Guyana: New Hindu Sabha launched, aims to promote social cohesion

Guyana: A new Hindu Sabha named as Guyana Viraat Sabha was launched on Saturday. It promises to promote and foster social cohesion. The organisation had gained prominence last year.

A few hundred people attended the launching ceremony held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre. Students of Valmiki Vidyalaya Primary school chanted to commence the ceremony. Well Known Kathak dancer Kiran Mattai gave a skilful performance after that.

The Sabha had established itself with the first national Pitri Pasksh programme at the Lusignan Tarmac in 2008. However, last year when it differed with Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha over the date of Diwali and supported Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

Guyana Viraat Sabha is made of some of the biggest Hindu leaders of the country and many of those were part of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha in past. Guyana Pandits Council also supports this Sabha.

Rabindranauth Persaud, President, said that they feel committed to provide a better link between two kinds of people. One, who had selflessly sacrificed their lives for a better Guyana and other who are prepared to pool their energies and other resources in a bid to achieve a better environment for all.

He further added that"The Viraat Sabhaa is convinced that man, being gregarious, cannot exist without a philosophy. As such, spiritual education is placed at the pinnacle of the Sabhaa's objectives. The Sabhaa is convinced that spirituality and divinity (are) the only way to unlock the gateway to civility and (create) a more cultured society. Godlessness nurtures negative propensities and vices which are adverse to human civilisation."

He mentioned that Sabha already has already an impact on Hindu population of the country with its national network.

Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, highlighted the role of the organization in extending its services to people in a non-discriminatory way. She focused to publicly recognize the rapidly growing network of the Sabhaa, which has the initiative in various aspects of human and social development.

She said that motto of the organisation proves the point of the Guyana's motto. The Universe is One Family, she said this is a reminder of the deep concern to create a society where everyone will exist together.

The minister added that Sabha supports Government's efforts to promote social cohesion and it is setting up a stage for the untroubled implementation of this program. Showed happiness over the fact that Government and Sabha are associated.

"We are concerned about people. We want every Guyanese to experience the good life, and so you [Sabhaa] have extended the right hand of friendship to Government for collaboration and partnership. And we, likewise, extend our hand to you for partnership, since there is commonality," Minister Ally stated.

She also mentioned that there is a critical role for religion in the human and social development and nation building. Both Sabha and the government realise this point. She offered other groups to participate more like Sabha.

"Through this Government, political will is guaranteed for social cohesion, but we cannot do it alone. It is when groups like yours approach us (that) we are encouraged and recognize that here is another group that has caught a vision for the need to collaborate," the Minister said.

She noted the need for the collaboration. She said the there is a distinct advantage with religious communities over other groups seeking to promote the social cohesion.

She said such groups are able to reach large numbers at one time as they are able to more frequent interaction with people than the other groups. She also said time must not be wasted remembering the past and everyone should be moving forward and building a unified nation to coexist.

"We have to stop referring to people as 'dem black people', 'da coolie man' and 'dem buck man'. It is disrespectful. Our children are being socialized with this same culture, and it is unhelpful," Minister Ally said passionately.(Source-GuyanaChronicle.com)