Dear Editor:
Guyana is awash with Indo-centric pseudo-intellectualism; I have just read 3 letters in the press written by Dr. Tara Singh [8 September 2023 in Stabroek News], Mr. Ravi Dev [11 September 2023 in Kaieteur News] and Dr. Vishnu Bisram [12 September 2023 in Kaieteur News].
On 8 September 2023, Dr. Tara Singh wrote that the use [in 1971] of the Indian Immigration Fund by the Guyana Government to build the National Cultural Center was a “callous act against Indian immigrants and their descendants.” He indicated that in 1965, the government set up the Special Immigration Fund Committee that unanimously recommended that the funds be dedicated to the Indian community for educational and cultural projects. Mr. Dev expanded, “One of the specific recommendations was to launch a Guyanese Cultural Center in each of the three counties that would foster and encourage cultural art forms more specific to Bhojpuri and “Madras belt from where most Guyanese Indians had originated.” Both Dr. Bisram and Mr. Dev contradict Dr. Singh: there was no unified position in the Indian community. Mr. Sase Narine and others
supported the proposal to build the Guyana Cultural Center in Georgetown. And their position carried the day.
Mr. Ravi Dev is purported to be a lawyer. It was astonishing that his 11 September 2023 letter is bereft of any legal analysis. Instead of a legal theory to garnish the funds that were “expropriated”, the reading public is treated to a hefty helping of banalities, laudatory references to Mr. Balwant Singh and the vilification of Mr. Sase Narine because he differed with the so-called Indian Establishment.
Most disturbing was Mr. Dev’s implicitly false claim that the National Cultural Center was conceived as an Afro-centric institution [for CARIFESTA] to the exclusion of Guyanese Indians.
Dr. Vishnu Bisram in a dishonest and contrived manner claims that the use of the Indian Immigration Funds to build what he deviously dubbed the “Forbes Burnham” National Cultural Center was akin to act of genocide. The tenor of the 3 letters is to paint Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham as someone hell bent on unleashing an Idi Amin style Final Solution on Guyanese Indians.
Nothing could be further from the truth: the Guyana Government built a single National Cultural Center. The recommendations of the Special Immigration Fund Committee were
simply that-recommendations. They were not binding and government was free to reject them. Thus, instead of 3 mini cultural centers a decision was taken to build one in the capital. Mr. Ravi Dev indicated that the purpose of the center was to promote Indian culture. Well, Burnham carried out his responsibilities admirably: Dr. Singh, Mr. Dev and Dr. Bisram ought to read Dr. Dhanpaul Narine’s 8 June 2018 “Profile of the week.” In 1972, Pratap Pawar and his wife Priya came from India and they were the first resident artists at the National Cultural Center. They taught kathak dance and put on shows that traveled around Guyana. Burnham promoted Indian culture!
Instead of clamoring for money and stoking racial animus Dr. Singh, Mr. Dev and Dr. Bisram should encourage Guyanese Indians to make full use of the facilities: Indian religious and cultural organizations can reserve the facility to highlight whatever aspects of their faith and culture. Remember Mohamed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, etc.
toured Guyana performing in cinemas. How about inviting modern day Indian musical talents to perform at OUR National Cultural Center?
Guyanese, if we can give Jack ‘e jacket; let’s be fair and give Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham his.
Sincerely,
Roger Ally
Fort Lauderdale
