Posted by: randallbutisingh on: October 7, 2009
“My Story” – by Randall Butisingh.
(Reminiscences during my life beginning 1914)
My aim in writing this book is to leave a first hand account of my experiences of events which occurred from eighteen months after I was born to the year 1972 when I retired as a teacher after serving for more than forty years.
This is a legacy I would like to leave to posterity, as I am sure many would be interested to know how they came to be living in this land and the life and work of their forefathers..
I call this work Reminiscences because I want to include more than my own life. I want to include events which would give a broader picture of a people who emerged from semi-slavery and, with other people, helped to build this nation which was once the Pride of the Caribbean, the Bread basket of the West Indies and a Haven for foreigners who enjoyed its equable and salubrious climate, and its freedom from natural disasters..
British Guiana as it was known for a long time, since the days of slavery, was called the Magnificent Province,. Georgetown, its Capital was known as the Garden City, But time and changes have left their baneful effects – Ethnic rivalry, brain drain, corruption and economic failure.
I trust this book will help, in whatever little way, to see ourselves as one people, whose survival depends on unity, not division, on cooperation not competition, on peace not war.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
INTRODUCTION
As we approach the second anniversary of our Weblog this month: (October 21, 2009), I think that it is an opportune time to release my book promised some time ago.
I wrote the chapters of this book over the years, and revised it a bit over the last couple of years. It is titled “My Story”, and it contains the reminiscences of my life beginning in 1913. I have tried to write it in a chronological order as my life has spanned over nine decades, however this was not always possible. I may have repeated myself in some places, but this was done mostly for clarity as this book could be read as separate chapters and still makes sense to the reader.
To date, I have written 30 chapters and I will post the chapters as they are finally edited. As an online book I will be able to make changes and corrections if some information is incomplete or found to be incorrect. .. So this is still a work in progress!
Your input as readers is therefore important to me…. so please comment!
My thanks to Mr. Cyril Bryan who has helped me over the last two years with technical matters relating to the suggestion and the establishment of this Weblog, and for the editing of this document.
Today, October 07 2009, I started the posting with this Introduction and the first three chapters. The rest of the 30 chapters will follow shortly. Please look above, or on the sidebar, for the links to the various chapters.
I look forward to your comments, and please pass my weblog link to others who may be interested in my writings.
Thank you all!
Randall Butisingh
October 7, 2009.
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: November 8, 2009
Xmas Festivities at Buxton -1948
Vivid Recollections of the Xmas Festivities at Buxton –
By “BUXTONIAN” – December 30, 1948
PEACE and quietness can truly be said to have reigned all through the festive season so far as Buxton was concerned but there was not an absence of jollity, mirth and pleasure among the populace, but whenever manifestation they made of them was very much tempered and modified. A walk around on Christmas day revealed that there was not made that kind of elaborate preparation which was a marked feature of old time Christmases. In times gone by there was always something to greet the eye, for even the humblest cottager did not neglect to show by his drapery over her cottage door and new or fancy blinds on the windows, if balloons could not have been procured to give taste to the kind of decoration made, that it was Christmas – a season that must be given a kind of special welcome.
NO DRUM BEATING
There was no drum beating, nor was there any street singing of wild songs with the usual accompanying gesticulations to disturb the stillness which prevailed throughout the day. It was Christmas Eve night that merriment made itself felt. As soon as the evening shades appeared the singing of Christmas Carols by various groups of young men and young women began; and they continued all through the night. This particular feature was unprecedented and the zest and excellence with which it was all done were commendable.
CHOIR IN GOOD FORM
The Catholics as has been the age long custom had their Midnight Mass and the little church of St. Anthony was as usual, brilliantly illuminated. There was the accustomed procession to the manger, but there was no profusion of gifts. The invitation to visit the Crib was given in the usual way by the singing of “Come! Come! Come to the Manger, children! Come to the children’s king”, which the choir beautifully rendered. The midnight Mass was followed by two others masses at daybreak. The Anglican, the Methodist, the Congregationalist, the Church of God, each had its own service after daybreak to celebrate the Christmas, and each congregation joined heartily in the singing of some of the hymns specially written to tell of the birth of the Saviour of Mankind.
