The blog is back!

Sunita: dude i printed out pictures at walmart over the weekend
Sunita: to put on my wall in frames
Sunita: i printed one of u
Varnie: just ONE??

I get it from my momma

So my Dad's thinking of switching to Geico for insurance. Just now, he and my mom were talking and I heard Mom ask him, "Did you check Nationwide Insurance?" He replied, "No, are they good?" To which she replied, "Yes! They're on your side!"

Happy Raksha Bandhan to me!

Vedendra Persaud: ya
Sunita: I have to tell you something!
Vedendra Persaud: ya
Sunita: HAPPY RAKHIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!
Vedendra Persaud: thank you
Sunita: you're my brother so pretend like i'm tying it on you
Sunita: since i'm not there :(
Vedendra Persaud: ok
Vedendra Persaud: I got to tell you something too
Vedendra Persaud: go to http://www.pleoworld.com/
Vedendra Persaud: and
Vedendra Persaud: http://www.pleoworld.com/discover

A Subaltern History

Written by Ravi Dev for KN 2-27-05

History, the saying goes, is written by conquerors. Looking at the texts handed down to us, one may add that it is actually written by the elite of the conquerors. I still well remember my earliest history book, An Outline of English History, that only considered events directly associated with the Kings and Queens of England, as worthy of mention. Ordinary folks who struggled and died in their millions were mere fodder and footnotes. Later, even Marxist historians who rejected this perspective, ignored Hegel’s distinction between “events” and “actions” and lumped the makers of history as anonymous classes that responded to historical “forces”. Of recent, there has been an attempted rectification of this jaundiced historiography by some historians who take a “subaltern” perspective. That is, to look at the contributions of the ordinary folks, in effectuating change – independently of the men on horseback and other elites. They remember too, that there can only be dialectics in consciousness.

I was reminded of these opposing views of “history makers” on the recent death of my father. As a subaltern, he will almost certainly not make it in the history books – but just as certainly I know that he played his part in shaping history. My father’s history actually begun on the East Coast, where his widowed Aja (paternal grandfather) was expelled from Plantation Mon Repos for some infraction. This was not an uncommon subaltern experience. The old man brought his son to Uitvlugt on the West Coast to start a new life. My father was born in the logees of field “Letter A” during the mid 1920’s just after the end of indentureship in 1921. By the time he was twelve the worldwide Great Depression of the 30’s had plunged sugar and the Caribbean into despair and rebellion. He was forced to leave school at the fourth standard and begin working at Plantain Uitvlugt, where a year later four striking workers were gunned down in neighbouring Leonora. The sacrifices such young “subaltern” men across the sugar industry would lead to grudging reforms. History was inexorably changed by them.

The greatest change that was effectuated by my father’s generation, and still unacknowledged - much less examined by the official historians - is the remarkable reforms they made in the social institutions brought by their forbears from India. The recent controversy generated by claims made by Dr. Kean Gibson on the role of the Hindu caste system in Guyanese politics is a perfect illustration of this elitist perspective. It is uncontroverted that after 800 years of foreign rule, the social structures – including the caste system - had acquired many deformities in India, by the 19^th century. By the mid-century the Arya Samaj (Noble Society) was one of several Hindu responses to reform itself. Several missionaries had visited Guyana from early the 20th century but the arrival of Professor Bhashkaranand in 1937 was crucial in spreading its rejection of “caste” by birth, acceptance of education of women (including becoming priests) and the inculcation of a broad social conscience.

Clem Seecharan has claimed that while the Ramayana was a central text in the lives of the Hindu immigrants, he said they did not conduct exegeses of such texts. I beg to differ. In ever logee settlement, by the 1930’s, there was a Ramayana “gol” (circle) with an individual who gave the “arth” or exegesis. My grandfather was one such individual in Uitvlugt and he left a life-long insistence for intellectual pursuit and rigour – and the Hindu demand for its application in one’s life. My father was proudest of the fact that his father traveled to Georgetown to search out Prof. Bhaskaranand, invite him to the logees of Uitvlugt and have him conduct a seven-evening lectures against the wishes of some orthodox Pandits and the Pln. Management. My father and quite a few of his peers became “Arya-Samajists”. His “Arya-Sameness” was more an attitude than anything else:

an attitude of questioning, a commitment to reason and an obsession with argumentation.

