Hinduism came to Jamaica with the indentured workers from India, who landed on the shores of Jamaica on May 10, 1845. Indians in Jamaica were dispersed over estates on the island, and while most of the laborers returned to India after their term expired, the few who remained were a very small minority in Jamaica’s “out of many, one people”. It was in this environment that I arrived in Jamaica in September 1962, right after independence. My journey began with medical school at the University of the West Indies. Over the years I have been privileged to meet, work and worship with some of the most amazing people that have become lifelong friends.
My friends and I collectively founded the UWI Hindu Society which, at the time, comprised of members of Trinidadian, Guyanese, and Jamaican Hindus. Through this group, I began teaching Hindi every Saturday afternoon. I was guided by Rampersaud Sarjoo, a final year student at the time, who took me on the Number 7 bus to the Calu residence to teach my classes.
Apart from these classes, I also frequented other social functions; we went to weddings, kathas, and the Christmas treats at Varma Hall. On one such occasion, I met Steadman Badaloo at Pandit Munesar Maragh’s residence. He invited me to attend his wedding to his wife Ivy in St. Mary (1963). At this wedding, I met his brother Owen, who was exuberant in his quest for knowledge on Hinduism. I was excited to start meeting kindred spirits in this land that was to become my home. As a Guyanese foreign student, I realized I was in a unique position to reach out to other Hindus in the Caribbean.
On one of my breaks in medical school, I made my way back to Guyana for a visit with my parents. The path there was not direct, and I had to make a stop in Trinidad. It was here that I met Mrs. Kelkar, I.C.C.R. at the Indian High Commission there. She gave me a magazine called “Sanatan Dharma”, which motivated me to make a linkage with Swami Jyotirmayananda and Swami Lalitananda (1964). This connection would play a very important role later as a spiritual influence for Prema Satsangh of Jamaica.
In 1969, I completed medical school and went back to Guyana to do a one-year internship. With me was Barbara, my Queen that made me feel like a King. We had a lovely Hindu wedding in my hometown in Leonora, West Coast Demerara. We returned to Jamaica in January 1972 with Roopa, who was six months of age. We were joined shortly by Jeewan Chowtie, a friend who I met at the Mahatma Ghandi Organization in Guyana during my internship. From this point, planning for PREMA SATSANGH of Jamaica started at the Dorie residence on Guava Road, in Kingston.
Prema Satsangh of Jamaica started in September 1972 with meetings and planning sessions at Steadman Badaloo’s residence at 77 Duhaney Park. Prior to inauguration, we were joined by Winston Tolan, a student about to go to Jaipur, India to study Medicine given a scholarship by the Indian Government.
Monthly Newsletters were sent to 100 members of the Indian Community – 20 average attended weekly Satsanghs: 33 homes in 52 weeks (some twice or thrice during this time). Prema Satsangh was becoming organized.
Coming soon:
PART II: Building a strong Foundation for PREMA SATSANGH (Lovers of Truth) OF JAMAICA.
Inspiration by Hame 