The late Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud always emphasized the importance of children and young people pursuing education to the highest levels. Through the Reepu Daman Persaud Foundation, the pandit’s goal of aiding deserving students to help them realize their full potential is being achieved.
Pandit Persaud, who was also a politician, guru to many; president and founder of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and one who served for 41 years as a parliamentarian, made no distinction between boys and girls. It was his belief that all young people need to equip themselves with all the necessary education and skills so that they could effectively contribute towards their community and country, as well as their personal enhancement.
On January 16, 2006, the Reepu Daman Persaud Foundation was launched to coincide with his 70th birthday. Under the foundation, assistance is provided in the form of tuition fees and related expenses for University of Guyana students; one-year scholarships for students studying at the Dharmic Rama Krishna Primary School and bursaries to children across the country to assist with educational expenses.
To date, more than 35 students of the Dharmic Rama Krishna Primary School have had one year tuition fees paid for by the foundation. In addition, 75 bursaries have been given to children from Berbice, West Coast and East Coast Demerara.
In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, the late pandit’s daughter, Dr Vindhya Vasini Persaud pointed out that her father believed strongly in education and the development of youths, and this gave birth to the foundation.
“One way we thought of educating and developing youths is by providing scholarships for them. We started at our Dharmic Rama Krishna School by giving scholarships to children at all levels, once they would have some sort of assessment. The scholarships were given based on academic merit as well as a needs-based requirement. We have expanded this across the country. We asked our various branches countrywide to identify deserving children to help them financially and even help them further to university,” Dr Persaud stated.
The foundation has also given a full four-year scholarship to Vickram Deonarine of Essequibo to pursue a civil engineering degree at UG. It is also bearing the cost of his accommodation on campus. Vickram will graduate this month (November). Another student whose fees were borne by the foundation was successful in obtaining his accountancy diploma at UG.
“This year we have decided to expand our work to develop people musically. Two full-time musicians, who have played for the popular Zee TV show “Sa Re Ga Ma”, have been brought in from India to provide free training at our Dharmic Kendra. We have also started classes in East Coast at the Strathaven Mandir, and after Diwali we will expand the classes to Parika, West Coast Demerara and Berbice. Our aim is making our programme accessible and open to anyone. Any child who has that natural ability or inclination can benefit from it also,” she outlined.
The foundation also emphasizes the importance of blending extracurricular activities with academics. Persaud pointed out that more parents are realizing the programme is not just about dancing but is a discipline. The children have to attend school, practice and also get to participate in many of the Dharmic Sabha’s events like the Kala Utsav planned for November 24.
“We are also working to partner very soon with an institute in India so that Indian music exams can be written here. Also, if we find very talented students and we feel they can benefit from overseas training, it is our hope we can have that funding available. One thing my father believed, which is exemplified in his children, is education. Each one of us he invested in, and he always felt that children should have the opportunity to excel. I think it relates to his background – coming from a logie environment; being fatherless very young, his mother alone raising him and struggling for his education. I think he achieved a lot and reached the pinnacle of where he wanted to be in religion and politics. Looking at his struggle and what he had to go through as someone who came from a very poor and humble background, I think he thought that children out there should not have to go through this, especially those who have an aptitude for learning. As his children we understood his passion and we wanted to start this foundation,” she disclosed.
She said too that the brainchild of the foundation was her mother, Indranie Persaud, who has always ensured its smooth operation. The foundation is sustained by the contributions from the children, godchildren, relatives and friends of Persaud, and is governed by a board of trustees.
When asked about what Diwali will be like this year, Persaud answered: “Diwali will be a bit sad for us and the Dharmic Sabha because it is the first one my dad will not be with us. However, in continuing his legacy, the motorcades are bigger this year. We have also expanded our rangoli competition and included other schools across the country. So we are continuing to look for creative ways in expanding our programmes. I want to take this opportunity to say happy Diwali to everyone.”
For more information on the foundation call 227-2010 or go to Reepu Daman Persaud on Facebook.
