Dear Editor,
An aged Guyanese icon – who assisted in the struggle for independence and was jailed for nearly three years at Sibley Hall died in New York on Saturday. Pandit Ramlall was considered a legend in Guyana as well as in New York and received numerous commendations and International Service Awards including a Pandit Ramlall Day declared by the President of Queens Borough, New York in 2003. He was 90.
In Guyana he served as a Member of Parliament and worked tirelessly to assist the working class. He came from humble beginnings. In fact he was an orphan at age 6 when he lost both parents. He taught himself and later became a sugar chemist and civil service union representative.
He migrated to the United States in 1974 where he inspired hundreds with his religious teachings. He had a burning desire to further his studies and enrolled at a College as a mature student where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in psychology and Diploma in Education. In 1975 he was presented with the prestigious literary award at the first Vishwa Hindi Sammelan (World Hindi Conference) in Nagpur, India in the presence of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, then Prime Minister of Mauritius. He was the recipient of numerous awards from Canada, India and USA.
Pandit Ramlall’s teaching and preaching took him frequently to Holland, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Canada and other parts of the world. The President of the Indian Diaspora Council (IDC), Ashook Ramsaran, described him as an icon who served the community well. He was a freedom fighter, scholar, community leader, interfaith spiritual advisor, and above all he was very humble.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet
