Community News
Adit Kumar
Onkar Romeash Chandra Singh, popular community leader and an an icon within the musical fraternity in Toronto died of a massive heart attack on March 19, 2008 while vacationing in Guyana.
Lured by his passion for cricket and love of his country of origin, Onkar went to Guyana March 16 to watch the West Indies/Sri Lanka contest and spend Phagwah with his other relatives and friends and also to celebrate the 60th birthday of one of his brothers-in-law there. But as fate would have it he was called away to a higher abode before any of these events took place.
Onkar first experienced chest discomfort while he was in the company of family and friends at the Rama Krishna Mandir in Kitty participating in religious festivities in preparation for Phagwah. He died later the same night.
His death took all who knew him by surprise, the only consolation being that he departed in peace, the way he would have wanted to go and did not suffer on his way out.
Onkar was born on the 7th of September, 1948 to Radhay Janki and Jainaraine Singh of 65 Cross St. Alexander Villlage, Guyana. He was the 7th child in a family of 13 and had 6 brothers and 6 sisters.
He comes from a family steeped in the traditions of Hinduism, music and dance. His sisters Geeta Leo and Deviekha Chetram are exponents of Indian dance and have been operating the Tarana Dance School for several years. They have all become household names in Toronto as their students perform at many cultural shows in and around the city. His other sister Looma Dudhnath is also a talented singer and his brother Vikram who now lives in Barbados has been rated as one of Guyana’s best tabla players. His son Ravi, also an exponent of the tabla, conducts a music class teaching tabla to his students.
As someone who was gifted with natural musical talent Onkar developed himself into an all round artiste. He mastered the tabla, accordion, sitar and harmonium and can be described as a true musical ambassador from Guyana. In his musical pursuits he devoted a lot of time seeking out and associating with the best musical talents, in his earlier days the likes of late singer Gobin Ram, Mohan Nandu and Rukhmin Seetaram. He was largely self taught in music but learnt to play the Sitar under the guidance of the late Masi Lal Pollard and Gokul Bakshi of the Indian Cultural Centre in Guyana. While attending the Centre in the 1970s, he also studied classical vocal music under Professor Desh Pande before leaving Guyana in 1975. In Toronto Onkar continued his musical quest and studied with many accomplished musicians including Steven Oda, a disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Professor Adesh and Randev Pandit. He provided musical accompaniment to several prominent visiting artistes in Toronto including Gauri Guha, Birju Maharaj and Prakash Gossai. In 2006 his musical craving took him to Calcutta where he wanted to immerse himself in the company of the real masters. There he spent a lot of quality time with sitar virtuoso Partho Bose. According to family members Onkar described that experience as “being in 7th heaven.”
Since he settled in Toronto Onkar devoted a great deal of time imparting his spiritual and musical knowledge to his children and other students whom he taught. He was a strict disciplinarian who commanded great respect and admiration from his students. He demanded the highest standards of performance from his students and despite his strictness, he possessed a lively sense of humor. At the time of his death he was principal of the Vishnu Mandir School of Music. It is the hope of his family that Onkar's students continue the rich legacy that he has imparted to them.
He was also a true believer in the value of education and inspired the younger generation by his own academic achievements. Having graduated from the Guyana School of Agriculture he continued his academic training at Louisana State University where he completed a degree in Agriculture and Finance. His professional career was marked by his quick ascent within the Bank of Nova Scotia where he gained the respect of his peers and colleagues with his dynamic approach to issues of restructuring, finance and management.
In spite of his busy schedules he was a dedicated family man and, according to his close relatives, Onkar was more a soul mate than a husband to his loving wife Sita. His family said that they were so dependent on each other that he was her world and she was his. In his role as a father he nurtured and cared for his children and instilled in them the same values of respect, dignity, and humility by which he lived.
Onkar endeared himself to many hearts with his kindness, compassion and jovial nature. While he was the biological father of two, he became a father figure to all of his nieces and nephews who looked to him for guidance and support. He would be sadly missed by his brothers and sisters who see him as an irreplaceable part of their lives.
His wife Sita, children Ravi and Kirti and his extended family express their sincere thanks to all who supported them throughout this difficult time. They know that Onkar loved and was loved not only by his family but by the many friends he created through his infectious and endearing personality.
