Dear Editor,
I refer to the letter by Aub Bakr captioned “Banwari is legendary” (08.08.08)
Please read the other article that I have posted in respect of this subject. I have never heard of the “Banwas” theory that he proposes. I know that there is an Indian city by the name of Banawas and the residents from that city are sometimes referred to as “Banawari”. A lot of people who migrated to the Caribbean have been named after their villages and cities. The spelling is not the same at all times. For some it is Banwahree, Banwari and Banawari and so on.
I would also like to mention that I have lived for 3 years at 71 Maisur Weg, Kwatta, Suriname, amongst people of East Indian descent, and I have never heard of the term there. I also resided in Trinidad and Tobago for about 5 years, and I cannot recollect hearing the term used there either. It is possible for Trinis to use the term, I have no doubt about this, but I am confident that it is not widespread as it is in Guyana. I would assume that the term was taken to Trinidad and Tobago by Guyanese, who have been interacting very closely with Trinis over our recent history. Also, prior to 1970, we have no reference to the term, ” Banwari seh bear yuh chafe” in our history.
I agree with you that the term became popular due to the hardship that Guyanese have been facing since our independence. However, the term was first used in the village of Annandale, some 40 years ago by a barber who used to drink a lot. He used to put his clients in some very uncomfortable positions as he barbered their hair, and then leave them like that and go to a bench where he had his “flatty’ bottle of rum to take a drink. He used to take his time in doing so, and when the clients complained, he would say “bear yuh chafe”, but because of our economic hardship, a lot adopted the term. In the beginning, the term was used for those suffering from pain and injury. When one had a pain or cut and it was being tended to, as they cried out for pain, they would be told, “Banwari seh bear yuh chafe”, just as how the late Banwari of First Street, Annandale South, Guyana, used to say to his clients.
Ask any older person from the village of Annandale and they would defend what I am saying.
Yours faithfully,
Red Lion
