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Gandhi – confessions and acknowledgement

Oct 08, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

I have confessions to make, and they all surround this startling development about renaming Middle Street after the global icon, Gandhi. My thoughts follow.
The letters from Guyanese Elijay Bijay and Hamilton Green in SN’s edition of October 6 caught me off guard, as I had never heard of a conversation and contemplation about renaming Middle Street to honour Gandhi. My second confession is the story of Middle Street, especially its place in slavery’s ghastly narratives which was also outside my range of knowledge although I read prodigiously. As for Gandhi himself, his distinctive advocacies in South Africa for Indians, to the disadvantage of native blacks was not his finest hour. Whether because of convenience or calculation or conviction or circumstances, he is both upheld and condemned by the record of his own words and postures. I think that in the context of his time and vision, he did what was best for his own people. His own only. From the vantage point of time and distance, I think he erred and it was not a little one. Was this his version of ‘all deliberate speed’ or racial gradualism? Despite this stain, I think he still stands as a great man on the world’s stage; one to be well-regarded for the sum of his works. I think he failed at a crucial hour but I believe he still towers as one of those noble, but all too human figures.
That said, I have difficulty with this renaming. If it originated with the learned Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, he transgressed. This is not maintaining that required inviolable distance from host country matters. It is a bit too self-serving of him for Guyanese, particularly those of African heritage. We do not need another controversy in this polarised society. And as much as I regard Gandhi highly, my position is simple: Not there! Not anywhere here. India has enough room for honouring the man, do it there. I wonder if I were to propose a street in India being renamed after Cheddi Jagan, how the Indians would react. They would think I am presumptuous, and rightly so. The energetic Indian High Commissioner should connect the dots.
Editor, I have difficulty processing these kinds of developments in this country, some homegrown. A few months ago, the word was to rename Duke Street after the great Sarah Ann Lynch, United States Ambassador to Guyana. I believe that it is also taking things too far. Her Excellency should be recognised for the outstanding work in America’s interests. I hail her in that regard, give her a national award. I remind fellow Guyanese that what we have here today are native colonial masters sponsored by foreign ones trying to make things right for them. Further, I appeal to Guyanese to shake this blind obeisance to things and people foreign. If we want to rename streets, do so with Guyanese names: Amerindian, Black, Chinese, Indian, Mixed, Portuguese, and Whites – local ones. Let national pride guide us. Honour our own.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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