CHRISTMAS SUNDAY
On this day which in former years was always the grayest of the season when the young folks of both sexes endeavour to vie one with the other in their Christmas Sunday Garb, there was, not in evidence much to attract attention of the observer.
There was much sobering down of any display in apparel as there was in public festivities. the usual crop of christenings followed by “Candles” was there and there were several unions of hearts and hands of young man and maidens; and one clergy man was heard to remark at marriage feast that he had his hands full and was kept busy nearly all day long baptizing, preaching giving communion, and marrying; and it was his good fortune not to be called upon to do any burying.
SACRED CONCERT
At Arundel Church a sacred Concert was staged in the afternoon, but the many attractions in other directions robbed it of the attendance it deserved. The items on the programme were all splendidly rendered and told of the energy and time that must have been expended in its preparation.
ON WITH THE DANCE
MONDAY was officially observed as Boxing Day and the sport-loving and holiday-merrymaking homesters and friends and acquaintances from abroad had a day all to themselves to indulge in their particular tastes and fancies at the picnics and dances that were promoted. These were held at the Tipperary Hall, the Congregational Schoolroom, and the ideal Recreation Club Bungalow. During the day as well as the night there was a jam session and patrons just let themselves go in the latest in jiving. Oh! how their hearts were light; how they danced and jived, though moon and stars were not shining bright, the while the bells of the orchestra went tinkle-ting.
Source: Covering the Country Districts – the Daily Chronicle – Thursday, December 30, 1948: Page 6.
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: November 1, 2009
Gems from Madhuban
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: October 28, 2009
IS IT ME?
We have this old saying: “time changes”.
To me, time is an abstract, … a constant that measures history in its passage, which helps man to put events, ideas, mundane activities, etc., in a sort of orderly fashion: it enables us to associate happenings with perspective, era, or place. Man has developed by evolution, over millions of years and to us time is timeless and without end into eternity.
We humans always seem to be on the defensive and make-believe that “time changes.” Or maybe we mean “times change”. Well, I keep wondering if it is me who has failed to change or conform to today’s norms, or, since “time changes” I am now held accountable for my failure to adjust accordingly to the “new times”. To me, the norms I grew up with were better but now I live in a world where rudeness and disorder is the norm.
For instance, when growing up, I had to go by the adage “silence is golden,” or be ostracized. In any public place – a post-office, bank, doctor’s office, lobbies, etc, it was expected and in some cases demanded to be polite, and speak softly when called upon to do so. Today, rudeness is in fashion, and almost everyone: young, old, male, female: all seem to act as if they were born with cell phones stuck in their ears, incessantly babbling, and inconsiderate of others.
I remember when reading was required and was the order of the day. Now I see signs in post offices asking that customers refrain from using cell phones, and guess what? One can hear their loud cell phone conversations from one end of the building to the other, paying no attention to the posted signs. Sometimes I try to read in doctors’ offices and other waiting rooms, but this is difficult when bombarded by loudmouthed individuals.
As a kid, when I ran out of books I read labels on packages and cans, advertisements and anything legible. My classmates and I played games in school finding cities of distant countries listed in the atlas, and looking up strange words in the Oxford Dictionary. Nowadays, in contrast, I see parents assisting children in video and cyberspace, games in offices and waiting rooms. No more reading of books or in pursuit of good literature. At home the children live on Facebook, the Internet, cell phones, or again in cyberspace.
No wonder President Obama wants to bring U.S students up to par with the more educationally advanced students of other countries. Good luck Sir! American youngsters can tell much about baseball and football stars, American idol, Yankee pitchers, Deco Drive and Dancing with the Stars. Ask them about Socrates or Plato, Shakespeare or Dickens, Longfellow or Samuel Clemens and they will ask: “what planet are you from”?
