
Randall Butisingh - 2009
“Now the worlds’ oldest BLOGGER at 96 years”
Randall Butisingh was born in British Guiana (now Guyana), on December 1, 1912. He grew up in Buxton, East Coast Demerara, where he received his primary education. In 1925, he qualified and was the first runner-up for the first Buxton Scholarship. In 1927, he passed the School Leaving Examination and became a Pupil Teacher at the age of 15. This was the start of a 45 year-long career, with a few short breaks, in which he served as a Class II Certified and Trained Teacher until his retirement in January,1972. During his career, he taught mainly in Buxton, with short assignments in Lusignan, Nonpariel, Ann’s Grove and Mon Repos. According to him his best teaching experience was with head teacher Frank H.V. Russell who was supportive of his suggestions to put more importance in activities such as arts and crafts, gardening, and physical education as the majority of the children only attended primary school. He was able to organize exhibitions in these areas at school fairs and the annual May festivals.
Around 1930, he became a member of the Buxton Literary Institute where he read papers, participated in discussions and debates, and served as a delegate to the Plaisance Literary Institute.
In 1940, he was appointed Lay Reader of St. Augustine’s Church by Canon William Granville Burgan, where he served for 18 years performing such functions as reading the lessons, preaching at evensong, burying the dead and holding cottage meetings. He was also treasurer for the Church.

"Teacher Randall" in 1962
In 1958, he was appointed Senior Assistant of the Lusignan Government School, under Head Master George Bryan, where later, he became the acting Head-Teacher during the 1962 disturbances. At Lusignan, he served as Chairman for the Adult Education and Study Groups, Chairman of the Community Centre and part time Welfare Officer, during which time youths from Buxton met for sports and rallies at the Community Centre. At Lusignan School, he regularly organized fairs, concerts and parent-teacher meetings. Also working with the staff, he helped to write a textbook for the middle division, and to do a school magazine.
His literary accomplishments include:
* Three books of poems entitled Loves Light, Wild Flowers and Loves Balm which was his whole collection.
* A book of Thoughts entitled “Flashes of Light”
* A series of articles and letters to the press dealing with topics on education, morality and other issues.
* A paper on “Hindi in Multicultural Guyana.”
* A thesis on ‘The role of the School in the Estate Community.”\
* A translation of a biography of Mahatma Gandhi – from Hindi to English.
* An article in Hindi, jointly written with J.S. Roopchand and published in “Gagan Anchal” a prestigious Indian magazine.
A Paper on “Annandale Today”.
He was awarded a Poet of Merit Certificate by the American Poetry Association.IN 1976, He became a member of the Guyana Hindi Prachar Sabha, an organisation which sought to propagate Hindi in Guyana. He was the organization’s Hindi correspondent and editor of its Journal, “GYANDA.”
Now in the evening of his years, his thirst for knowledge and service has not diminished. Among the areas of his interest are; Comparative Religion, Eastern Philosophy, the Computer, and teaching Hindi. In his late 70’s he learnt to read the Arabic script and is able to read from th Holy Quran. He can also recite a few of the Suras from memory. He can also read Urdu, a sister language of Hindi, written in the Persian script to a fair extent. At age 89, he began learning to play the Recorder and according to him has acquired some degree of proficiency. He also practices on the keyboard. In this, his 96th year, he is studying Spanish and art.
Currently, he is working on documenting his life story ‘My Story’ which hopefully, will be of historic interest when completed, as it dates back to 1914, the beginning of World War I. This book will be published on-line on this Blog shortly. His book is almost complete, as some 26 chapters are now ready for publication.
He will be 97 on December 1st, 2009 but he does his own typing for this blog and other works. he recently became a member of FACEBOOK, with a growing number of friends – maybe you can join him there if you are a member.
He said in one of his writings:
”Gold and silver have I none but such as I have, give I unto thee. If my messages can touch only one heart, I know I have not lived in vain”.
Mr Butisingh would like to thank Mr. Cyril Bryan, Economist and ICT Management Consultant, for initiating the idea for this Blog on October 21, 2007, with some of the poems sent to him by. Mr. Bryan, along with Mr. Butisingh’s grand-daughter Vanessa, tutored Mr. Butisingh in operating and maintaining the Blog and today he is able to add and correct entries himself. To date the blog has over 600 entries on a wide range of categories, and is visited by hundreds daily.
Feel free to contact Mr. Butisingh at: randallbutisingh@hotmail.com
Dear Mr.Butisingh,
I found your blog today and have been reading it for the past 2 hours. I love your writings, I love your messages and toughts. I love what you wrote about the Holy Quran “The true message, like all good poetry, is that which is felt but cannot be written; and it needs not scholarship but the faith and humility of the listener to get the message”.
