Dear Editor,
Powerful, peaceful Vedic chants greeted me on October 11, 2015 as I entered the gates at Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) at Cornelia Ida, WCD for its graduation ceremonies.
It seemed like a different world far away from the one I just left ‒ a minibus with noise in a strange language some call music, so loud that even the passengers could not carry on a conversation. The vibration was physical only not spiritual.
The students of SVN provided a clean, well-organised environment that can only be contrasted with many other places in the country. Absent was garbage, smoking, alcohol, drugs, gum-chewing or pollution of any kind. There I met beaming supporters of a vision that started in the last century but who stayed with the challenges as SVN experienced growing pains from 35 to 535 students from all races and religions. Chairperson Vishwanie Ramnarine-Rambharak and her entire family were there when the cornerstone was laid. It was a delight to see Natasha Persaud, the first student to enrol in the school, carrying out her current demanding responsibilities as an administrator. Judge Nandram Kissoon, Ramesh Gampat and Somdat Mohabir who delivered the charge to the graduates, also graced the occasion.
In welcoming the many guests Swami Aksharananda recalled my words in 2003 when funds were donated for the first Jung Bahadur Singh scholarship and I promised to return only when the school topped the nation in academic results. At that time I witnessed the children starting their day with prayers in the temple at 8am and then going barefooted to their classrooms in an atmosphere most conducive to learning. I had no doubt that they would excel, but I did not think that it would happen in so short a time considering the competition from the established schools in Georgetown. It was one of the few times that I was just delighted to be wrong and had no defence when Swami invited me and reminded me of my promise. The Canadian connection was initiated by the actions of Kishorie Prasad who visited Guyana when a few concrete pillars stood out like lonely sentinels in the compound. She invited Swami to Canada, and a small group raised funds on a regular basis and took on the task of going to other cities in North America promoting the project. They all would have been proud to be present on this historical day because of all the projects they contributed to, this one was the most needed and provided the greatest satisfaction.
In the words of the National Pledge, this institution has dedicated its energies towards the happiness and prosperity of Guyana. Cultural education may still be the best investment to develop its human resources. SVN is setting even higher goals with its expansion plans in science and technology. The school was already a leader in many respects, one of which was the most successful blood drive in the country. If President Granger did not have this massive crowd of over 1500 with his Namaskar he certainly did when he announced a hundred thousand dollar donation to Victoria Najab, the nation’s top student. The confidence revealed in her speech will take her to places beyond Guyana.
When the pleasant conversations and sumptuous vegetarian meal were over, I dreaded going home in another noisy minibus, for I wanted to savour the positive, soothing sensations from the Vedic recitations associated with a spiritual civilization thousands of years old. Fortunately Region 5 stalwart Rudy Rampersaud and a busload of supporters provided transportation to another school in Bush Lot Berbice, where we hope to see similar success in a few years.
Hopefully there will be others like Swami who can dedicate their lives to education not just to maintain a culture but in the interests of the nation. There are many retired or semi-retired professionals and business persons who must take more seriously that stage of life where they start removing themselves from family obligations and start giving back to the community by supporting similar schools in other regions. Once these projects are initiated, support may come from around the globe. To the graduates one can only repeat Gandhi’s dictum, “Be the change you wish to see in this world.”
Yours faithfully,
Ramnarine Sahadeo
