Georgetown: As part of the activities to commemorate former President, the late Dr Cheddi Jagan’s birth and death anniversary, a portrait of the late Head of State was mounted on recently at the secondary school he attended.
Speaking at the event on Monday, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) stalwart and former deputy Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Hydar Ally said the month of March is a very significant month in Guyana’s history since it marks both the death and birth anniversary of the late President.
He explained, “As you are aware, this month of March is a very significant month in the calendar of this country because this is the month Dr Jagan died and is also the month he was born. As you know, he was born on March 22 and died on March 6, 1997. Because of the significance of this month, we thought that it would be a great initiative to mount a portrait of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan at the school he attended.”
Ally stated that the mounting of the portrait is the third such exercise held to commemorate the former President. Another portrait mounting exercise was held earlier in March at the two primary schools he attended in Berbice, where he was born and grew up with his parents.
Dionne Fries, who is also a board member at the Cheddi Jagan Research Institute (CJRI), highlighted the humble beginnings of the former President, who is largely referred to as the ‘father of the nation.’
Fries felt that Dr Jagan’s achievements after coming from a home where both of his parents were illiterate – his father, Jagan, barely received three years of schooling – should be used as an example to all.
“Dr Jagan was able to come from very humble beginnings, very humble background where his parents were illiterate and thanks to education, he became the President of the country,” Fries pointed out.
She explained that after completing secondary school, the former President had difficulties acquiring a job and following the advice of a friend, he travelled to the United States and studied dentistry.
This move was a step in the path to becoming President of Guyana from 1992 to 1997 when he died on March 6 at the age of 78.
Dr Jagan was born on March 6, 1918 to indentured sugar workers Bachoni (mother) and Jagan (father) who had arrived in British Guiana as infants with their mothers from the district of Basti in Uttar Pradesh, India.
According to published articles, Dr Jagan’s father wanted a better life for him than he could have provided since though he was dedicated to his job as a cane cutter until he was promoted to a driver, wages were not sufficient and the family lived in poverty. Hence, Jagan ensured his son received a proper education. At the age of 15, the late Dr Jagan was sent by his father to Georgetown where he attended secondary school and boarded with three families.
Dr Jagan left for the United States in September 1935, with two friends and returned to British Guiana in October 1943. He lived in Washington, DC for two years and attended Howard University, taking a pre-dental course, worked two summers in New York and spent the last five years in Chicago, Illinois, at Northwestern University.
After taking Social Sciences class, Dr Jagan married, Janet Rosenberg in August 1943 at the age of 21 before returning to Guyana in October with his wife following in December.
Following increasing popularity among sugar workers, he held the position of treasurer of the ManPower Citizen’s Association before eventually joining the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). He was Prime Minister of Guyana in 1953 before becoming President.
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