I am sure that there will be so many readers who will recognise instantly, the “hard-mouth” old-line “Samajists of whom I speak.I’ve come across them all over Guyana. While Samajists never became more than ten percent of the Hindu population in Guyana, their arguments, as much as anything else, contributed to the demise of the caste system. Dr. Gibson should research this subaltern history on caste.

My father’s post-WW2 generation was the first to make the mass-movement out of the Plantations onto the new housing schemes sponsored by the Jock Campbell of Bookers in the early 1950’s.

With their new social consciousness, not many of the men allowed their wives to work in the backdams and most swore to do their utmost that their children would never sink to that. My father was quite justly proud that in the end, he kept his word.

What made this achievement more remarkable was the fact that in the new schemes, with the improvement in sanitation, water supply, and health facilities, the children did not die like flies as in the previous generation and the families were extraordinarily large. The ten children in my family was a typical number. In the aggregate, their generation created the bulge in the Indian population that was to forever alter the demographics of Guyana and create a new political equation.

My father remembered Dr. Cheddie Jagan standing outside Plantation Uitvlugt, pointing to the Overseers quarters and announcing dramatically, “When we kick those White bastards out, you will live in those houses.” It was a standing indictment against my father by my Nana (maternal grandfather – who raised me from the age of six) that he (my father) voted for Dr. Jagan against Dr. Jang Bahadur Singh – the old Indian leader. It was not a coincidence that there were so many Arya Samajists among Dr. Jagan’s early following: their fire for social change had already been lit. During his retirement in New York, (when he pointed out that he achieved more in ten years amongst the hated White men of his youth) my father became quite cynical about Dr. Jagan and the PPP. He spent much of his last years arguing politics with any Guyanese he could strike up a conversation with along Jamaica Avenue. He was my respected advisor.

At our family reunions, he would look forward to giving his annual “charge”, which everyone in the more than 70-odd gathering took most seriously. As I reflect on his own life and of the arenas of life in which those individuals are engaged, and will be engaged, I can only proclaim once again, that this subaltern, my father, has indeed made history.

The Anirood Persaud Vedic Library

The United Arya Samaj Foundation has named its Vedic library in honor of my Aja (Paternal Grandfather)--Anirood Persaud. It's a great feeling of pride to see his contributions being recognized in this form. I'm sure Aja would be very touched at this gesture by the UASF as he worked at a library and valued education above all else. :)

Library Named to Honor Anirood Persaud  

  L to R:
Pt. Ramlall, Bahen Mayia, Sista Vashti (My cousin), Pt. Ramesh (My uncle),
Sharda Chachee (My Aunt), Bahen Geeta,
Bhai Dev (curent President--My uncle), Bhai Gangaram, and Pt. Shivraj

New York, May 11, 2007 The Arya Samaj USA Mandir named its library in honor of Anirood Persaud, the father of Ravi Dev, former Member of Parliament in Guyana Persaud passed away in February 2005 in Queens. He had been living in the U.S for the last 20 years and was lifetime member of the mandir.

Anirood Persaud, was a sugar worker at Uitvlugt estate. Because of the early social militancy of the Arya Samaj movements which he joined a youth, he became politically active and was a avid follower of Dr Jagan in the early 1950s’.

The late Persaud attended Mandir regularly and always sat quickly at the back. After mandir services, he would rush off to his job at the Queens Public Library. Arya Samaj USA was an integral part of his life. The mandir gave invaluable spiritual sustenance and inspiration to his life during his stay in the US , the family told executives of the mandir. His wife had a desire for his name to be associated with this mandir in a tangible way for perpetuity.

