and Beauty”. Physical beauty, he said inspires success enabling those who seek their best beauty to travel the high road to making dreams come true.
Dr. Ramoutar, Mary Alexander and former First Lady Zalayhar Hassanali
“Looking good translates into feeling good and it all starts with respecting the body,” he said.
Nirvahna has been continuously reducing obesity in a world where no country in the past 33 years have succeeded, he said pointing to a highly obesogenic society where he noted, one wonders whether the battle is lost.
Dr Ramoutar greeted patients on stage, each given the opportunity to tell their stories in testimony of life changing weight loss.
“Losing weight is not as hard as you think. Good health is intoxicating and so too is looking and feeling good about yourself,” he said.
The awards ceremony underlined a life made precious by truth, godliness and beauty.
Sizzling dances were performed by Kiss Natraj Dance group whose invocation item paid tribute to Shri Ganesh. The second item evoked Hanooman Ji and the final dance was dedicated to goddess Kali.
The Calypso lounge formed an oasis for the good life practitioners. One by one the ‘big losers’ climbed the steps in sparkling gowns and elegant suits to highlight the emotional journey of sacrifice through obesity which like a tunnel of darkness, they described led via Nirvahna straight to the purest of lights. 
At the end of a power packed evening of truth, godliness and beauty, participants were eager to spread the joy of finding a place where the effects of obesity are never underestimated.
 Among the celebrants were Samuel who went from 283 to 149, a total weight loss of 134 pounds. 
“When I first entered the Nirvahna Clinic, I could hardly climb stairs. Today, I feel blessed to have found a way to take back my life,” she said.
Taxi driver Lutchman sought help only when he tipped the scale weighing 411 pounds. He continues with a weight loss of 121 pounds and continuing.
Arima school teacher, Rajdai Gooptar Ramoutar lost and maintained a weightloss of 35 pounds over three years while Mary Alexander shed 65 pounds for a healthier lifestyle for the past nine years and from Rochard Douglas Road in Barrackpore Premchand Badri loss 150 pound to stand tall at 177.
The ceremony declared failure to treat obesity no longer an option.

Former First Lady, Zalayhar Hassanali who never in 21 years missed an awards function was there as well as former beauty queen and body builder Rachel Telemaque who assisted in handing out certificates of excellence. Other speakers included Dr Hari Haran Seetaram and Dr Kumar Bodram. Radio Personality, Shamoon Mohammed was Master of Ceremonies



Left: Former Minister of Multiculturalism Winston "Gypsy" Peters and Chandra Sinanan.
Right: Dr. Ramoutar and 14 year-old Shastri Bowen


