Dear Editor,
The alumni of Corentyne High School – JC Chandisingh Secondary School (CHS) of Port Mourant – recently celebrated the school’s 70th anniversary with a reunion at the posh catering venue of Antun’s located in Queens.
The gala affair was graced by the presence of a capacity crowd of 650. Attendees came from Europe, the UK, Guyana, Canada, the Caribbean and from all over the USA.
Special guests included Guyana’s Ambassador to the US, Bayney Karran. The keynote speaker was Jules Nathoo, a former teacher at CHS who was subsequently schooled in law. Former CHS teacher and principal Jagdat P Deonarine attended as a VIP guest. Also in attendance were famous cricketer Joseph Solomon, Prof Chaitram Singh who is a college dean in Georgia, Dr Mahendra Deonarine of Guyana, Mr and Mrs Austin of the UK and Jane Baichu, one of the oldest surviving alumni, and several well-known former teachers whose contributions are noteworthy.
The chairman of the 70th Anniversary and Reunion 2008 Planning Committee was Ashook Ramsaran of the class of 1964. The MC for the event was Rishi Singh, graduate class of 1971 and former teacher at CHS, along with co-MC Bibi Hydar, graduate of class of 1977.
The evening’s programme included a ‘Meet-Greet-Eat’ first 90 minutes. This was followed by the formal speaking programme, then entertainment and dancing. A live band headed by V-Men provided excellent music and songs from the ’60s to contemporary times. Vince Ramcharran of Vancouver, Canada, was the official photographer and videographer.
CHS alumni class of 1963 and former teacher Paul Erriah wore the trademark hat of pioneer educator JC Chandisingh MBE ringing the bell to signify the ‘start of classes’ with the statement, “Boys and girls, school is now started. Go to your classes.” CHS alumni Martin Lalsingh started the event with the national anthems of both the United States and Guyana, followed by a moment of silence for all those who had passed on.
Rishi Singh spoke of the remarkable and significant history of CHS, its alumni, former teachers and principals who all “in particular JC Chandisingh… [had] made such a tremendous contribution to education in the Corentyne area.” He lauded the significant achievements of former teachers and alumni in Guyana and those who had settled all over the world and had contributed to their various professions as a result of the formative education they received at CHS. “We are a family,” Singh said. He urged everyone to participate in enabling the organization to achieve its goals as well as to explore new and challenging ways to respond to the needs of their former school.
Chairman Ramsaran welcomed everyone to the event which he described as “this historic event in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of a unique institution that transformed the lives of so many since its founding in 1938.” He stated that JC Chandisingh, MBE and other pioneers helped change the landscape of education in Guyanese society. “Their unmatched dedication, enthusiasm and pioneering spirit are truly positive models for students of CHS and for that we are grateful.”
Ambassador Bayney Karran extended greetings to the alumni and supporters of the Corentyne High School on “this proud occasion of the 70th anniversary of your school and your reunion 2008.” He continued, “This gala and reunion is a fitting occasion to look back with pride and satisfaction over the last 70 years in acknowledgement of the foundation which your alma mater has laid for your academic accomplishments as well as your personal and social achievements.”
Class of 1971 Alumni Gem Madhoo, who travelled with husband Kit Nascimento from Guyana to attend the event, delivered the vote of thanks, and recognized all those whose contributions of time, effort, resources and good wishes had helped make the event a reality and a very successful one too.
A handsomely designed 75th anniversary event brochure was released and distributed at no charge that evening. The contents include citations from NYC Mayor Bloomberg and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, herself a Guyanese-American, as well as a message of congratulations from Ambassador Karran. It also included a history of CHS, several articles by alumni and teachers, greetings and a pictorial gallery.
The celebrations continued the following day with a picnic at the Valley Stream State Park in Long Island where hundreds gathered with children, friends and associates. The title of the day was aptly named ‘Day After Reunion’ and given the acronym ‘DARU.’ Martin Lalsingh coordinated DARU and commented afterwards that “everyone had a great time.”
The alumni expressed appreciation to the organizers for their hard work in planning, coordinating and holding the event. One of them who travelled from Canada to attend the events said they were, “Superb, and I wouldn’t have missed this for the world and I am so glad to be here.”
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
Alumnus of CHS
Mr Vishnu Bisram and his glittering band of ‘celebrities’ should hang their collective heads in shame.
My wife visited Corentyne High School three weeks ago and brought back to the UK photos of that once-august institution. The photos clearly show the school to be in a disgracefully dilapidated state.
In his 800 word press release, Mr Bisram did in fact magnanimously manage to sneak in 15 words about trying to assist their old school. Namely that in future, the posh attendees at Antun’s, Queens, New York should seek ..
‘to explore new and challenging ways to respond to the needs of their former school.’
Nothing definite, you understand. Just an exploration of how the ‘great and the good’ MIGHT respond to the needs the school at some time in the future.
I am sure in this regard their alma mater would mark her former students.. COULD DO BETTER.