May God keep you in good health, so that you can continue sending messages and thoughts because I only just found your blog.
Khairun Nisa
Dear Mr. Butisingh,
Thank you for this lovely reply and for sharing your religious background. I showed the reply to my son. He would like to know what motivated you to memorize a few surahs from the Quran.
May God keep you safe always.
Khairun Nisa
Dear Hhairun
Tell your son that I believe in the validity of, not only the people of the Book, but of other religions that are striving to reach God by their own paths. I believe there is the fine thread of truth woven into the fabric of every religion which only the discerning few can find. I have found that thread of truth in the religion of Islam by association, by reading the Qur’an and the Hadith. I like the beautiful cadence of the Suras and also the elegant caligraphy of the script. I make it a point to memorise inspirational passages, not only from the Qur’an, but from other holy writings.
Mr Butisingh, Thanks for your reply
Dear Me, please reveal your identity more clearly. I most heartily welcome you to my blog and would like to know about you. I am not in Guyana now. I am posting from Florida in the U.S. and am thrilled when someone who knows me shows up. I value your contribution and am looking forward to getting more from you. Enjoy each day; it is a gift from your Creator.
Good Day,
I am Mensah for a publishing company called Advertising & Marketing Services, Guyana, we produce the HORIZONS Magazine.This annual magazine focuses on the Immigration of East Indians to Guyana over the years. You were interviewed by Petamber Persaud to be featured in the magazine. We are requesting some interesting High Resolution Photos of yourself to go along with the article along with your permission to use a few which we got from this site. Please email same to mensah@amsguyana.com soonest we are looking for a close off deadline of May 30, 2008.
Best Regards,
Mensah Fox
Graphic Designer
AMS GUYANA.
Good Days
Came to read from Business Standard online newsletter and noticed an Indian who keeps studying, A Good Lesson to be learnt by the People in my generation who goes to Old age with lots of Health Problems and Lack of hope.
A Good Example and Good Energy at this Age.
Great going
Thanks Stanley for that comment. I truly appreciate. Loking forward to hearing from you again.
Good Afternoon,
I deeply appreciate the quick response to my earlier request for pictures. I have received same and will go forward to add it to the publication. From reading your article i know you are a truly great man and as a company we are honored to feature you in the Horizons Magazine 2008. Keep up the good works.
Much Thanks
Mensah
AMS GUYANA
Dear Mr. Butisingh,
I hope that you and your family are keeping well.
Recently I went to visit a small town in Ontario call Buxton. It was an early Black Settlement for ex-slaves from the Underground Railroad.
http://www.buxtonmuseum.com/Previous/evolution_of_race_relations.html.
I believe both Buxton, Guyana and Buxton Ontario were named after Thomas Fowell Buxton who fought for the abolition of slavery.
May God keep you heathy for a long long time and keep on writing. I just read your article on Creolese ,very interesting. I love this by the young man from Port Mourant ,”maa, come out me eat.”
regards
Khairun Nisa
Hello Randall:
Just wanted you to know that I really appreciate your blog, for it provides me with great “nuggets” to think about and ponder. I find your thoughts to be very intriguing, and it allows me to take a step back, think, and consider all the ways in which God shows Godself here in this world. As I was telling a friend the other day, when we think we’ve got God figured out, that is when we know we have serious problems. What I love about your writings is that, while you have many life experiences, you continue to be a “seeker” and “searcher” in many ways. I love your passion to keep trekking on in the journey of life and faith. I only hope and pray that I will have the same enthusiasm if/when I am your age.
Brian Konkai
http://www.blogherald.com/2008/06/03/worlds-oldest-blogger-2/
Filed as News on June 3, 2008 7:02 am
by Andrew G.R.
I love blogging. A lot. But I’d be surprised to carry the passion with me for the next six-plus decades.
Meet Randall Butisingh, quite possible the world’s oldest blogger at the ripe age of 96. Covering topics ranging from economics to poetry, religion to history, Butisingh writes from the heart.
Butisingh believes that learning is a process, which never ends. A man learns till the end of his/her life.
Heck, the guy learned Arabic at the age of 80 and is now learning to speak Spanish.
What’s your excuse, you lazy bastard?!
With seven children, 19 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, it’s amazing that the blogger has time for anything.
“I am a learner. I believe that when one stops learning he ceases to live and that it is never too late to learn,” Butisingh says.
