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Dharm Shala celebrates 91 years of existence
Dharm Shala, the longest existing humanitarian charity in Guyana,
The Dharm Shala
and possibly the Caribbean, yesterday celebrated its 91st anniversary. The occasion was marked by a thanksgiving ceremony held at the Saint Francis of Assisi Church, opposite the Dharm Shala located at 140 King Edward and Sussex Streets, Albouystown.
It was graced by the presence of many well-wishers, including Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, and radio and television personality, Ron Robinson.
Soothing musical renditions were offered by pianist, Mrs. Marilyn Dewar, and Mr. David Dewar.
The charity was founded in 1921 by the late Pandit Ramsaroop Maraj, who was so moved by the plight of the destitute in and around his area, that he gave up his trade as a jeweler and devoted his life to helping the needy.
He was born on November 3, 1889 at Friendship, Wakenaam, on the Essequibo River and was the younger of two brothers.
This “Home of Benevolence for all Races” has been serving the less fortunate in our society for precisely 91 years now.
His life’s work was accomplished via the medium of the Hindu Religious Society, which was also founded by him, and which in turn set up and managed the Dharm Shala, or the Home of Benevolence for All Races.
The Pandit’s main focus was to have the organization focus on housing the poor and providing religious, medical and educational facilities for them. But because of the unavailability of buildings and finances at the outset, the Dharm Shala started off less ambitiously with a soup kitchen. There was assistance from a few businessmen and other Albouystown residents.
The Dharm Shala was officially declared open in 1929 by Rev C F Andrews, who was an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1939 the same Christian chapel in which the service was conducted, was built, and in 1941, the Dharm Shala extended its service to Berbice, with a building of similar capacity to its Georgetown counterpart, a Hindu temple and a chapel.
After the Pandit developed health-related complications in October 1950 at the age of sixty, his work was continued by his son, Harry Saran Ramsaroop, who also gave up his thriving job, to serve the less fortunate in our society.
Harry, who is now an old man, continues the work of the Institution. The Dharm Shala continues to grow, with the less fortunate now being housed in 11 different buildings across the country.
Ron Robinson, during an address to the gathering, asked that persons come forward and assist in whatever little way they can, to aid the less fortunate.
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