Greater Toronto

By Sharda Bhajan
The Vedic Cultural Centre hosted its Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation on September 24 at which two stalwarts in the community - Dr Vivian Srinivas Rambihar, internationally acclaimed cardiologist and Mr Danny Doobay, former Guyana's Consul General in Toronto - were honoured for their outstanding accomplishments and community service.
The event attracted over 300 attendees including MP Peter Kent, Minister Michael Chan, Sattie Sawh, Consul General of Guyana (Ag) and past VCC awards recipients, Dr Ganraj Kumar, Dr. Krishna Persaud, Dr Unus Hack, Dr Nar Daljeet, Vishnu Sookar, Dhaman Kissoon and Pandita Jasodra Prasad. Also present were Dr Budhendra Doobay and representatives of the Vishnu Mandir, Swami Bhajanananda and representatives of Pranav Mandir, members of the Association of Concerned Guyanese, Amar Erry and others from Arya Samaj Markham.
The live entertainment and sumptuous dinner balanced the evening's program with items reflecting vintage Eastern as well as Western values. The rendition of Frank Sinatra's unforgettable 'My Way' by Kevin Samaroo and Mohammad Rafi's famous 'Suhani Raat' by Satyanand Sarju added a special touch to the evening's proceedings. The cultural program featured beautiful instrumental music played by David Singh on the keyboard and mandolin accompanied by Jatinder Parkash on flute and Vijay Prasad on the tabla. Hemant Panwar lifted the program with two of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's popular upbeat songs, 'Tere Naina' and 'Tere Mast Mast'. Classical dance item by students of the Panwar Music and Dance Productions and songs by Dave Ramoutar and Virjanand Jaglall all added to make the program very special.
Dr Rambihar was introduced by his daughter, Dr Sherryn Rambihar while Roger Sawh introduced Mr Doobay.
Dr. Rambihar is well known in the South Asian Heart Health Research arena. He has over 25 years of cardiology practice in Toronto, combined with research and community health promotion. His work is unique in that he pioneered the linkage between ethnicity and heart disease and diabetes especially in South Asians, Native Peoples, Hispanics and people of African origin. His research findings indicate that immigrants are at an increased risk for health problems and there is a need for proactive efforts. He introduced the concept of 'chaos and complexity science' to medicine, peace, health and development for the first time ever recorded.
His book on this innovative subject is entitled 'Tsunami, Chaos and Global Heart'.
Dr Rambihar repeatedly advocates the use of social occasions for health promotions.
Mr Danny Doobay served as Consul General of Guyana to Canada from 1998 until 2010 before he stepped down to return to private life. He had carried jurisdictional responsibilities for the Greater Toronto Area, Western Ontario and Western Canada and represented Guyana at numerous meetings, forums and events including a Diaspora conference in Mexico in 2004. He actively participated in the Private Sector. He introduced the Guyana Awards Program to encourage Guyanese-Canadians to emulate the best practices in the areas of leadership, innovation, dedication to community and commitment to Guyanese Heritage.
Over his distinguished decade-long tenure, Consul General Doobay built the Toronto Consulate into one of Guyana's most vibrant foreign missions. He was instrumental in setting up the Guyana Festival, the Guyana Awards program, the Cross-Canada Celebrations and the Guyana-Canada Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Vivian Rambihar and Mr. Danny Doobay both validate the ninth Principle of the Arya Samaj, i.e., that one should not be content with one's own success and prosperity but that such individual prosperity should be considered in the prosperity of all.