The only thing that we know for certain about Vishie Bhai is that he is an ole bhai of JC. Everthing else is allegation. DARU sounds like DAROO – RUM (til I die). Them sporting and drinking them tail in NY. Why them don’t send some money to repair the school. Satish above is right, the school is in a disgracefully dilapidated state. Example, one zinc sheet blow out since Noah time and up to now the “relevant atarity” (Region 6, Ministry or Gov’t?) can’t fix it. The tailet downstairs not working since Noah time. Them give it one cosmetic sprucing up for Kangress in 2002 and since then all the cosmetic wash off. Is a miracle that the school still producing fairly aright students. But it can do far better. Them sporting and drinking them tail in NY. Send some help for you ole school!
Regrettably, the article which purports to summarize the events of the 70th Reunion, makes no mention of the contents of the keynote address. The address was an appeal to the graduates to revere the memory of all those who have contributed to their success, to be grateful for that success and to show compassion to all those still struggling for theirs. The speaker reminded them of his visit to JCC Secondary School earlier this year when he assured the students of the alumni’s continuing love and concern for them and of their desire to restore the school to its former glory.
There were some on the periphery who were not listening to the address. I hope the writer was not one of them.
For the record, the Keynote Address at CHS 70th Anniversary was omitted from the report by Vishnu Bisram.
The keynote speaker was Julius Nathoo ,introduced by Beauty(Rawana)Ramotar on behalf of Hardutt Chandisingh,the only surviving son of J.C.Chandisingh.
Keynote Address
(Unabridged Version)
Delivered by Julius B. Nathoo
To the CHS-JCCSS Seventieth Anniversary Reunion
Queen’s Village, NY
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Master of Ceremonies, Your Excellency Ambassador Karran, distinguished graduates of CHS/JCCSS, Principal Deonarine and Ms Deonarine, members of the staff, past and present, my brothers and sisters of America, ladies and gentlemen, including my daughter Barbara and my grandson, Alexander.
My friend, Hardutt, remembers a young man of twenty with a twinkle in his eye. What a wonderful way to remember a friend! God bless Hardutt.
The 9th of August, the 70th anniversary of your alma mater is come. Even as I announce that to you, I am aware that my great namesake, Juliius Caesar, made a similar statement on the 15th of March more than two thousand years ago. On the morning of that fateful day, on his way to the Roman forum he encountered the soothsayer who had warned him to beware the Ides of March. He said to the soothsayer, “The Ides of March are come!” leading the soothsayer to reply, “Aye Caesar but not gone.”
The 9th of August, 2008, like the Ides of March 44 years BCE will never be gone. The 9th of August will be remembered, however, not for treachery and tragedy but for loyalty, brotherhood and camaraderie and great happiness. Celebrations will go on late into tonight, they will be continued in the park tomorrow, and the events of tonight will be immortalzed forever on the website which Rishi Singh so ingeniously created and has so assiduously and meticulously maintained.
By a marvellous coincidence tonight I celebrate my 70th birthday too. And because it is my birthday, I toyed with the idea of doing a Mohamed Ali especially since I have been allotted only ten minutes for the keynote address.
You will probablly recall that after Bill Clinton won the Presidency of this great country for the second time, he held a huge celebratory party. The event was carried on national television. Mohamed Ali was invited to make a speech. Trembling and shaking all the way to the podium Mohamed Ali made a speech which I think will go down in the annals of American history as one of the most remarkable speeches ever made. The speech consisted of only one sentence. Mohamed Ali said: I want to thank all of you for holding this function in my honour!
By another marvellous coincidence, Rishi Singh, the administator of your website, once put on the site a space filler. It was in Latin: a passage from the great epic poem, the Aeneid, written by Publius Virgilius Maro.The poem recounts the adventures of a man called Aeneas who eventually founded the city of Troy. “Fato profugus,” the poet wrote, “Laviniaque venit littora.” (Exiled by fate, he eventually came to the shores of Lavinia). The poet could have written similarly about J.C. Chandisingh, the great educator, who left his own native Trinidad and arrived in Guyana to later become the principal of Corentyne High School , and for all intents and purposes, the founder of that great school. As a matter of fact, the poet could have written thus about your ancestors who were transplanted from their native land and brought to British Guiana as slaves and indentured servants. Indeed, the immigrant gene being dominant in CHS grads, the poet could have written similarly about you who left your native Guyana to seek your fortunes in foreign lands. Had the poet so written he would have said: “Fato profugi, Americaque veniunt littora.” But he would have had to add “Canadaque, Brittaniaque, Europaque, Africaque, Asiaque – all the world que- for the students of Corentyne High occupy leadership positions all over the globe..
Had Virgil done so, he would have been linguistically and geographically correct. He would even have been historically correct but he would have made a profound philosophical error which I hope to identify before my ten minutes is up.
In the good old days we were enthralled by the mellifluous voice of Jim Reeves who sang: there’s a gold mine in the sky far away/ we will find it you and I some sweet day.