The mandir’s executive said they agreed to name the library after Persaud because of his enormous contribution to Arya Samaj and his commitment to the causes of the mandir. He gave invaluable advise on the development and progress of the mandir.

The library is now called “The Anirood Persaud Vedic Library.”

The mandir’s library is open on Sundays when the temple holds its weekly services for worshippers. There is a large selection of Vedic Books in English on the Vedas, Yoga, children and SANSKRIT-HINDI DICTIONARY. Some of the books in the library’s collections are Satyarth Prakash, Sanskaar Vedi, Life Teaching of Swami Dayananda. The Library is open to members for at no charge. Books can be borrowed for two weeks.

One objective behind the library is to educate members, especially the youth, on the Arya Samaj faith. Children are urged to visit the library and take out books for their educational advancement. The library is collecting books. If anyone wishes to donate Hindu books to the Library please call (718) 849-9818 or write to Arya Samaj USA,110-17 101 Ave. Richmond Hill , NY 11419.

GRADUATION!!!

The conferring of the degrees...


The walking to the stage...


The getting of the degree...


The turning of the tassels...


Teeheehee here's one of Srish Pram and Dill singing our Alma Mater!

The Egg Salad Saga

This is what my crazy family does at work all day...

From: Rosita Dev
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 2:47 PM
To: Shivana Persaud

yup!! whatcha have for lunch?

From: Shivana Persaud
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 2:51 PM
To: Rosita Dev

I had some chicken noodle soup…u?

From: Rosita Dev
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 2:52 PM
To: Shivana Persaud

egg salad sandwich-- i haven't had one of those in a while

From: Shivana Persaud
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 2:55 PM
To: Rosita Dev

I made some egg salad this weekend with a bagel, it was yummie

Egg salad always reminds me of sun for some reason..lol

From: Rosita Dev
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 2:56 PM
To: Shivana Persaud
Cc: sunita.persaud@yahoo.com

WEIRD.. MEE TOO.. i don't know why

From: Shivana Persaud
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 3:00 PM
To: Rosita Dev
Cc: sunita.persaud@yahoo.com

LOL dude ur synonymous with egg salad…I guess there could be worse things...

From: Rosita Dev
To: Shivana Persaud
Cc: sunita.persaud@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 3:00:33 PM

Sun do you even like egg salad.. thats so funny that Vani and I both think of you when we thinking of egg salad!!

From: sunita.persaud@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 3:18 PM
To: Rosita Dev; Shivana Persaud

i think it's cause i LOVVVVVVEEEEEEEEE egg salad haha
and i make a pretty mean egg salad sandwich too!!

From: Shivana Persaud
To: sunita.persaud@yahoo.com; Rosita Dev
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 3:21:04 PM

Well then there u go…it has nothing to do with ur smell lol

Arjun and Arvi

Arjun is tooooo cute man!!! Here's a video of him dancing at Chandini's sweet 16 bday party.. Can't see it too well after the youtube upload, but you can kinda make out Arvi shaking his groove thing lol...


Here's one of Arjun after he learned a new move from Uncle Poto's son lol... he didn't get the full 360 spin down yet tho hahah he has to do 2 180s.. too cute!!!

Skevin

Sunita says:

did u get the url?

Kevin says:

my name is url

Kevin says:

haha

Sunita says:

HAHA

Shal's Graduate school awards ceremony

Shal won the award for "Outstanding Graduate Student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology" chosen by the Dept heads of the school!! The sad news is we don't have any more room on the wall for all her awards!

Veden Lee

Here are some videos of my cousin Vedendra kicking butt and earning his yellow belt in karate!! Remind me never to mess with Veden again... if I saw those guys coming towards me like that, I'd most certainly pee my pants.

Doing his Karate routine... can you say "DISHOOM?"

Here's a vid of him kicking the living craplights out of some other guys... it's like an Indian movie where there's one of him and a bunch of them :) Just call him Amitabh!

Shal's Birthday Dinner

Here are some pics from Shal's birthday dinner with the fam at Papadeaux Cajun restaurant.