Born in 1912, with memories spanning back to 1914, it’s time you showed your elders some respect and paid Mr. Butisingh a visit on the Web.
I am the daughter of one of your nephews – Julian (Lenny) Sylvester (mother is Rose Willis). My brother Peter Sylvester told me he had spoken to you a month ago and told me to check out your website. I find it very interesting and wish I had known my dad’s side of the family more. I only knew his brother (Ralph) and his mother. Keep up the good work
yeahh randall saaheb wanna rekod an intw wid u fro all r listner friends in mumbai in india they r gonna love it plzz help wot number cud v get intouch wid u
nice work and congrats in keeping it going
will be in touch and possibly drop in when in florida
[...] Randall Butisingh was born in British Guiana (now Guyana), on December 1, 1912. He grew up in Buxton, East Coast Demerara, where he received his primary education. In 1925, he qualified and was the first runner-up for the first Buxton Scholarship. In 1927, he passed the School Leaving Examination and became a Pupil Teacher at the age of 15. This was the start of a 45 year-long career, with a few short breaks, in which he served as a Class II Certified and Trained Teacher until his retirement in January,1972. During his career, he taught mainly in Buxton, with short assignments in Lusignan, Nonpariel, Ann’s Grove and Mon Repos. According to him his best teaching experience was with head teacher Frank H.V. Russell who was supportive of his suggestions to put more importance in activities such as arts and crafts, gardening, and physical education as the majority of the children only attended primary school. He was able to organize exhibitions in these areas at school fairs and the annual May festivals. [...]
[...] out Randall Butisingh’s20blog here: http://randallbutisingh.wordpress.com/about/ Yours faithfully, David [...]
Congratulations and Best Wishes for you Mr Randall Butisingh:-)
The Times of India is reporting that a ninety-six-year-old great grandfather, Randall Butisingh, a Guyanese living in Florida, has become the world’s oldest blogger.
Thanks for this wonderful find, David Seegobin.
Occasionally we really get to see what great-good Guyana’s sons and daugters CAN be. In Mr Butising, we get just such uplift. God bless the WORLD’S OLDEST BLOGGER with continued health and happiness just as he shares HIS with us.
Pranaam Baba,
Just read about you in Stabroek News.I am from Mon Repos.Just wanted to tell you that I am so proud of you. Will write more later as I fractured my right elbow and it is in a cast.
Dear Teach,
I am Raja from Lusignan. You taught me in Lusignan Primary School. I am the owner of Silvie’s Variety Store in High Street. You came many times to visit me at my business place in High Street. I understand you are living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I would like to come and pay you a visit sometime.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Raja
Dear Sir
I am amazed at your energy. You are an inspiration. I have circulated some details of your achievements to my group of 550 senior citizens in India (sss-global as it is called). May GOD bless you and us through achievers like you. Regards.
Dear Mr Randall:
It was a pleasure to read about you in the Times Of India web site tonight and then find you back here in Fort Lauderdale.
I run a small web site for the Asian Indian Community in South Florida http://www.sfindians.com. I was born and raised in Bombay, India and and am live in Davie, Florida. I have been living in South Florida for over 15 years now.
I look forward to meeting up with you in person if possible.
Regards
Venky
Cogratulation for acheiving oldest blogger title . I just read it in Times of India …. I am from ahmedabd, gujarat.
My site is in Gujarati language
http://www.gujarativisamisadi.com
The site is digitization oldest magazine of India that is visami sadi
Published in 1924.
Dear Mr Butisingh,
I remember when you taught at Mon Repos Primary school. You were strict but fair and I still remember some of the songs you taught. Ialso remember receiving six lashes on my back side when you heard me swearing.
kind regards
Whould you hapen to know a family called Nelson Cannon
Dear Teacher Randall,
CONGRATULATIONS! on the 2nd anniversary of your weblog, and best wishes for your continued success.
As one of the readers and occasional contributor to this weblog, I am happy to see the way it has evolved to become a unique global forum that not only shines a positive light on our homeland GUYANA and the Guyanese culture, but also one that affords readers the world over a rare opportunity to gain valuable insights into your longevity and philosophy of life, which you so willingly share though your poems, thoughts for the day, inspirational messages, personal interviews, and recent book “My Story.”
For all this, I, personally, feel privileged and proud to be your former pupil, then a colleague, and now a friend.
Keep up the good work!
Lyndon
November 25, 2007 at 10:13 am
Hi
Am from Guyana originally and will like to know when your book will be finished, I remember hearing about you since I was in Guyana and perhaps you have also taught me at Mon Repos school.
All the best