Articles by Janet Jagan
Cheddi Jagan - a real life success story
by Janet Jagan(Text of an address given at Babu John on March 3, 2002)
Cheddi Jagan's whole life is a success story - a record of achievements. Despite so many obstacles and setbacks, he succeeded in everything he started.
As a student, life was hard for him. Attending Queen's College, Cheddi certainly did not have it easy. He stayed with a family in Georgetown that believed in the caste system and treated him with scorn and arrogance. At school, he lacked most of the things students from well-to-do families had, but it never deterred him.
Going abroad was a matter of luck, and he made the most of it. Besides the passage raised by his father for the trip to the USA, he had no other financial backing and had to work his way through university, up to the time he became a Doctor of Dental Surgery.
The archives at the Cheddi Jagan Research Center include a letter written to him when he became President. The writer said he remembered Cheddi who was the "elevator boy" in the residential hotel he lived in during the '40s; and was happy at his advancement. All through his academic years, he worked an 8-hour day/night shift and came out on top in his studies.
As a professional, a dentist, he was the very best. His practice of dentistry before he left it to go into political life full-time, was a reflection of his character and behaviour all his life. He gave only the best; second best was out of his range. He never shortchanged his patients and refused to abide by the high-controlled fees of the other dentists. He always discussed with his patients what they could afford and adjusted fees to meet their pockets. He felt strongly about poor dentistry and covering teeth with gold crowns. He helped break that pattern which was a craze in the '40s and '50s, concentrating on good dental health for both adults and children - the latter being neglected until he came on the scene.
As a family man, he was a role model. He did his best to give his brothers and sisters an education. He was a loving son to his mother and father, helping them as they had helped him. To his own children he was a caring father - a hero. He enjoyed being a grandfather and had fun with them, as well as guiding them. I recall how he would cut fruit for them and encourage them to eat local foods and not so many sweets. As a husband, he was understanding and demonstrated his genuine belief in the equality of women.
In politics, he was many things - an idealist who felt the pain of the world's homeless and poor, a visionary, some said, way ahead of his time, an academic who read deeply and studied documents and books all his adult life, a writer who has left a huge amount of his writings, now housed at the Cheddi Jagan Research Center. And of course, his main role in Guyana as a leader, a teacher and an activist who never lost touch with the people he led.
By his wisdom and the love and respect held for him by the masses, he liberated Guyana twice - once from British colonial rule and then, he fought tirelessly to win the return of democracy - which he achieved in 1992 - another success story.
Before he died, he set Guyana on a course for recovery after the dreadful 28 years of PNC rule which had devastated Guyana.
Cheddi Jagan's life is one of achievements - in overcoming the most difficult obstacles and in giving the leadership Guyana needed over the last half century.
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009
Remembering Cheddi - national unity
should be the watch wordMarch 5, 2003 by Janet Jagan
The world over, people campaign to change unjust systems or to support a cause that they feel strongly about. In Guyana, Cheddi Jagan was one such person. Throughout his life he fought to create a better world for each and every Guyanese and, in so doing, he made a very significant contribution to this nation’s history.
It is the supreme test of man’s character to overcome the trials of adversity and disaster. This, Dr. Jagan understood only too well, for his life was an exquisite statement of struggle, first as a child; then as a student; as a nationalist; a political leader and finally, as Guyana esteemed statesman.
In the hostile colonial environment in which the natural progression of his country was first frustrated and subsequently truncated by the Anglo-American Alliance, to the cruel travesty of twenty eight years in the political opposition, Dr. Jagan confronted unquestionable adversity yet he was forever optimistic, convinced that history and time were always on the side of the just.
Six years after his death there are undoubtedly many things on which we might choose to dwell. There was firstly the man himself- committed, honest, and compassionate. Then there was the contemplative scholar and reflective leader, forever thoughtful and analytical, discussing, advocating and, of course, writing. There was also the anti-colonial firebrand and nationalist political leader, ever championing the twin causes of the anti-colonial struggle and the national liberation process. There was, as well, the compassionate internationalist stridently advocating the cause of the dispossessed the world over.
Dr Jagan’s philosophical ideas and political actions constituted the foundation on which this nation was originally conceptualized. They were the well spring, the very seminal essence of the great man. Every Guyanese, great or small, understood where Dr Jagan stood. They knew that he felt their pain and their hunger. That he shared their hopes and aspirations and that he was committed to creating a better Guyana for them, their children and their children’s children. A society in which all were equal and were treated as equals. A society in which there was a place for the fullest development of their peculiar attributes. In Guyana, Dr Jagan was the most powerful voice for the poor, the dispossessed and ‘the wretched of the earth’.
