There is a Chinese proverb that: “To forget one’s ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root.”
On Saturday, December 1, Sakaldip Dial invited some of the descendants from each of the six children of our forebears, Madaree and Oozerun, to pray, to give thanks for their lives, and to share ideas about how the family links can be strengthened.
Madaree was only 18 and Oozerun was 20 when they travelled with their fathers, Toffaney and Deana, to T&T as indentured labourers. After a 96-day journey from India, they arrived on the ship, the Edith Moore, on December 6, 1858 – 160 years ago.
Thanks to the genealogist, Shamshu Deen, whom Sakaldip had commissioned, we have information about their history. It is not clear if their relationship grew on the ship or when they were sent to Mt Plaisir Estate, Cunupia, to work on the sugar plantations there.
They had six children: Dabee, Bhawanie, Prabhu, Siew (my great-grandfather), Bhagmatie and Parbatie – all Dials. The surname Dial is an Anglicised version of the Sanskrit name Dayal – found mainly in India’s northern states among Hindus. My grandfather changed his name to Ramdeen.
A number of us gathered on Saturday at the Dial Family Museum at Campus House, EMR, St Augustine, and participated in a well thought out programme, organised by Sakaldip, with help from his wife, Barbara, and son, Christopher, a pharmacist. Devant Maharaj and I were the MCs.
Kumar Mahabir , anthropologist, author, publisher, and former UTT lecturer, was the feature speaker. Shortly after 1p.m., all those gathered stood and sang the National Anthem with gusto – proud to be citizens of T&T.
Ravi Ramdeen led the prayers. Deyas were lit for the first two intrepid travellers, as well as for their six children. Later on we observed a minute’s silence for all our ancestors who have gone before us.
During the “Contributions from the Floor” session, I learned much about the accomplishments of “family” members whom I did not really know, like Varuna Dial, Retired Commander who worked in T&T’s Coast Guard for 40 years.
As well as being Comptroller to Presidents Max Richards and Carmona, he was also a pilot. Now, in his retirement, he has embarked on a recycling business producing furniture from plastic lumber (see article ‘Making plastics useful’ in T&T Guardian on June 17, 2018). And he is devoting 32 acres of his land in the East to build a retiree base for military personnel.
We paid tribute to Sakaldip’s daughter, Sandra Dial, who, more than ten years ago, made international news when she and the research team she led at McGill University Health Centre, a world-renowned centre, Canada, proved that “drugs known to suppress stomach acid, such as heartburn medications, are associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile associated disease.” The “big guns” took the team to court and lost.
Also present on Saturday was Mala Dial’s son, young Aakash Gajadhar, who has an MSc in renewable energy technology. He has some sound ideas. And Sita Chadeesingh, whose father, Dr Inderjit Dial, is mentioned in Hansard (May 24, 2014) as “one of the first Hindu doctors who practised on the East/West.” Sita’s husband, Chan Chadeesingh, attorney-at-Law, shared information obtained during his lengthy discussions with Dr Inderjit.
Dr Ravi Maharaj told us of his mother’s , Sookrajie Dial, accomplishments as Principal of North Eastern College and Five Rivers Junior Secondary School. Her sister, Dr Dhanrajie Dial, who was the first female paediatrician in T&T, died recently.
Relatives remembered Nicole Dial, who, with her degree in International Studies from the London School of Economics, worked as an aid worker. In August 2008, she and three others were ambushed and killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The descendants of Madaree and Oozerun have/continue to contribute to society – read Devant’s book: The Line of My People (2014). You may remember: Anna Mahase, former principal of St Augustine Girls’ High School; my father, Balgobin Ramdeen, MP for Caroni East (1961–1966), Democratic Labour Party (DLP) & attorney-at-Law; Kamala Ramdeen, attorney-at-Law & former Head of Chambers, London; Devant Maharaj, former Government Minister, UNC; broadcaster Anthony Harford; former Leader of the DLP Stephen Maharaj; Nalini Dial, Political Leader, National Coalition for Transformation; Digicel Rising Star Neval Chaitlal; former assistant DPP Ranjee Dolsingh; Bindra Dolsingh, attorney-at-Law; Ashram Deoraj, former School Supervisor; Karena Steele, School Supervisor; Ranu Maraj, School Principal; and me. I wear many hats.
God bless all our families.
