Dear Editor,
The passing of Victor Ramraj is sad news for us all, I think, and I want to add to what Clem Seecharan and David Dabydeen (distant cousin) said about him, from my Canadian perspective. He was an active member of the Canadian Association of Commonwealth Studies, and his A Concert of Voices literary anthology (two editions) were impressive, which enhanced Victor’s reputation far beyond his University of Calgary’s professorship and stewardship. Also, his years of editing the journal Ariel added to his post-colonial literature cachet.
More importantly, for me, was Victor’s special relationship with the late Sam Selvon, who had also lived in Calgary (after leaving London); and whenever Victor and I met it was always first to talk about Selvon (I’d interacted with him many times). I think Victor had a unique insight into Selvon’s work and his Caribbeanness; and, indeed, Victor’s keen interest in the short story (besides in the writer Mordecai Richler), was also unique; I wasn’t surprised that he gave a talk in Guyana on the recent Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro (of Canada).
When I was on a panel at the University of Vienna focusing on Liminality and the Short Story a few weeks back, I also ruminated on Alice Munro, and vaguely thought about Ramraj’s insights as they might have come back to me. Yes, Victor had suggested I include Selvon’s story ‘Ralphie at the Races’ – one of Selvon’s final creative pieces – in my edition of Beyond Sangre Grande: Caribbean Writing Today.
I will also fondly reflect on my meetings with Victor in Cuba, the UK, Guyana, and Canada over the years. Rest in peace!
Yours faithfully,
Cyril Dabydeen
Canada