Your presence here tonight indicates to me that you have found your gold mine. The value of your gold mine is not measured by the quantity of its ore but rather by its quality. Your gold mine lies not in the bowels of the earth but in the deepest recesses of your heart, beneath your heart throb. Its constituent elements are gratitude and love and compassion. It is these emotions that bring you here tonight to revere the memory of all those who have contributed to the discovery of your gold mine especially those who have died. As Abraham Lincoln said at Gettysberg,”it is altogether fitting and proper that we should honour those who gave the last full measure of devotion.” First your selfless parents whose fervent prayers rose daily into the cosmos on your behalf, J.C. Chandisingh, the great educator whose vision enabled your vovage of discovery, your hardworking and dedicated teachers, all those who accompanied you on your journey either physically or in their thoughts, prayers and good wishes. And especially those who you thought wronged you. Bless them for they were placed in your path to enable your evolution into compassion.
To enable your reverence and gratitude, I ask you now to enter into my literary imagination. Let us consecrate this beautiful hall into a shrine and in this shrine let us honour the man who made all this possible, Joseph Chamberlain Chandisngh. I knew J.C. He was my boss as well as my friend. I never knew the weight of the cross he bore until I became principal of my own school. Then I understood the loneliness of command. I understood the awesome challenges of running a secondary school in an essential rural community. I had a lot of compassion for my old boss then. I finally understood why he always seemed so melancholy even when he were having a drink of scotch.
Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to stand as we honour the memory of J.C. Chandisingh, whose prophetic vision delivered all of us from the wilderness of ignorance and sent us to the promised land.
Great educator, beloved friend, we bow our heads to you
Divine teacher, gift of God, we bow to you again.
I ask you now to do me another favour. Using your literary imagination see all your contemporaries gathered here tonight with the eyes of youth. As Hardutt Chandisingh remembers me. Try to remember the time when you had great dreams about the future, when you saw the wonder in a fairy tale, when in the eloquent words of Ronan Blaize, “rainbows straddled all with ribbons of harmony.”
I sometimes play this game with my wife, Celina. I have to confess that the first time I tried it, it did not work. Let me explain. I retired from teaching in 1994. After my retirement, I decided to let my hair down- literally. I decided to grow my hair and cultivate a beard. My beard was looking good- and feeling good- when Celina said to me before leaving for school one morning. (Celina was a school teacher). “Benjie,” she said, “why don’t get a trim and why don’t you shave that hair from your face and look like people?”
I said to her, “Celina, try to see me like the time when you first fell in love with me.”
Her reply was eloquent. She said, “me na able rememba so lang back. Me bin young and stupid.” Mama mia! In fact if I remember correctly, I said,” O me mama.”
Tonight I ask you to remember that wonderful stupidity; only this time we will remember with compassion, not with eros but with agape, not with amor but with caritas, not with mohobat but with daya. Age and the acquisiition of wisdom allow this. Youth have difficulty with compassion. Youth is a wonderful thing ; it is a pity it is lost on the young.
With your permission I would like to bring my wife Celina on the stage.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present Celina Rawana Nathoo of the graduating class of 1960.
Just over 23 years ago, I died in a motor vehicle accident. I would like to tell you about that accident but unfortunately my time has run out. Suffice it to say that by Divine Grace I was brought back to life and here I am delivering the keynote address at your grand Reunion, thanks to Beauty Rawana Ramotar and Hardutt Chandisingh and the organizing committee who insisted that I deliver this address. What greater honour can a man ask?
I am having tonight the Wordsworthian experience. Here is what Wordsworth writes:
“And I have felt a presence that disturbs me with the joy of elevated thoughts
A sense sublime of something far more deeply interfused
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns
And the round ocean and the living air
And in the blue sky and in the mind of man
A motion and a spirit that impels all things
All objects of all thought and rolls through all things.”
Allow me to personalize a little.
“therefore am I still
A lover of the meadows and the woods
And rivers of Guyana, of Baboojohn and crech
Of Port Mourant and Rosehall and of all that we behold
From this green earth; of all the mighty world
Of eye and ear, well pleased to recognize
In my childhood memories in my beloved Port Mourant
The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse
The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul
Of all my moral being.
I know that you are all involved in a great enterprise that has the blessing of Divine Providence. When I spoke to the students of JCCSS earlier this year, assuring them of your continuing love and concern, I concluded with a stanza from Rabindranath Tagore. It is taken from his famous “Gitanjali” the poem with which he dazzled the literary world in 1913. The poem refutes the philosophy of Virgil: we are not victims of fate or puppets of a fickle divinity. We are children of a loving and benevolent Divinity whose dominant emotion is compassion. Here is Rabindranath Tagore:
“Thou hast made me endless, such is Thy pleasure
This little flute of a reed Thou hast carried over hills and dales
And breathed into it melodies eternally new.
When Thou commandest me to sing
My heart loses its limits in Joy
And gives birth to utterance ineffable
Ages pass and still Thou pourest
And still there is room to fill”.
God bless you all. Peace to you. Joy to you. Go in love and unity, my children.
no Julius
the writer is once again using this forum as an opportunity to brag about where he’s been and about the supposed elites he was “rubbing shoulders” with.
Poor Poor Vishnu. So sad!
Oh! Maybe Vishnu can stay home one week and donate some of those dollars to CHS!