No relevance in bringing up Bisram’s name

Oct 21, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Mr. Freddie Kissoon’s column (October 18) misrepresent facts relating to me. I am dismayed that Freddie brought up my name without any relevance in his defence against librarian Hemraj Muniram regarding the allegation of theft of books (SN Oct 16).
As an academic, Freddie should know that a writer does not bring up irrelevant information in an essay.
When I did a college writing course in 1979 at CCNY, Prof William Smith who had retired from Columbia University commented about a sentence in one of my essays on the value of popcorn, “no relevance”. Later, during a Graduate course in Economic Development in 1986 at CUNY Grad School, Prof Mitch Kellman (Univ Penn) asked for “relevance” when I wrote in an academic paper “Guyana had a Chinese President”.
Prof Arthur Schlesinger (of Harvard) at CUNY in 1992 also upbraided me for “relevance” of making a quotation from Dr. Jagan in an essay on American imperialism. In short, mentioning names or points in a column must be relevant to its main idea or central point. I had nothing to do with the allegations of book theft leveled against Freddie. He must be infatuated with me to bring up my name.
For the record, I do not know Mr. Muniram and never communicated with him. In his accusation against Freddie, Muniram never mentioned my name. Thus, it is illogical for Kissoon to bring up my name in responding to Muniram’s allegations. May I suggest that Freddie consult with Prof. Sankies of UG for assistance in logical writing.
Freddie also raised my name “as a strong friend … personal friend of SN Editor in Chief, Anand Persaud”. What does that have to do with book theft? Here again there is no relevance in bringing up my name in his defence. Mr. Persaud and I are not and never were friends not that anything is wrong with being a friend of Persaud.
I consider Persaud as an outstanding editor and a brilliant writer. The late David DeCaires in April 08 stated that Persaud was the best editor in the Caribbean. It will be an honour to have a friend like Persaud. He does not lie or distort or misinterpret what others write or manufacture facts. He does not attack people or focus on personalities.
For the record, my association with Persaud is similar to that of Freddie’s with Persaud. I submit my letters and occasional reports to the SN editors. Publication is subjected to their prerogative. Freddie has a better relationship than me with SN editors in getting his letters published – about a third of my submissions are not published for unexplained reason. I think all of Freddie’s letters to SN are published. Most recently, I wrote about Diwali, Navratri, Ramadan, Eid, Holi, Guyanese in Aruba, polls, etc. which were not published in SN but were submitted to and published in KN and GC after SN did not use them.
Even if Persaud and I were friends, what does that have to do with the allegations raised by Muniram? Freddie has no reason to bring up my name. The only conclusion one can make is he is seeking to tar my good name.
My advice to Freddie is to stop disparaging, attacking and denigrating others and do not write on personalities. He should instead focus on issues. And he should also stop distorting and misinterpreting what others pen. Also, Freddie does not need to go to the end of the world to find evidence to condemn others. In spite of this critique, let me conclude by saying that some of Freddie’s columns are quite good and a joy to read.
Vishnu Bisram

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