The design of the May 5 Monument, intended to commemorate the arrival of the first East Indian immigrants to Guyana has been selected and the winning entrants were presented with a Gy$ 500,000 cheque by Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Monday.
The winning design crafted by Philbert Gajadhar and Winslow Craig, was one of five entries submitted for judging by a panel which consisted of Tota Mangar, Colonel Linden Ross, Naudia Madhoo, Neaz Subhan and Ivor Thom.
Minister Anthony congratulated the winning duo, who have collaborated on other works, and said that the judging for the designs which had to meet certain criteria was very close. The monument was originally earmarked to be placed at the Highbury Plantation, the first landing spot for East Indian immigrants, however, it was then decided that it should be placed at a location that is more travelled.
The minister said that after consultations with the Region Six Regional Democratic Council, it was decided that Palmyra, at the head of the junction, east of the Berbice River Bridge was a suitable location.
“The land where we thought would be a good site is owned by GuySuCo, and we have since spoken to them and we are now finalising the paper work. They have agreed that they would be giving us two acres of land in that area to develop this monument site… suitable landscaping will also be undertaken,” Minister Anthony said.
The monument will be sculpted in bronze, 12 feet high, 12 feet wide, double life size, and mounted on a nine-foot high base.
Describing the sculpture, a model of which was on display, Gajadhar said, “It shows six figures in a forward thrust, it describes the lives of ordinary Indian people in their routine of everyday life with each carrying something of importance.
“Their jahaji bhandal (ship bundle) loaded with food, spices, herbs, clothing, jewellery, their gods etcetera, religious texts, drum, karaahi,(cooking pan) tawa, (flat circular metal for cooking roti) grass knives (scythe), cutlass and rice plants. The figures are presented in a straightforward realism with the human factor ever present. They are being led by Ram and Khan, the first two Indians to set foot in Guyana,” he said.
He said the leading figure gestures “behold”, while the second with hand resting on the shoulder of the first, looks back urging the others on.
“The relationship of the figures become increasingly complex as the viewer’s eyes move from the base to the heads. The rhythms of the figures are parallel and give a sense of quickening motion which conveys strong emotion,” Gajadhar said.
He added that the monument touches on national and ancestral interests, “containing some of the visual symbols associated with conditions that often beset man and presents to us a segment of reality which ties our own lives to history that is reflected in the immediate drama of contemporary living”.
The monument should be completed within two to three years, once all arrangements are put in place. During the period 1838 and 1917, 238,000 East Indians came to Guyana as indentured servants.
Approximately 75,000 were repatriated, but the others remained to contribute significantly to the nation’s development.
