Features – Page 72 – Guyana Times International

The Mothering and the Shaping of Creative Energies

May 19, 2017 TIMES INT'L

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother – Abraham Lincoln It is not without significance that ‘the mother’ finds herself a prominent presence in literature; if she is not on the cover as the author of a book with pen in hand, then she is present on the dedication page or in the acknowledgement page as the ink in the pen – the influence and source of the author’s product. The dedication or acknowledgement is no easy consideration and ought not to be…

Artistic works portray themes of ‘family, love, beauty’

May 19, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The spirit of family, love and beauty is portrayed in soap stone, wood and paper by an extraordinary collection of artists and crafters. The family theme is displayed on the exhibit stands of the artists and craftsmen of the Main Street Artist Association on a daily basis obliquely to Tower Hotel. Sculptors such as Lewis, Ferreira, Sealey and Wilson carve “Mother & Child” and “Family Unity and Love” wooden sculptures giving meaning to “motherly love” and “tender care”. Award-winning artist Colin Nedd’s portrait of his grandson taking a bath in…

Guyana’s most scenic river

May 19, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The Ireng River, also known as Rio Mau, forms the border between Guyana and neighbouring Brazil. It is accessible from the Guyana side south of Lethem, located on the border with Brazil. Boat trips along the Ireng River and its tributary, the Rio Takatu, are ideal for birding enthusiasts and even campers. Ireng is considered the most picturesque of Guyana’s many rivers. Orinduik Falls and Takagka Falls are some of the waterfalls along the Ireng River. Another spectacular waterfall on the river is the almost 100-metre (close to 330 feet…

Amy Peberdy

May 19, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Amy Peberdy, who died Sept. 2, 2011, aged 100, played a critical supporting role to her husband, the explorer Philip Storer Peberdy, and spent much of the 1940s travelling with him into the far interior of British Guiana She was born Amy Annie Barrow on September 29, 1910 in Leicester, and left school at 14. She met her future husband while he was working as an apprentice taxidermist at the Leicester Museum and they married when she was 19. In 1936 a restlessness and desire for adventure led them to…

Darmic Swarsatti Dance Academy

May 12, 2017 TIMES INT'L

By Indrawattie Natram Through “folk dance”, the Dharmic Swarswatti Dance Academy, located on the Essequibo Coast, has been preserving their Indian heritage. Founder of the dance group, Sursattie Singh, said that traditional folk dance is a feature of her Indian ancestry. It is a dance genre she has been teaching and practising to keep her “Indian culture alive”. Singh, a classical dancer for over 20 years, explained that she has been using folk dance to help build her students’ confidence and to encourage them to learn more about their Indian…

A ceremony of traditions

May 12, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Many of the traditions we uphold today were passed down from our ancestors. One such tradition is the Hindu wedding. The religious aspects of the wedding are intriguing, and originated from those who came as indentured servants from India. Although the Hindu wedding ceremony became elaborated as time went by, the basic structure has remained the same. It was the parents of the parties concerned who first decided that their children should be married to each other. A pandit(or priest) was then consulted as to an auspicious day for the…

Preserving Indian Heritage through the Preforming Arts

May 12, 2017 TIMES INT'L

By Ashraf Dabie The cultural heritage of those who came as indentured labourers is still evident in present Guyanese society. As a matter of fact, some of those traditions brought to these shores by our Indian ancestors have laid the foundation upon which our society operates. However, though several aspects of the tangible and non-tangible inheritance from our Indian forefathers have managed to weather the years, some elements have either been completely erased or fused with other ethnicities to create a unique creole culture. Nonetheless, masses of traditional Indian societies…

Connecting with ancestral roots

May 12, 2017 TIMES INT'L

In 1902, Mahesh Ahir sailed on the Arno ship from India to British Guiana to work on the sugar plantation as an indentured labourer. Mahesh, who was 27 years old when he arrived in British Guiana, adapted to the local culture and learned the new language in that foreign land. Sadly, he never got the chance to return to his homeland. Knowing this, his descendants were prompted to trace their ancestral roots. Rosie Rohini Prem, a Canadian born to Guyanese parents, was moved to search for her ancestors after her…

Cherished Memories

May 12, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Sons shares memories of his father who came on the last ship to British Guiana to work as an indentured labourer By Ashraf Dabie While history books tell the tales of the arrival and presence of Indian indentureds to British Guiana (BG), the great majority of Indo-Guyanese are still unaware of their direct links to the motherland. However, there are some families who are fortunate to have in possession immigration documents of their ancestors, which have helped them to trace their roots to ancestral villages and connect with relatives in…

Using art to tell stories

May 12, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Artist Darshani Kistama is “honoured” to be among veteran Guyanese artists exhibiting their artwork at Castellani House. This is Darshani’s inaugural exhibition at the art gallery. Darshani has on display artistic paintings, drawings, saris and beautifully hand-painted bottles. The on-going exhibition, themed “Ganga Ship 1917: The Long Journey”, is being held to commemorate the centenary of the abolition of the Indian indentureship. Speaking to Sunday Times Magazine, Darshani said she is inspired by nature and her “commitment” to her religion, which is a central theme in most of her art.…