BAVINA SOOKDEO
The Ajeet Praimsingh Mere Desh Committee will celebrate 179 years since Indian arrival in Trinidad and Tobago with its 34th annual awards and cultural show.
The event takes place on Indian Arrival Day, May 30, at Passage to Asia Restaurant, Chandelier Hall, St Yves Street, Chaguanas, from 2 pm.
Tribute will also be paid to classical and chutney singer Rakesh Yankaran.
Mere Desh, which means "my country," features various aspects of Indian culture. The event was founded by Ajeet Praimsingh, a cultural icon who inherited the family business – Praimsingh’s Pooja Bhavan Ltd, the first puja store in Trinidad.
Classical singing and folk music play a vital role in the cultural tapestry of East Indians who settled in the Caribbean. The emergence of traditional chutney in the 1940s, alongside the longstanding practice of classical singing, not only laid the groundwork for chutney soca but also provided a lifeline for talented musicians navigating economic challenges, ultimately transforming music into their livelihood.
Over the years, the Mere Desh organisation has been a steadfast supporter of traditional Indo-Trinidadian music, providing a platform for the preservation of these art forms. Praimsingh has also championed children's participation in these events. The competition is open to youth 20 years and under.
Spearheading the event since the death of her father in 2015, Savitree Praimsingh said she believes "the future pioneers of classical/singing and chutney music need incentives and platforms to flourish.
"These talented individuals often lack the resources to express their abilities, and that is precisely where Mere Desh steps in – to provide an outlet for their talents.”
For its tributes this year, Mere Desh will honour Yankaran, aka D Raja, and will feature the classical and chutney singer in a performance. Yankaran was given the title D Raja, which means the king, by the late Praimsingh.
Yankaran's father, the late classical singer Isaac Yankaran, who was known as the Wonder Boy, will also be honoured.
Several other people who have contributed to the promotion of Indian culture will also receive awards.
Special performances will come from the Princess Priya Dance Group, Biraha Raja, Central Youngsters Tassa Drummers, Pardesiya Dance Group, Seeta Devi Dance Group and harmonica player Taramatee Maharaj.
On the rationale used in selecting the awardees, Savitree said, “This year’s tribute was chosen to propagate and keep our traditional artforms alive. All of our recent tributes and themes have been surrounded by this objective, actually.
"The Yankaran family is a very talented family that has made a tremendous contribution to the chutney landscape of TT and the Indo-Caribbean diaspora internationally. Most importantly, they have kept the traditional elements of the genre alive today.
"I think that we do not pay much attention to the championing cause and role that people play in culture until they pass on. This is why it is so important to honour them for their contrib
