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