Latest update June 25th, 2026 9:38 AM
A tribute to fallen heroes
Dear Editor,
Guyana lost several towering personalities over the last few weeks. They made enormous impressions on the society deserving of accolades. Most tributes would be dedicated to Pandit Reepu and Dr. Dale Bisnuath who served as Ministers of government. But also deserving of praises are Mrs. Ramayya and Wendell George and others (unsung heroes) who also helped to uplift lives but were never acknowledged publicly.
Mrs. Ramayya was not a political figure and was not rewarded for her charitable work but she did much more than many politicians for common people. She was a simple, extraordinary, remarkable and highly spiritual woman. Few did as much as her (and Dr. Ramayya) for the poor as well as going to satsanghs to help bereaved families overcome their grief. She was more deserving of recognitions than many politicians who got national awards.
Another individual who stood out among freedom fighters but was never recognized for his struggle was Wendell George. As I was traveling and speaking at universities in India last month, time did not allow me
to write to pay tribute to this great soul. Wendell’s service to the freedom struggle, like that of Paul Nehru Tennassee (leader of defunct DLM) and others who fought for the restoration of democracy, should be recognized and he should be honoured posthumously.
These individuals gave a lot of their time, money and energy to free Guyana and were never recognized for their contributions, without which Guyana may very well have remained an oppressive dictatorship. Others are beneficiaries of the struggle waged by Paul, Wendell, Joe Ragnauth (of the US branch of the DLM) and others by individuals of other groups.
Wendell’s contributions to the struggle should be remembered. He was one of the nicest persons I met during the struggle against authoritarian PNC rule. He was a very brave soldier never afraid to speak out against the dictatorship. Like many of us, he was harassed, intimidated and he suffered violently at the hands of government thugs. But he remained steadfast committed and dedicated to the cause of justice and freedom for fellow Guyanese.
Although I was not a regular visitor to the DLM’s office on Robb Street (choosing instead to spend more of my time at the headquarters of the URP and WPA on Croal Street and having exchanges with PPP warriors at Freedom House), I met Wendell through his association with the DLM.
Whenever I visited Freedom House or Michael Forde bookshop, I would pop in at the DLM office to pick up latest literature and for an exchange with Paul or party people. At the DLM office, I also met several individuals (including non-Guyanese) who were committed and dedicated to the struggle for a free Guyana. Several were from Trinidad and I was struck by their commitment to the freedom struggle, motivating me to make generous financial contributions to all of the then opposition parties and cementing my own ties to the struggle in the U.S.
It was always a pleasure to converse with Wendell and one learned a lot from his experience fighting the dictatorship and from being a small trader, especially about the sufferings of the poor and the struggle to get food during the darkest days of banned goods. I also saw him at GUARD meetings and occasionally at the market. He was very passionate about his views and a strong independent thinker not easy to give in to other views or to political ideology. He was a nationalist.
Wendell was one tough cookie. He was not easily afraid of government thugs and of the terror unleashed by the House of Israel. Few who enjoy the fruits of office today suffered like Wendell or like Tennassee (who
was stripped and placed on ant nest) or those who committed to the restoration of democracy in our homeland.
Wendell spoke his mind and was even critical of some of my writings. He and his family and the nation suffered enormously at the hands of the dictatorship and Wendell made it well known that he does not want to see anyone from the era of the dictatorship ever return to office again to oppress Guyanese. He despised those who were associated with the dictatorship.
Wendell George was among the most decent Guyanese ever lived. He will be sorely missed. My belated condolence to the immediate family and to the extended DLM family that I got to know about through the freedom movement while visiting Guyana during my summer teaching breaks.
I cheer these heroes and those not mentioned for their outstanding contributions in helping to make life better for our nation.
Vishnu Bisram
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