In keeping with Onkar's philosophy and his life's most abiding interest, the family dedicates this verse to his memory: “For those who are happy, music increases their happiness; for those who are sad, music banishes that sadness, for by listening to music the heart is carried away with joy. Let music be the messenger of good tidings”.
Shoma Laljie, the 23-year old Guyanese woman whom we reported in the last edition suffering from renal failure (malfunctioning of the kidney) will be leaving with her parents from Toronto on April 24 to receive medical attention in India. Shoma's father, Bhagwandeen, is offering one of his kidneys to save his daughter's life.
The family migrated to Canada in 2006 when Shoma, who was one of the would-be migrants, discovered at her medical examination that she had a kidney problem. As it turned out, she is now in the end stages of renal failure.
She is required to take dialysis treatment twice weekly which, in Guyana, is costing her G $36,000 per visit. The kidney operation in Canada would cost in the region of Can $135,000 whereas in India the same operation will be $35,000 US.
The family is appealing for monetary assistance from the community for they have hardly been able to establish themselves here as yet when thsi disaster struck. So far, with the appeal made in this newspaper, about $5,000 have been received by the family but much more is needed. Community members, business and social/charitable organizations are once again being asked to pitch in to help Shoma and her family through this ordeal.
Donations may be made at any TD Bank into account #652-8913, Branch 93. For more information, call Shoma's mother Rohinie at 905-230-6718.
By William Doyle-Marshall
Diane Finley, Minister of Immigration says her government’s tabled amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in the House of Commons aim to bring a little commonsense into the immigration system.
The minister met with members of the ethnic press during a recent visit to the city, in a series of round table discussion related to the amendments. Findley noted that lots of incorrect stories were circulating out there about the amendments. “No one except the minister and very senior department officials know what’s in legislation before they are tabled. So any criticisms that are made prior to it being tabled are premature and without any basis in fact whatsoever,” Finley announced.
She termed the amendments a really important issue and really good news. The federal government is trying to fix things within immigration systems in Canada so it can achieve its overall objective of getting more people here from offshore faster, the minister said.
The changes are bringing commonsense, good business and management practices to the immigration system Minister Finley told members of the media. The action is giving her the authority to set priorities that are in the country’s best interest, she explained.
“Right now by law we have to process every single application that comes through the door, through every step of the process to a decision, even if the applicant has made multiple applications. If the person has died we still have to process their application. If they decided to go to another country we have to process their application and there is nothing we can do about it under the existing law,” Finley emphasized. She contended that the proposed amendments are to change that and bring “a little commonsense” to it.
Finley said her government needs to get the visa application processing time down from three to six years to three to six months. She admitted the changes are not going to happen overnight but steps are being taken to implement certain administrative tools and changes to expedite the process and a lot more resources are being put into the changes. “The budget included $22 million over two years then $37 million a year after that for additional resources to tackle the backlog,” Finley disclosed.
She cautioned that pouring money at the problem isn’t enough. There are some really silly things in the legislation that need to be fixed so that the government can not only do more, but do better and smarter, she added.
The minister announced that visa restrictions have been lifted for some nationals of Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovakia. But unfortunately Caribbean nations are not so fortunate. She said with respect to the issuing of visitors’ visas, each country is looked at on a regular basis. There is a set of 14 different criteria including the country’s progress and standards on which they are reviewed.
Finley said the review includes everything from how reliable the country’s documentation is, not just passports but birth certificates as well even economic and political stability. Consideration is given to if visa requirement are lifted will Canada get flooded with 15,000 refugee claims over night. “We have very clearly established standards, thresholds that need to be met and we are happy to go over that with any country that’s looking to have the visa requirement lifted,” Finley continued
“We work with their governments and help them achieve the thresholds that we consider necessary,” Finley emphasized.
“Our system is based on country by country. It is not based on reciprocity. In the case of the seven that we’ve lifted in the last year they were all new members of the European Union and were subject to certain benefits from that but not reciprocity and this was a real challenge we had.