Dr Jagan, has made a distinguished contribution, in theory and practice, to the transformation of the political culture, the termination of British imperial hegemony and the beginnings of the development of a modern independent state in Guyana. While there are other roles and contributions for which he will be revered, it is truly through his political leadership and for the formation of the Guyana state that he will be remembered by future generations in his own country and the world far beyond it.
It is apposite that we also remember his preoccupation with creating, facilitating and sustaining the process of national unity. It was his belief that unity was the primary means of attaining peace, progress and prosperity and he never stopped searching for ways and means of molding the classes and races into a strong and united Guyana. It is a sad but necessary commentary that with his passing this nation has been plunged into the abyss of ethic rancour and civil unrest.
The issue here must be the continuing quest for national unity. Certainly if we are truly convinced that Dr Jagan deserves the respect of this nation, and there will be few to deny that he does, then certainly Guyana owes it to his memory to redouble our efforts to ensure that national unity once again enjoys the type of priority he would have preferred.
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009
Remembering Cheddi –March 2004
by Janet JaganIt was, as before, a grand occasion and unforgettable. Thousands gathered at Babu John, Port Mourant on Friday, March 5, 2004 to celebrate the life of the late President of Guyana and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Cheddi Jagan.
They came from all over the Corentyne and as far away as Linden. Many walked the long road into Babu John in the burning sun, at its hottest around 2-3 pm on that cloudless Friday. Among the thousands who by the way, unconcerned about the foolish call by Kaiteur News to boycott the ceremony, were many of the Party stalwarts who have stood by their Party for decades. There they were, many now old and/or ill, and many of the younger Party activists, full of vigour and commitment to their Party and attending to acknowledge their love and faith in their leader of a half century, Cheddi Jagan.
The ceremony began with the laying of wreaths and flowers at the place of Cheddi Jagan’s cremation in March 1997, now a beautiful monument to this great and beloved Guyanese. I brought from home a spray of yellow orchids to lay on the monument, flowers which are blooming from plants Cheddi lovingly grew. When not hard at work, which was greatly limited, he loved working in his yard, planting fruit trees and flowers. He immensely enjoyed this form of relaxation.
In between the speeches were very impressive cultural items. Those who planned the programme, built the stage and the area for the seated audience and decorated the area are to be praised for their achievements. Everything was perfect and showed the love and devotion of those who laboured to make the occasion a success.
Three youths read passages from Dr Jagan’s "West on Trial." Very appropriate! There was an item of Tassa drumming and African drumming. Twice the talented singer Gordon Lewis sang very moving songs of his own creation about Cheddi Jagan. Many wept at his song about Cheddi’s life.
Speakers included General Secretary of the PPP Donald Ramotar, two-times PPP Minister Brindley Benn, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, President Bharrat Jagdeo and myself. All were well received and all told an aspect of the life of Cheddi Jagan.
When we remember Cheddi, we must also remember, aside from all he did in his public life, the ideas and concepts he expressed in his unbelievably prolific writings. He had written many books and articles in his lifetime, notably "Forbidden Freedom" after the 1953 suspension of the Guyana Constitution and "West on Trial," written immediately after he was forced out of office in 1964 as a result of the coalition of the US and UK, bent on denying him office during independence.
Since his death, many other publications of his writings have been printed, the most notable being "Cheddi Jagan: My Fight For Guyana’s Freedom," reflections on her father by my daughter Nadira Jagan-Brancier. This beautiful book with over 350 photographs of Dr Jagan, was her loving tribute to the father she adored. She also edited and published "A New Global Human Order," knowing how strongly her father felt on this subject. In fact, she did two printings of this worthwhile book.
I am fortunate to have a daughter who has not only published and promoted his books, but she spends much time going through his papers as well as establishing and maintaining a website known as Cheddi Jagan - Guyana’s hero http://jagan.org. I invite all readers to check into this remarkable website and learn more about Cheddi Jagan.
Also Nadira and others have been responsible for the establishment of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre at Red House, which is one of the greatest tributes to this outstanding man.
New books are constantly being published, the latest which was launched at Red House last December, compiled and edited by Dr David Dabydeen, assisted by the Centre’s able archivist Mr Dudley Kissoore, consists of correspondence by Dr Jagan over the period of the 1940’s to the 1960’s. Also being prepared for yet another printing is "West on Trial" which his daughter Nadira is working on right now.
All over Guyana, from the Interior and along the coastal belt, commemorative activities are taking place this month, under the banner: "Remembering Cheddi." Active in this are the youth and women’s organizations which he helped build and nurture and leading stalwarts of the Party he built.
All are involved and all remember Cheddi and pledge to further the ideals for which he stood!
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2009