For instance, a High School senior could not add 50+15+35 cents for purchases that he made. He threw out a couple of dollars in coins and asked the cashier if it were enough for his items; other senior students could not locate the capital of England on a map. A college student asked his professor for permission to use “The Godfather” to do a book report. I could not make any of this up. The ignorance of the typical so-called “educated” American is amazing.
I had to say please and thank you and still do. My playtime was real sports or physical games, not shooting men or fighting wars in video games. We had to be accountable to our guardians for our whereabouts at all times, and smoking and drinking for pre-teens and teenagers were taboo, until age eighteen or better. Somewhere along the way society lost control, good manners and etiquette were out the back door. Parents or guardians are solely responsible, NOT TEACHERS.
When children beget children, and BBC boasts about the world’s youngest father, age twelve, in England, with a fifteen year old girl being the mother, and feature men with their underwear hanging out almost fully, it’s time to say “beam me up Scotty.” Society is so hypocritical that they address the underwear issue as “droopy pants.” It is a disgusting, shameless, and quite unhygienic problem. Quit the “droopy pants” nonsense, and describe it for what it is: indecency verging on lewdness. We use deceitful words in order to avoid confrontation, so the rot continues.
Motorists, trying to make right turns, cut me off on the road, I look around, and there is not a single vehicle behind me for about a quarter of a mile. I believe the same ones, instead of stopping short of the pedestrian crossing line, go right over, leaving no safe path for pedestrians. They see red lights and mistake them for green, and some tailgate so badly it seems as if they are sitting on your back seat. All right, all right, it’s just me bellyaching. I know it is my entire fault for not following the new norms, and sidestepping mores, “it is me!”
In his classic, “The Stranger” (L’ Etranger,) Albert Camus states that society deems any man a criminal, who does not cry at his mother’s funeral. Yes, it’s me. And I did not cry at my mother’s funeral: …… I was too young.
- Patanjali Ramlall – Guest Contributor
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: October 26, 2009
I’ve traveled this world far and wide
Seeking something I thought I could find
Loneliness, solitary companion by my side
I had hopes for answers to things on my mind
O’er the mountains and through deep valleys
Beneath sparkling fountains and in dark alleys
My weary feet have had to toil
As I traversed this earth’s soil
Searching for a reason to live, a hope for tomorrow
A world without sorrow
But more I traveled more I marveled
At a world full of cruelty
At man’s inhumanity
As I look around me
All I can see
Are men yearning to be free
More questions than answers
Violence and pollution
Problems beyond solution
A world full of sin
The world I’m living in
Yet will I trudge on
From dawn till sunset
From sunset till morn
Till I find what I seek
A reason to live
Comfort for the meek
Someone to forgive
“Fore my life comes to an end
There’s something I must find
So I can tell you, my friend
Answers to things on my mind
In a world of futility
A world full of cruelty
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: October 26, 2009
Sickness and disease are caused, not only by what we eat or how we eat, or by lack of exercise and adequate rest, though these contribute a great deal, but also to the negative emotions like hate, anger, malice jealousy, bitterness and the like.
There is an Indian saying which goes: “HASAD KEE AAG BADAN KO JALAATAA HAI JAISE AAG LAKREE KA”. This translates to mean: “The fire of malice consumes the body in the same way as fire consumes wood”. That may seem an exaggeration, but negative emotions do not only harm you physically, but they warp the wind and corrupt the morals. Hate too, corrodes the vessel that contains it and also disfigures the object on which it is poured.
Nothing is better medicine than cheerfulness, laughter, thankfulness, content, loving service and prayer from the heart. Carrying guilt too, is harmful; we can never undo what is done already. Confess, repent and ask forgiveness and move forward with a clear conscience; for though you may carry the scar of your past, the wound is healed. God, who is of the present, will know you as you are, and not what you were. It is fallible man who digs into your past to condemn you for what you are not.
Temperance too, is good medicine. So get wise, get in good company without which you can never acquire discrimination, and think loftily at all times. It was Sir Philip Sydney, that compassionate soul who said: “He is never alone who is accompanied with noble thoughts”.