Being granted a visa into Canada is not a right, the minister emphasized, while advising the gathering that it’s a privilege. Procedures for controlling immigrant applications already exist and if the immigration officer who is doing the interview isn’t convinced that the individual is bona fide they don’t have to accept them, Finley said. The immigration officers are tasked with determining who is desirable, if they are telling the truth, if they are not, if they are admissible or not,” the minister explained.
Finley promised to report next summer on the outcome of a Canadian Experience Class programme that enables certain foreign students studying in Canada and foreign workers in Canada to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country.
By William Doyle-Marshall
Members of the National Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith in Canada assembled at City Hall Saturday to observe the 57th anniversary of freedom to worship without fear of persecution.
Kathy Radoo, consul at the Trinidad and Tobago Consulate General here acknowledged that members of the faith have through their rich traditions and practices made an indelible contribution to what is today the multicultural and religious paradise of Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking at Liberation Day celebration at the rotunda of City Hall, bringing greetings from warm, sunny Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, she told celebrants that the spiritual Baptist faith holds a very special place in the history, culture and traditions of her country.
Radoo disclosed that members of the faith have received due recognition and respect in the twin island republic. “It is heart warming to note that the same sense of community and togetherness Shouters have been able to engender in the West Indies have been transferred to the West Indian Diaspora in Toronto,” Radoo continued. She termed these attributes “hallmarks of our Caribbean society” and confessed, it is heart warming to see it transferred to this metropolitan city.
She praised Archbishop Deloris Seiveright, head of the Diocese, for her efforts in promoting the religion here. For this reason the consular official prays for the congregation to be able to continue their meaningful endeavours.
“Archbishop, the members of your faith have struggled over the centuries to freely practice the tenets of the Baptist faith. Your perseverance and resilience epitomize your faith worldwide and the members of your community have demonstrated a strength that is truly admirable,” Radoo added.
“There are many valuable lessons to be learnt from your rich history and your work in this community will surely ensure that your rich traditions and practices will pass from generation to generation and are etched into the annals of this metropolitan city,” she continued.
Bas Balkissoon MP for Scarborough Rouge River recalled when he first arrived in Canada there was a big effort at getting immigrants to integrate and become Canadians, give up what was theirs and adopt what the Canadians had at the time. He was pleased that the new Canadians have learnt how to assimilate into Canadian society but have not given up their religion, culture and heritage.
“We should all be very proud of Canada because Canada has accepted all of us with open arms,” Balkissoon said.
Pausing to congratulate the Right Reverend Jezreel Batson and his wife Mother Maricia Silveria-Batson for supporting and encouraging their daughter who performed a flawless dance during the celebration, Balkissoon called on the gathering to applaud them.
He was concerned that in society today too often the parents are not there for the children and too often the children get into trouble. However he was elated by the couple’s efforts at making sure that the young person retains their culture and religion and really be proud of their roots.
Balkissoon urged new Canadians to remember that because they are now in their new, adopted homeland, they need to reach out to other adults and remind them to be part of the lives of their young children.
As a regular participant of Shouters’ celebrations the MP, who was born in Trinidad, admitted that he always learn about his friends from Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean who belong to the movement. He congratulated Archbishop Seiveright for her work at keeping the community together and encouraging members not to give up their faith but rather to stick with it and pass it along to the young people.
“If you have that pillar in your life – faith – you will have respect and therefore you will make a contribution to our community and our country and that is so important today to a lot of our very young people,” Balkissoon continued.
Jim Karygiannis, MP for Scarborough Agincourt reminded celebrants that they live in times that are somewhat turbulent where people try to find spirits and they look upon government for leadership into the good and right times where they can find sanctuary. He warned however that government cannot provide sanctuary and enlightenment, as it cannot legislate morality. It is by turning to congregations like the Shouters, Karygiannis said, people find answers and peace within themselves and struggle to find out what’s good, irrespective of religious beliefs.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Dr. Ruby Dhalla, Premier Dalton McGuinty, Margarett Best and Mayor David Miller and Councillor Michael Thompson were among politicians who sent congratulatory messages.
By Adit Kumar
The Enmore Chowtal Group won the chowtal competition at a special program put up by the Indo Caribbean Golden Age Association (ICGAA) in collaboration with the Vishnu Mandir to celebrate Phagwah (Holi) on March 21, 2008. Over 300 youths, seniors and adults attended the program which was held at the Vishnu Mandir.
