Earlier this year I was moved to comment (twice) on thoughts and issues of identity and belonging evoked by the poetry and other declarations by Ms Ryhaan Shah, Indian Pride activist.
Recall that I was both intrigued and impressed, slowly recognising and trying to understand her natural, spiritual connection to her people’s heritage and legacy of “Indianness.”
This lady of letters – An “Indira” from/of India, descended into this Caribbean – Guyana “distant shore” – often explores “the political correctness” which, allegedly, ensures that too many Indian-Guyanese abandon their heritage in favour of more home-grown Guyanese “nationalism”. I myself, most likely guilty of that change, after reading her soulfully-riveting poem “I did not begin anew,” wondered briefly whether I’m wrong, naïve, in denial or guilty with respect to not being more “Indian”. But no, I’ve decided. Nothing even to do with Dr Cheddi Jagan influencing Indians to be more “national” in the face of African aggression and domination of cultural and political space, but from an independence of mind not bound to Hinduism, Islam or Christianity or a sole cultural heritage. Ryhaan may be free to pity me.
