Dear Editor,
Recently I read a really inspiring and touching book written by a Guyanese. The story is my story and your story and that’s why it struck me hard. The Shadow of Dreams: Tears of the Diaspora by Port Mourant native Basant Raj is a book every Guyanese should know about and read.
All two hundred and sixteen pages provide literary interest as well as several shocks and surprises through and through. I was indeed surprised to know that Guyanese have such talent in putting together these literary works.
It is a social commentary, which delves primarily into the many social issues Guyanese face in their search for life in the US.
It is a pathetic chronicle of the many trials they face − their humiliation, shame, lost pride, and most of all, the loss of their identity in a degrading fight for survival. Guyanese have a morbid tendency to love everything exotic, yet the one thing that is most precious to them all, our dear native land is relegated in importance.
Guyana is most beautiful and will always be so! When will our people learn this basic fact?
Also, in a flashback to two principal eras (prior to and post-1992), the writer has compared two political dimensions − a struggling economy and a developing economy.
The many dominant features of these two systems became the pivotal instrument for discussion.
On the issue of family, the writer tried to show the simplicity of life and the virtues of clean living.
The power of family responsibility and tradition became a spark to ignite the dreams of this family.
This is more that a story .It is a social commentary. It links some of the social problems that face us as Guyanese in our venture to get to foreign shores − the lies, deceit, humiliation and final shame to acknowledge that life in the US is not a bed of roses.
The book is not only a tragedy of situations. It reflects the reality of the cultural diversity that is a hallmark of our people.
I urge all to read this excellent literary work by Mr Raj, who has made me proud as he once was my lecturer in English at Cyril Potter College of Education and now resides in New York.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran
