Celebrating our literary ancestors – Part Three (Peter Ruhomon)

Jan 11, 2009 Features / Columnists, Guyanese Literature

by Petamber Persaud
In 1947, Peter Ruhomon published ‘Centenary History of the East Indians in British Guiana, 1838 – 1938’, his life’s work, which he started in 1930.

Ruhomon was born on January 1, 1880, in New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana. He was the son of John Ruhomon who was a qualified sick nurse and dispenser operating among the Albion, Port Mourant and Smythfield sugar plantations. The father who was conversant in English, Hindi, Tamil and Arabic also owned and operated a drug store in New Amsterdam.

Ruhomon grew up in and became an integral part of that period in our history that saw the flowering of East Indian intellectualism. He witnessed the formation of a number of organisations to oversee the welfare of East Indians such as The British Guiana East Indians Association, 1916, initiated by his elder brother Joseph, The East Indian Young Men’s Society (EIYMS), 1919, and The Balak Sahaita Mandalee (child welfare society), 1936. Just as important were the East Indian Cricket Club, 1914, The Corentyne Literary & Debating Society, 1937 and The British Guiana Dramatic Society.

‘Indian Opinion’, the official organ of The British Guiana East Indians Association, launched in 1916 became the main tool of Indian intellectualism. And Ruhomon made good use of this outlet for his opinions.
Ruhomon was educated privately and at the All Saints Anglican School in New Amsterdam.

At age 16, he joined the Civil Service in Georgetown as a Clerical Assistant in the Marshall’s Office. He later went on to serve in the Judicial Service, the Government Savings Bank and the Treasury before retiring in 1940. He also held the post of Registrar of Births and Deaths.

Ruhomon was a dedicated church worker. This was reflected in his poetry, ‘Jehovah’s praise to sing’ and by becoming secretary to Susamachar, The East Indian Young Men’s Society. Susamachar, a Hindi word meaning Good News, was part of the Methodist body.

For his dedication and work, Peter Ruhomon was honoured by becoming the first holder of the Yates Gold Medal awarded by J. A. Veerasammy to perpetuate the name of Rev. H. M. Yates, founder of the EIYMS.
He was also a founder/ member of the British Guiana Literary Society launched by Cameron in 1930 which included Rev. Dingwall and Rev. Pollard.

According to J. W. Chinapen, Ruhomon was part of another writers’ group in the 1930s that included Ramcharitar-Lall and Sycliffe Armogan.

Ruhomon’s poems came to public attention in ‘An Anthology of Local Indian Verse’ edited by C.E.J. Ramcharitar Lalla in 1934 and printed by The Argosy Company.
Ruhomon edited a column called ‘Indian Intelligence’ in the Sunday Chronicle during the 1930s, gathering information and motivation for his magnum opus.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: [email protected]

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Celebrating our literary ancestors – Part Three (Peter Ruhomon)

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