With the main event being the Chowtal Competition, the audience was treated to rhythmic drumming and singing in traditional style supported by the jhaal (cymbals), a percussion instrument of the early immigrant. Participants in the competition included Enmore group, Shiv Milan Mandir group, Golden Age group and Prakash Ramayan group.
The panel of judges which comprised Dr Krishna Persaud, Chetram Singh, Onkar Persaud, Yogi Bharrat and Satnoo Mahadeo awarded the Enmore group as winners but agreed that it was a difficult choice as all the participants performed exceptionally well.
Apart from the chowtal, another big hit on the program was a classical dance choreographed by Geeta Leo showing the ancestors in Indian attire depicting the Orissi dance style and including a Phagwah dance.
Current ICGAA president Leila Daljit who is also the Co-Founder of the organization continues to team up with other members of the organization to provide meaningful and entertaining activities for seniors in the Guyanese community. The success of this program has already prompted talk of making it an annual event.
Guyana Consul General Danny Doobay and MPP Bas Balkissoon were among the attendees.
The Toronto Arya Samaj (TAS) concluded its Phagwah festivities with its annual Phagwah concert last Saturday. The variety program included songs, dances and a humorous skit directed by Leila Tikaram and performed by the members of the Vedic Cultural Centre. The Sur Sangeet Orchestra provided musical entertainment and about 300 persons attended the show including Consul General Danny Doobay who delivered a short message. He congratulated the organization for hosting programs of this nature which allowed the youths to stay connected to their roots. The TAS also held its Phagwah Day program on March 21, which also included the singing of Chowtal. The TAS chowtal group included several youths who supported it with traditional singing and playing of the drums and percussions. At the end of the program members played Phagwah in traditional style with coloured powder evoking many nostalgic moments.
Pix by Ramesh Ramkalawan
A brilliant young classical singer, Sachin possesses a captivating and enthralling voice and with his easy command of the musical vocabulary he is a real treat to listen to.
The ease and composure with which he renders his songs leaves the listener with a haunting feeling...to listen more.
This is clearly in evidence when one listens to the renditions in Sachin's newly released CD - Samarpan.
Samarpan is a collection of six Bhajans dedicated to Lord Krishna. And if Bhajans are meant to aid in worship, then one needs to go no further as Samarpan places the listener at the very doorstep of the Lord and attunes his heart to the echoes of devotion.
Samarpan represents a classic offering of true outpourings of man's deepest emotions to reach out to his Benefactor. It's style is soothing, inspirational yet and quite unique.
The CD opens with an introduction by the Ghazal King Jagjit Singh - himself a rare treat to listen to when it comes to Bhajans. Then follows six devotionals that will echo in your ears throughout the day.
The CD launch took place at the Noel Ryan Auditorium in Mississauga on Friday 29th February, 2008. The chief guest of the evening, Indian Consul General, Mr. Satish C. Mehta cut the golden ribbon and removed the brilliant red cloth wrapped around the Launch Card to officially release the CD. He spoke very eloquently of the talent of the CD's author Sachin Sharma. Mr Mehta recognized the outstanding contribution, dedication, and leadership that Sachin is offering to the community through his compositions at such a young age. The Consul General pointed out that for Sachin to have the hands of esteemed musicians and singers like the king of Ghazals, Shri Jagjit Singh, on Sachin’s head is itself explanatory of the virtuosity of Sachin’s style of singing, compositions and art.
A student of the famous classical vocalist Shri Suresh Gopal Shrikhandey from Jaipur Gharana, Sachin is the winner of the India’s primetime singing competition “ZEE TV’s Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa” in 2003 as shown in the fascinating video presentation at the beginning of the launch.
Randy Norman, President of Swar Vihar Ltd., chaired the launch. When Sachin took over, he overwhelmed the audience with his captivating voice and style in some of his newly released songs as well as audience-requested ghazals.
Samarpan is available at HMV Canada www.hmv.ca , Amazon www.amazon.ca, Chapters, Swar Vihar Ltd. www.swarvihar.com.
Full length downloads now available on iTunes, MSN Match, Napster and Rhapsody. For more information call 647-283-5848 or visit www.swarvihar.com.