Dear Editor,
Reference is made to Mr. Kit Nascimento’s letter captioned ‘The notion of a Guyanese culture is only possible through a synergy of all of our heritages’ (SN Feb 18). Nascimento misrepresents my position on Indian regional cultural centres (IRCC).
Nascimento himself pointed out that use of the Indian Fund for the National Cultural Centre (NCC) was a long-standing issue for Indians. The appropriation and confiscation of the Indian Immigration Fund to construct Burnham’s national cultural center is a very sensitive matter for Indians. There was massive discriminatory practices and victimization of Indians during Burnhamism. Indians viewed Burnham’s policy as a deliberate act to seize money left for the descendants of Indian pioneering indentured labourers.
It was nearly unanimously opposed by the Indian population. All the prominent Indian leaders including Cheddi Jagan, Pt. Reepu Daman Persaud, Fenton Ramsahoye, Isahak Bashir, Dr. Balwant Singh Sr., Yacoob Ally, Mohammed Insanally, Pt. Ramlall, Pt. Churkeeman Tiwari, and others opposed the confiscation of the fund to build the NCC.
Burnham could have taken monies from the capital budget in the Consoli-dated Fund to build that Centre. Instead, he seized the Indian Fund. The Indian leaders favoured regional Indian cultural centres. I too favoured IRCC. Contrary to what Nascimento penned, I stated the IRCC would be funded by the Indian Fund not government fund. I called for the return of the Indian Fund with interest—it is the right thing to do. It is restorative justice.
Nascimento misrepresents my usage of the term “cultural genocide”. I never stated that different ethnic groups presenting aspects of their culture in a programme is cultural genocide. Replacing a group’s ancestral culture with an alien (creole or other) culture is cultural genocide, and we must guard against such national practices. I am opposed to a group or government foisting an alien culture on another group. No government can mix portions of different cultures or “a synergy of all of our different cultures” on the different groups and call it national culture; that is cultural genocide.
Culture must be autonomous, meaning each group must be allowed to engage in its own practices, and alien culture must not be foisted upon a group as Burnham attempted during his long 20 years reign in office to deculturize people of their ancestral culture.
Contrary to what Nascimento penned, I never stated that IRCC would be for exclusive use of Indians. Indians have been very generous in their approval for usage of their private facilities. As an illustration, Hindus, in their private capacity, built cremation grounds all over Guyana. Christians, Africans and Mixed have not been excluded from using those facilities.
I disagree with Nascimento that regional cultural centres lead to further division of a country. They lead to cultural appreciation and national unity. One national centre leads to ethnic division.
I agree with Nascimento that we must give recognition to our cultural roots and who we are today. But I see Guyanese different from him – peoples of different ethnicities and cultures, and a people who are extremely divided as a result of our toxic politics. We must not marginalize any group’s culture and define what is their culture. And most importantly, we must not usurp funds belonging to any ethnic group to promote culture of another group.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram (PhD)