Dean Lancaster and Rachel Telemaque

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Renewal in Remembrance

by Ariti Jankie in Houston, Texas
The balanjan/damadool chokha looked delicious. I added two tins of sweet corn to the chopped salad and brewed coffee.
On the other side of town Jasoda Sharma chunkayed the dhal, slipped on ancient silver bangles and got ready to leave. 
Chandra Mahabir finished making parsad, packed bigan chokha and sada roti sliced into quarters all set to go. Savi Gooman cooked the last buss-up shot roti to fill a cooler, Shomie took down the pot of bhaji from the stove, Radica Chatoor tested the channa and aloo, Dulsie strained a huge pot of rice, Nirmala Soodeen stirred mango talkarie and Tara Chatarpal stepped out of the kitchen to get dressed.
It was minutes to six in the morning and Indian Arrival Day Houston, Sunday 24th May, an hour before celebrations were set to begin.
Lightning flashed, thunder cracked and the sky opened up, bucket-a-drop. The weather forecast said rain, flash flooding and tornado watch. The phones began ringing. Pundit Sase permitted an hour delay and in the rain families stepped out. The first to reach the temple gates was Larry Sawh with the Seegobin brothers Thirbowan and Harry Seegobin on their way home in Trinidad from India. Immediately afterwards, vehicles began arriving and filled up every available parking space.
Shashi Beharry set up a display, Arjan Singh Jagirdar cut a jhandi, Pundit Nankumar Rampershad began preparations for pooja while the others got ready to begin the day’s program. In the temple yard at Players Street, Pundit Sase began pooja with the jhandi. We offered jal and continued with worship of Hanuman, God of the Wind singing the chalisa as we walked into the mandir to sit in a circle and commence our remembrances for a faith renewal and brotherhood derived from a shared history and heritage.
The fierce rain was reduced to a drizzle before first vehicle reached the temple gate. The sun came out as we talked.  Too soon, it was time for a coveted breakfast of sada roti and chokha. A chulha had been built and roasting bigan began perfuming the breakfast shed as had been done so often in a thousand little huts of the Caribbean.
Five beautiful women lit decorative deeyas to inaugurate the celebration before Dharam Vishal Chatoor, President of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha 377 of Houston took the microphone to welcome his guests and hand over to the Master of Ceremonies - Radio Jagriti’s Sharda Jaishree. Nadia Chatarpal had trained a group of children to recite the sacred mantras and sing the national anthem in Hindi, Amrita Chatarpal danced for Bhagwan Shiv as more guests arrived and a few departed to attend other functions.
The first award went to RAJOUTIE CHATARPAL for longstanding service to the Indo-Caribbean community.
She travelled from Guyana to New York, Canada, England and Holland, before settling in Texas and always found a mandir to attend. A strong and quiet woman, she continues to be a source of inspiration.
Her grand-daughter Amrita danced, Ram Sharma and Shomie Ramprashad sang before Bobby Teelucksingh received his award from Tulsi and Chandra Mahabir.
Tassa - Trinidad style
Bobby’s mother bought him a miniature tassa drum when he was seven. Tassa became a driving force in his life. Born in Claxton Bay, Trinidad, he joined the Moving Stars Tassa group and in 2000, when he migrated to Texas he turned his home into a school, he bought more drums and formed a band playing for free wherever he was called. The boys played as he walked the red carpet for recognition and played again as President Chatoor sang a bhiraha to tassa music.
Larry sang “Sohani Raat”, a love song adored by Trinidadians. It symbolizes the relation between Indo-Trinidadians and India, the land of their ancestors.
Chris Ramlochan received accolades for providing music every Friday for eight years. He took his own musical equipment to the SDMS mandir and on Sunday mornings did the same at the Sanatan Dharam mandir. Last year, he worked single handedly to beautify the mandir for Divali and has been offering practice sessions to bhajan singers. His love for music and dedication adds significantly to the sacredness of temple service.
Dancing Amrita held up her trophy with a dazzling smile.
She was a little girl when she started dancing in the mandir. She recently graduated after 16 years of dance training and has been teaching dance since. A daughter of the Sanatan Dharam mandir, she embodies the virtues that make her a role model to the younger children.
Muni and Tara Chatarpal are the parents of five children, they gave to each child a solid foundation combining spirituality with academics, writing plays, composing songs, singing and playing music. They are part of every mandir celebration, working with others to enhance the cultural traditions of our Indo-Caribbean people.
Tara and Muni Chatarpal and family- Radica Chatoor at centre
Pundit Nankumar and Shomie Ramprashad were next.
Punditji is humble and dedicated. Shomie is a singer with a vast repertoire of bhajans and Hindi film songs. Together, they make a delightful couple and have been regulars at the SDMS Friday night Durga Puja sessions and the Sanatan Dharam Sunday morning service. Spiritually strong and dedicated they are the pillars of dharma in Houston.
Shomie - singing star
Pundit RAMESH RAMJAS comes from a religious family and lived in an ashram between the age of seven to twenty-five. He started a mandir in Canada, went back to Guyana for five years before settling down in Texas. He travels to India every year and is well respected for his knowledge and understanding of the scriptures. He continues to travel to many countries and places to perform pooja.
Cultural icon, Jasoda Sharma proved to be a livewire at the ceremony. Born in Guyana, she is a mother of five. She cut her cultural teeth in the mandir writing, directing and producing plays which she took to cinema halls to raise money for charity. In Houston, she makes costumes for Ram Leela and works with the younger generation to keep them invested in Indian art and cultural traditions.
Jasoda and Ariti
Attorney at Law, Bashist Sharma gave good advice in his feature address calling for watchdogs to guard and protect minority groups. He evoked the pioneering spirit of ancestors of India saying that while the older generations were guided by parents who were role models in real life, the new generation needs to be informed of the sacrifices made and hardships endured in the journey from India to the Caribbean and America.
He said that Indian Arrival Day reminded us of who we are, where we came from and where we want to go. His daughter Mala was at his side adding words of advice to the younger participants.
The program came to an end shortly after 2.00 pm with a vote of thanks by Pundiit Sase. And though, the menu was supposed to be dhal, baat and bhaji there were many other dishes including channa-aloo, buss-up shot roti, mango talkarie, sweet rice and mango lassi as well as other dishes brought in for the occasion.
Indian Arrival Day went into its second year in Houston and remains one of the most enjoyable and successful event in the Indo-Caribbean calendar.



Monday, May 18, 2015

Spreading Wings

by Ariti Jankie in Houston, Texas
Indian Arrival Day celebrations may well be the most anticipated festival for the Caribbean migrants in Houston, Texas. Rooted, as it is, in memories of a time when poor people lived rich lives, the Girmitays or children of Indenture step forward to participate with an emphasis on telling their stories and reminiscing on the good ole days.
Trinidad and Tobago joined Guyana, Fiji and Mauritius to host is first Houston arrival last year and heard stories of hardship and struggle in the early days by both the ancestor and the migrant population. This year, several temple and cultural groups have joined in the planning stages, a trophy has been designed and made to honor twelve persons and rehearsals continue with a locally composed song and popular old songs designed to capture the essence of Indentureship and the early days.
Shomie Ramdial
Shomie Ramdial was born in Cumuto. She married Nandkumar Rampershad of Guyana in 1982 and migrated to Texas in 2004. She has the voice of an angel and is the lead singer in both the Trinidad Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha mandir as well as Guyanese rooted Sanatan Dharam mandir. She embodies the “sweetness” attributed to Trini women by walking with the tastiest dishes in both mandir celebrations and is known for a heavy hand with the hot pepper.
She has composed a song especially for the occasion and listening to her sing I am tempted to record and publicise this beautiful rendition with great pride.
Shomie and Nandkumar will receive top honours for dedicated service in religion, arts, culture and community service on May 24th when the second Indian Arrival Day celebration will take place at 12918 Players Street, Houston 77045 from 7.00 a.m.
Ramkisssoon Goonie of Biche, a father of 15 moved to Texas 30 years ago. He was honoured last year
Felicity in Chaguanas is "alive and well" here in Houston with the contributions of Chris Ramlochan. As a little boy riding his bicycle in the village, he one day heard music playing. He rode straight under the house sitting on tall wooden posts and found a man playing the harmonium with lots of drums and other instruments lying around. He asked if he could have a harmonium and was told to bring an old one if he could find it. The repair man offered to fix a harmonium for young Chris.
Chris found his passion and has never left his music since. He took it with him to Florida and now in Texas he has invested in music equipment and travels on Fridays and Sundays to provide music at the temple.
Prematee Jaggessar is popularly called Dulsie and also referred to as “Queenie” here in Houston. She is from Cunupia and pays attention to details in temple activities. Always with a smile, she’ll happily take a day off, to make sweets as well as dhalpuri and other Indo-Trini dishes whenever there is an occasion. Most of all, she has no enemies and is everyone’s friend with a career in designer drapery.
Ram and Jasodra Sharma
Jasodra Sharma is cultural icon who when she calls everyone comes running. She is calling now to all those who came to Houston from the Caribbean to gather for this one day when we meet as children of Indentureship. In her childhood days in Guyana, she staged plays at the mandir and was versed in singing. Jasodra used to sew dresses for Guyanese one dollar. She came to America as a student’s wife and set herself up with a sewing machine to earn US $5 for simple alterations. Determined to have an education, she studied book keeping. She is a mother of five. Always well dressed in ethnic wear, she inspires others to make the temple a more inspiring place to visit. Along with her husband, Fiji-born Ram Sharma, she is well travelled and a singer par excellence. 
Dharam Vishal Chatoor born in Couva leads the Maha Sabha. He spares no effort in striving for perfection with his wife Radica beside him.
The immortal Vindra Naipaul’s daughter Sharlene is a vibrant member of the group as well as petroleum engineer Shashi Beharry of Chaguanas and Ravi Garib from Cunupia is a successful realtor all working together to carve a niche for the Caribbean diaspora here in Houston, Texas.
Indian Arrival Day idea may be mine but it found rich soil and for me surprisingly, Texas has become home.