Shal chowin down on the coconut shrimp

That poor lobster didnt know what was coming to him!

MMmmmm crabcakes!

Dad's seafood kebabs

It's so hard to surprise this gyal!! Our plan was to pretend to go to the bathroom and then order the birthday dessert for her... but we got seated right next to the restroom! So I got all James Bond and took a picture of a note that said "Sshh Slice of birthday cake please?" in the bathroom so we could ask the waitress to take our picture and she'd see that. But then my sister decided to go to the restroom so I just asked the waitress then :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHAL!

Shal in the paper!!!

Look!!! My sister's in the UNT Health Science Center's newspaper (after she won FIRST PRIZE in the Graduate school's poster presentation contest!!
**I'm proud of you, Shal!! Woohoo that's my sister!**

Check the whole article out here.
(She's the one on the FRONT PAGE and the second page--back row, second from the right)

Yeah, I know... she took all the good genes :\

My Brutally Honest Father

Talking about this pic...

Shal: i showed them the pic..
Shal: Mommay said "awwwww..."
Me: :D
Shal: and Daddy said u're head looks big!
Shal: lol
Me: HAHAHA
Shal: hahahahahahaha
Shal: hahahaaaaa
Me: that's wat i saidddd
Shal: maybe because u were in front
Me: maybe your head is SMALL
Me: PINHEAD
Me:

On savoring wins..

dularibeti: lol my moms so cute
dularibeti: when she wins solitaire
dularibeti: she sits there and watches the cards bounce
dularibeti: I get tired after like the queen of diamonds

Kids say the darndest things...

Hello hello! Good morning!

I just had breakfast with Grandpa, my Dad, Mom, and Shal. Grandpa told us the funniest story so I thought I'd share!!

Benjamin is my cousin Banie's son.. He's probably about 6 now. Banie was visiting his parents (Uncle Harold and Aunty Sheila) in Florida and he brought Benjamin along with him. Uncle Harold probably was doing some work outside so he had his shirt off. He raised his arms to do something and Benjamin saw his armpit hair and goes "Look! Grandpa has FEATHERS!!"

Hehe speaking of kids, I have a funny story about my sister when she was about Benjamin's age. Some of you have probably already heard the story, but it's still funny the second time!!

My dad took my sister Shal with him to get some money from the ATM machine. So he's punching away at the buttons and she's next to him not knowing what he's doing. The money comes out of the machine and she yells "DADDY DADDY! YOU WON!!!"

Here are some old chats about my cousin Vedendra.. (Asha's brother) this kid is so funny man.. lol.. These stories range from when he was about 3 till now.. he's about to turn 9!

Vani: do u kno wa veden jus sed?

Me: what?

Vani: he goes" o my god ! your going through menopause!"

This is what television does to kids..

Vani: did i tell u bout the time veden had a hw assignment to write about the one place that he'd wanna get locked into overnight?

Vni: u kno wa he sed?

Me: lol oh no

Me: where?

Vani: key food

Now THAT'S a Persaud!!

And probably the best one yet... *Talking about Veden again*

Srish: uhhmm

Me: and he was in asha's room

Srish: okie

Me: so asha's like "veden go do your homework"

Srish: ahhaan

Me: and veden says "asha do u hear that???" all serious

Me: and she goes "no? what?"

Me: and he goes "that's the sound of I DONT CARE!!!"

Hah Here's a story I found about my cousin Nirvani (Nalini's little sister). She's about the same age as Vedin..

Vani: nalini caught nirvani singin "shake it like a polariod picture!!" in the mirror

Vani: lol

Vani: shes so funnie

I'm a posting MACHINE

Hey I just noticed the date!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE CUTEST 20 YEAR OLD IN THE WORLD--my dear cousin ASHA!!

Aowww how u so cute??







Vani: y am i cropped outa that asha pic????
Me: cause it's HER BIRTHDAY
Me: gaad maan
Me: let her have one day!
Me: lol
Vani: but where am i????
Vani: lol

dude I should be studying for my test...