To sumarise: Health is Simple living and Lofty thinking.
- Randall Butisingh.
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: October 16, 2009
Tomrrow, Saturday 14, Hindus all over the world will be celebrating DIWALI, one of the greatest two festivals of Hinduism. For the information of viewers who may not know of Diwali or the significance of it, Here is what Pandit Rabindranath Tiwari, one of my Hindi pupils say about it.
Deepavali, popularly known as Diwali is the Hindu Festival of Lights. The word Deepawali means means “a row of lights”. It falls on the last day of the last half of the month of Kartika (October – November). On this very auspicious day, the Supreme Reality Brahman is worshipped as Goddess Lakshmi, the giver of wealth and beauty.
Hindus pray for the grace of Lakshmi to be conferred by them and the entire world in full measure. The blessings of the Goddess are not only in the form of real estate or money, but also good health and other things that make for a happy life. Lakshmi has many facets: Dhana Lakshmi, symbolising wealth in the form of money, real estate etc .; Jaya Lakshmi symbolising success in one’s chosen path; Vara Lakshmi, the gaining of a good life partner; Arogya Lakshmi, good health; Santaan Lakshmi, good and healthy offsprings.
Another name for Lakshmi is Shree, which means beauty. The seeker of Atma Gyan, knowledge of self, prays to the Goddess for inner beauty, which is composure of the mind. With knowledge of the self, one becomes liberated from the bondage of birth and death. While worshippinfg Lakshmi on Diwali day, the main focus should be to have a rich and bright mind, a mind filled with the Divine treasures. Such a mind brings eternal happiness.
At twilight on Diwali day, diyas or earthen oil-lamps are lit in the homes of Hindus. The Diyas have a special spiritual significance. The ghee or oil in the diya symbolises our vaasanas or negative tendencies, and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get exhausted and the ego also perishes. The flame of the diya always burns upwards. Similarly, we should acquire such knowledge as will take us towards higher ideals. A single diya can light hundreds more just as one enlightened person can give knowledge to many more. The brilliance of the diya does not diminish despite its repeated use to light many more diyas. So, too, knowledge does not lessen when shared with or imparted to others. Thus while lighting diyas on Diwali evening, we should entertain these thoughts.
May Lakshmi Devi bless all with good health, enough wealth to live a comfortable life, and happiness.
Below is a short poem I wrote on DIVALI.
Gone the darkness of Amawas,
Rent the clouds of gloom asunder;
Now Rama to Ayodhya hying,
For Lakshmi’s favour worshippers vying;
See the rows of lighted diyas,
Brightly burning, chasing the dark,
And the festoons hanging gaily
In the temple’s incensed hall;
O eternal light, effulgent,
Shine upon us from above;
Light our soul and cleanse our heart
And bring us Peace and Joy.
Amawas is the darkest night of the year when legend has it that demons and evil spirits roam the earth. Deepavali lightens the corners where they may lurk and so chases them away.
Randall Butisingh.
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: October 10, 2009
According to Hinduism, there are four ages: the Golden age, the Silver Age, The Bronze Age and the Iron or Dark age. Each Age lasts for a number of years; then there is dissolution which last for a thousand years when re-creation occurs and the cycle continues.
We are now living in the Dark Age which gets worse and worse as it advances to the end. From all appearances we are hastening towards the end, the darkest night of the Age where a good deed which was taken for granted in the Golden Age, now shines brightly, as the brightest star in the darkest night, and where penance was necessary for redemption in the Golden Age, it is easier now through repentance and grace.
This is an age when religion instead of uniting, as the word connotes, is the chief cause of division and conflict. An Age when man cannot see that his own welfare is linked with the welfare of his fellow man. This causes him to fight to possess rather than to share.
So, as we advance towards the end, there will be more and more conflicts; more natural disasters because of man’s destruction of the environment caused by his acquisitiveness and cupidity.
In the wake of all that is happening in the world today, optimism is an empty word. Hope and prayer are needed by the small minority that is not caught up in the rush for the things that perish.
