By Paras Ramoutar

August 24, 1997

Page 25

Ganga Persad remembers well that fateful Friday evening on September 26, 1947 at 5.30 p.m. when Radio Trinidad formally launched Indian programming.

Former Government Minister, Kamaluddin Mohammed was the announcer. The late Tarran Persad sang, "Aie Bahaar", and Champa Devi and Ganga Persad sang a duet, entitled, "Raja Bharathi".

"That programme pushed me to high waves on the Indian entertainment plateau," he said.

"I was invited to perform at a show in Guyana, then British Guiana, there was widespread jubilation, particularly among the indentured immigrants who felt that they were still in India," said Persad who lives in Montrose, Chaguanas.

Back at home, the enthusiasm and support for him was no different. His singing career started with a bang.

He is a respected person whereever there is Indian singing.

Ganga Persad said that his meeting with Champa Devi set him in good stead as she was the person who introduced him to the famous Gul Shan Bahaar Stage Show, which was the premier Indian entertainment showcase at that time.

"She introduced me to Ustad Nazir Mohammed, who almost immediately signed me up with the world-famous Naya Zamana Indian Orchestra. Ustad Mohammed compared my singing and repertoire to that of the great KL Saigal, KC Doy, Pahari, Surendra Nath and Hemant Kumar, all of India.

I felt great, honoured to be set in the same mould as those great singers of India."

Some of the notables in the Indian entertainment clique at that time were Ustad Jaghru Kawal, Champa Devi, Nazir Mohammed, the Bridgemohansinghs and Chandrabhansinghs.

He has heavy praises for the Mohammed brothers, Kamal, Sham and Moean, all of whom helped him on the ladder of success.

Ganga Persad claims his versatility was singing both, theatre or mmovie songs, and classical songs like Thumri, Holi, Gazal and Kawali.

"East Indian entertainment has come a very long way. I used to sing at wedding and birthday and other social functions. I used to pull large crowds," he said.

"In those days, we used to get only about one hour of Indian programme a week.

Today we have four radio stations, each providing 24-hours programming. Indian culture has made a dent on the country. It has helped to bring our peoples together. Chutney singing is the new thing now."

Persad recounts that he made his debut at the Jubilee Cinema, Chaguanas in 1945, where he won the first prize in an amateur singing competition, and also won an island-wide Indian Singing competition for which he was given a Silver Trophy.

He has toured several Caribbean countries helping to promote Indian culture.

His father, Beharry Sadhu came from India in the year 1817 on board the "Fatel Razack", and settled in Chaguanas from where he worked in the canefields at Jerningham Junction.

Sadhu was married to Rajie who bore three children, two girls and one boy. The boy's name was Ganga Persad.

Ganga Persad attended the Cunupia Government School to Standard Seven.

"During my school vacation, I worked in the canefields for ten cents a day in order to buy books and clothes. My father told me that I would have to work hard.

I would be able to live on my own. I had no choice but to leave school and looked for a work. I obtained work at the Cosmopolitan Store," Ganga Persad continued.

He recalled "I got married at the age of twelve, and being young, I was not interested in wife as Indian singing was in my veins and blood."

In 1993, he was honoured by the National Council of Indian Artistes (NCIA) and the Indian Cultural Pageant.

He was similarly honoured by the Mere Desh Committee to mark Indian Arrival Day.

At the age of 75 years, Ganga Persad has now opted to sing religious songs. His focus is at temples, yagnas and other religious occasions.

He is being considered as an expert and a person of knowledge on Indian singing.

"I am elated over that everybody is paying attention to Indian music. All music must be respected and appreciated by people of all races. Music is a world language," Ganga Persad added.

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