Dear Editor,
I am conducting research, to be published later this year, on the history of the village of Prashad Nagar, and Hari Prashad, the pioneer after whom the village is named. Hari’s father, Santram Maraj (his actual name was Santram Luchmon, as per his Emigration Certificate of 1886), was indentured to Plantation Lusignan, but Hari grew up in Mahaica Village. Hari made his living as a woodcutter who sold firewood, operated several water launches, prospected and explored for gold and diamond in Guyana’s interior, and was a cattle rancher, long before becoming a real estate magnate. His pride and joy, of course, was overseeing the building and management of Prashad Nagar in the early 1960s, which was no doubt influenced by his experience in India when he uprooted his entire family (wife and 6 children) to permanently reside in Allahabad (now called Prayagraj), India, in 1952. He returned to Guyana in 1953 and set his eyes on the biggest prize – building a village in the country’s capital city that now carries his name. Guyanese would be familiar with the names of Hari’s family members, including Rishi Persaud, and retired Justice Prem Bishaul Persaud, the son of Pandit and Mrs. Nanhu Persaud of Triumph Village, East Coast Demerara, who was married to Hari’s first child, Chandra, in 1957.
Hari Prashad, born in poverty like most Guyanese, was a visionary. Guided by his faith and religious beliefs, he became one of Guyana’s most accomplished entrepreneurs par excellence. His accomplishments were not very different from other Indian pioneers with an advanced visionary foresight to establish a modern village system, including the founders of the well-known village of McDoom or the lesser-known Bee Hive village. The enclave of Prashad Nagar is a remarkable story of dedication and entrepreneurial spirit revealed through the historical escapades of an individual whose rise to success was premised upon a determined penchant for risk-taking ventures, overcoming insurmountable challenges, and appealing to the kindness and generosity of fellow Guyanese. The story of Prashad Nagar needs to be properly recorded for posterity, lest it becomes permanently buried in the historical archives or attached to our fading memories.
In our contemporary world, history literally comes to life when people attach their personal experiences to major occurrences in our country. Anyone reading this request who might be inclined to share their experiences, or, more importantly, anecdotal stories about Hari Prashad or Prashad Nagar, to make this a wholesome human-interest narrative can contact me at BRamharack@aol.com. Thank you kindly!
Sincerely,
Baytoram Ramharack