Nokta documents his journey from childhood to politics

In less than two years, long-serving member of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic  (PPP/C) and former Local Government and Regional Development Minister Harripersaud Nokta launched his second publication, this time chronicling his journey from childhood to politics.
The book entitled “A Journey, A Challenge”, was unveiled at Red House on Monday, with complimentary copies for those who turned out to witness the launch.
President Donald Ramotar joined Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, government ministers and party members to witness the launch of  the reader-friendly tome, which is replete with facts that readers would find useful, including the author’s articulate, second-to-none description of the hinterland.
“Our success that we have had, and still struggling, in the interior area was largely due to the pioneering work, principally of comrade Harripersaud Nokta and some others who he would mention like Basil James… Ignatius Charley… who worked along with him,” President Ramotar said.
The 12-chapter book captures Nokta’s personal and family history beginning with the arrival of his great grandfather Sanata from India, his humble upbringing and childhood experiences, political careers and travels across Guyana, the now hinterland coordinator  in the Local Government Ministry related.
He gave insight into how the name “Nokta” came about and said he was inspired to write a second book by encouragements from several of his colleagues like Hydar Ally. His first book was published in 2010, “Genesis of the Pakaraima Mountain Safari”.
Having endured the hard years alongside vanguards like former President Dr Cheddi Jagan, the author also described the tyranny that reigned in the era of colonial occupation and the stereotype attached to natives who were treated as second class citizens in their own country, coupled with the period of “undemocratic rule” after independence.
The head of state recalled his first association with Nokta and their working relations, including rifts at Freedom House where he was performing the duties of manager and Nokta was party organiser. His numerous ventures to the hinterland with Nokta were also recollected. “We must forever be grateful to those who came before us because we were standing on the shoulders of the achievement of hundreds if not thousands of PPP militants who were in the freedom marches, who faced imprisonment, many who lost their lives… and many others. We stood on their shoulders in moving our country forward,” President Ramotar said.
A clarion call was made by Jagdeo for other militants in the party to draw inspiration from Nokta and catalogue their experiences so that Guyana’s history will be protected from being forgotten, deleted or rewritten.
“Often the big events need to be complemented or filled in by the thousands of personal stories like those of Harripersaud Nokta who were the foot soldiers, who were there in the communities during the struggle, trying to raise awareness and trying to change this country… by doing so, he not only will help us to fight off the revisionists who even now of a more recent era… are rewriting history and making that history seem very different today,” Jagdeo said.
Prime Minister Hinds, who prepared the foreword for the book, had similar recollections of his first encounter and working relations with Nokta, one of which was negotiations with foreign interest to set up a rocket launcher in the North West district.