Dear Editor,
When Eusi Kwayana referred to Pandit’s Gossai’s “supposed” appointment in the Office of the President, what derogatory message did he wish to convey? Shri Gossai was appointed a Special Assistant to the President. Why all the fuss? Why all the arguments over his correct designation? The NY press release that was published by the Chronicle had an error, and that was corrected by the proper source, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President. To stretch this, and state that it speaks to the infallibility of the Chronicle, is mind-boggling.
Kwayana continued: “If the news had reported that Mr Gossai had decided to start a Mandir in Guyana, or start a hospital, or even a Bank, I would have been silent.” To this we say, “why did you selectively remain silent during the dictatorship of Hoyte when there was rampant corruption and racism?” “Why did you selectively remain silent during Burnham totalitarianism, when corruption and racism of the modern strand were invented by the administration?” “Do you remember the evolution of the Jonestown commune?” Don’t come as a saint who just had a revelation.
The President of Guyana never asserted that he wants his advisors to be saints, after all, he is not governing in a heavenly city. He needs people with integrity, competence, and the requisite expertise.
The man whom you have been pounding would never respond to you, as he knows better. Further, he does not believe in fighting an issue, blown out of all proportions, in the media. He is too decent for that. It’s a shame that you have descended to this level to besmirch a man who commands widespread following because of his humility, charisma, and knowledge; some qualities the current crop of leaders are desperately seeking.
Let me make it clear. Shri Gossai had to make a tremendous sacrifice to return to serve his country. It was a painful decision. Earlier, he did what most of us would never dare. He had abandoned a lucrative career and decided, out of unconditional love for his community, to walk on the missionary path. His teachings and his philosophy have endeared himself to thousands of people. The Archbishop of Kingston, Jamaica, on hearing him giving a message approached him later and said, “when you preach, I believe that you are reading from the Bible.” One of New York’s most prominent Imaams, Haji Zakir says to Shri Gossai in public, “You are my Guruji.” Another prominent leader, Pt Swasti Dubey, says that Shri Gossai is one of our finest community and religious leaders, as well as, an outstanding intellectual, who graduated as the best student in Natural Sciences at the University of Guyana. These few words speak volumes to the measure of this man’s stature, which could not be broken by this ugly campaign in the press. In other words, Shri Gossai does not need any office to promote himself. Neither does any one need to promote him.
His credentials and experience can match the best. Mr Vishnu Bisram is not his “ardent promoter,” but rather his “ardent admirer.” He happens to be just one of thousands of people (of all faiths) who are his admirers. In short, Shri Gossai is a charismatic leader; a man blessed with humility, as well as, with knowledge; a man who has been recognized for his extra ordinary work by the NY City Council, the US Congress, the Government of Ontario, Canada, among others; a man who is now being castigated by a fallen politician who knows nothing about Gossai’s upbringing and his life. Mr Kwayana, you are not a theologian or a moralist. You just happen to be a biased observer. Decades of polarized politics have left their indelible impact upon you. To get out of that impasse would not be easy. Work towards it!
You note elsewhere: “They (followers) have been resisting some of the authority claimed by Shri Gossai alleging that he was exercising powers he did not possess in the affairs of a Mandir he had co-founded in Florida.” If you had done your homework and engaged in objective analysis, you would have learnt that the Mandir was founded by Shri Gossai, and it was named after the New York Bhuvaneshwar Mandir which he also founded in 1983. Some misguided members (not followers), whom he had trained, turned out to be dishonorable. They defied logic and principles. They don’t stand for accountability and transparency. Shri Gossai holds these principles dearly. As President and Founder, he just could not sit by and allow these people to run the Mandir into ruin. Having exhausted all means to work out a resolution, he decided to do what any good leader would. He was forced to refer the matter to the court for adjudication. What’s so wrong with that.
This is a civil matter, and it’s not unusual for community/religious leaders to hammer out their differences in Courts, when other methods fail. There are numerous examples of this in New York City and elsewhere. Let me make it pellucidly clear, Shri Gossai does not need a Mandir to impose his teachings onto people. He does that successfully in any number of fora. Countless persons search for him all the time to benefit from his wise counsel.
You made a rather dogmatic statement: “Members of the faith from both Guyana and Trinidad had been involved in the founding of the Florida mandir.” How did you arrive at this ridiculous conclusion? Have you spoken yet to Shri Gossai? How can you allow yourself to be carried away by a one-sided story?
At the Bhuvaneshwar Mandir in Queens, the audience is not only multiplying, but also, live in harmony. And this may disappoint you, the Mandir is flourishing.
What is this nonsense about cover-up? The court matter in Florida was brought to the attention of the public at one of the regular services of the Mandir in Queens. There the PRO stated the exact nature of the dispute and how a few misguided people were trying to seize control of the Mandir and change its name. It was also pointed out that they were distributing flyers and other materials to destroy the credibility of this honorable man. Of course, they know that they could not succeed. Why? He has the truth on his side.
To somehow link in your letter, Mr Bernard Kerik with Shri Gossai is disingenuous. Shri Gossai can always hold his head high. He is one of the greatest persons Guyana has produced. We should all be proud of him. And history would so acknowledge his contribution. And if this could give you any comfort, Sri Gossai has no political ambitions. He would stick to his words.
Yours faithfully,
Tara Singh