                                              Pundit Sase Narine

Thursday, January 22, 2015

That first Independence.


I had asked Maureen Arneaud if she remembered what she did that day in 1962. She said she was a student at St. Joseph's Convent, Port of Spain. "I will write it for you". The email came at 1.04 a.m. I read it to where it ended with "It's late, I'm sleepy ... must go to bed ... nice memories ... Blessings ... Mo".

"There were rows and rows of school girls standing at the Queen’s Park Oval in the grass of the field, looking towards the stands ...the pavilion.
... I remember the rehearsals in the hot sun of the Oval. I liked that we had to be in the Oval. As a Woodbrook girl from Luis Street, the Oval is a comfy "home" place ...it is our backyard ... it is "ours" ... for those of us who lived in Luis St... The Oval and the sounds of Invaders on the wind ... home stuff for a Luis St. girl. 
And from those rehearsals , I remember the songs ...the patriotic ones in English and the strange ones in patois  ..."Mama moi" and what sounded like ... "ee bourie di ree doux ... we learned it phonetically not really unravelling the words per se ... to this day I have no clue as to what most of those strange sounds meant ...but the passionate interpretation of our teacher Beryl Mc Burnie left us in no doubt that it was a song full of indignation ... about Mama moi's unfairness  as she prepared all sorts of treats for Sophie mais pas ba moi piece ... but I didn't ever get a piece, ... banana frit ... chocolat ... all sorts of lovely stuff mais pas ba moi piece ... and she taught us to frown and sing vehemently " Comment diable on vrais moi garde bien? repeated over and over that line was ... Miss Beryl whipped us up into a good heated frenzy of interpretation ... Then there was a more lyrical. less demanding one .. about "Lilit" who I took to be a girl who was growing up  ...Phonetically it went something like "Depuis Lilit te ti maman, ..... something, something me apprends tailleur ... and it rounded off into a lilting "Ays enfants mi LiLit, mi Lilit, mi Lilit   ... no stress in that one, just a more bemused, benign lilt ... we had to "do movements" of some sort all the while we sang the patois offerings ... but not for the patriotic songs ... those we delivered with pride and elan, that was all Miss Beryl asked of us for those ... Hot sun and a powerful Ms Beryl McBernie ...those are the main memories of those independence rehearsals ... 
I also remember so clearly the advent of television into our lives. I remember that the government was giving us television as an independence "gift".  You could rent it and it was to start on the night we would become independent. The first images were to be of the British dignitaries and the lowering of the British flag and the breathtaking raising of our own flag for the first time ... Our family planned to listen to it on the radio. Daddy told us we could not afford the TV rental ... But then around 4 pm a van pulled up outside our house on Luis St.  We went to the gallery and excitement hit ... Daddy had fooled us ...he was surprising us with television for independence. Lord I remember that whole installation and the nervous disappointment when all that came on the screen was fuzzy, hissing "snow" ...but soon they tuned into a station signal and we set about waiting for midnight to roll around ... and suddenly there it was ...people and officials and Solomon Hochoy and Dr Eric Williams  ...PEOPLE all on the screen- clear like in the cinema, but coming into our own drawing room ... TV/Independence/ Patriotic songs/our National Anthem by Pat Castagne whom I only knew from the Christmas songs "Kiss me for Christmas" .... all standing to attention in our house and all the houses on the street. First time I thought of huge and unifying thoughts ... we are ALL doing this ... all of us ...all at once ...everywhere , in every street ... first time we are ALL doing something together at the same time ... because it was now OUR country ... "All" had a new meaning for the first time that night. Independence ... 

It's late, I'm sleepy ... must go to bed ... nice memories ... Blessings ... Mo"
Rest In Peace Mo.