Dear Editor,
The letter of June 25 by Pandit Balbadar and the one of June 27 by Mr Jadunath in the Chronicle raise valid concerns about the need for adequate training of pandits in Guyana and should be heeded by the relevant organizations. However, there is a need to go beyond the training of pandits in order to deal not only with religious issues but also the social ills, such as alcoholism, domestic abuse, etc. For this reason, I wish to draw attention to a project headed by Guyanese-born, Toronto lawyer and tireless social worker, Ram Sahadeo. He is working with Mr Manieram Deonarain, formerly of Rampoor Settlement, Berbice, who now lives in Toronto, to put a copy each of the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana in every home in Guyana. I believe that not only should Mr Sahadeo and his group be commended for their efforts, but everyone who is in a position to support this project should get involved.
Due to lack of knowledge, the majority of Hindus see Hinduism mainly as rituals, satsanghs and festivals. Without an awareness of the rich philosophy, teachings, values, ethics, etc, of Hinduism, and with the constant bombardment in the media of negative steoreotypes, it is not surprising that many young people of Hindu ancestry do not show an enthusiasm for their religion. Personally, I could relate to the apathy of such young people. Although I was raised in a devout Hindu family in Guyana and attended mandirs regularly as a child, as I grew older, I had difficulty accepting some of the stories and practices. In recent years, as I delved more and more into the history, philosophy, teachings, etc, of the major religions, I started to discover the greatness of Hinduism and its relevance to daily life. I also realized that Hinduism is not inconsistent with modern science and, in fact, a number of leading scientists such as Albert Einstein and others in the west have written in praise of Hinduism.
In my view, the Ramayana and the Gita should be essential reading, especially for Hindus. The Ramayana, through the roles of the main characters, demonstrates ideal values for living a virtuous life. On the other hand, the Gita provides the philosophy and guidance for dealing with the daily realities of life and conflict. In fact, it is well documented how the father of the atomic bomb, J Robert Oppenheimer, found solace in the verses of the Gita as he headed the bomb project in the 1940s. As a pacifist he was conflicted about his role to develop the bomb, knowing the destructive powers that would be unleashed. At the same time, he had a duty to help end the war. The Gita was his guide and it is reported that after he saw the explosion from the bomb test, it was a verse from the Gita that came to his mind.
Recently, Manieram Deonarain made a first shipment of 6000 copies of the Gita to Guyana. Within a few weeks he will be arriving to visit various villages throughout the country to establish centres for distributing the books. Those interested in helping with the project can contact Pandit Aissac in Guyana. His telephone number is 592-656-4407. Becoming involved in this project is an excellent way to play a part in spreading the teachings of Hinduism.
I believe that the initiators of this project are meeting an important need in the Hindu community. Unlike the situation with other religions, the key books of Hinduism are not easily available in English translation. When they are, the price tends to be high and this is a disincentive to purchase. This project makes the two key books of Hinduism, the Gita and the Ramayana, easily available in English. These editions of the books are ideal as inexpensive gifts for distribution at religious functions and other occasions. If Hindus become more knowledgeable of their religion, the pandits will be forced to upgrade themselves or become irrelevant.
Yours faithfully,
Harry Hergash
