R.I.P. Narsaloo Ramaya

[eliteauto]

He may not be well known to many tuners but he was instrumental in East Indian culture locally, and a man whose family opened their home to me for the 8 years I lived there. Rest In Peace "Papi"

Cultural icon Narsaloo Ramaya dies in sleep

Cultural icon Narsaloo Ramaya, 84, died quietly in his sleep on Friday evening.

Ramaya was instrumental in the formation of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) in 1964. He was honoured with the Hummingbird Bronze Medal for his invaluable contribution to Indian Classical music in 1970.

Former government minister and well-known cultural activist, Kamalludin Mohammed paid glowing tribute to Ramaya yesterday, describing him as a person who worked hard towards the preservation and the development of culture in TT.

“We have lost an icon and a pioneer. Someone who was well respected, a musician and a teacher who dedicated his life towards culture in this country,” Mohammed said as he extended condolences to the family of Ramaya.

He said all persons who have benefited from Ramaya’s work were now in grief on his passing. He noted that Ramaya was one of the few musicians to have journeyed for performances in London, and Canada in the early 1960s.

President of the NCIC, Dr Deokinanan Sharma, said Ramaya served the council for more than twenty-five years as vice-president and he was instrumental in setting the pace for Divali Nagar and other national and international activities at the council.

Sharma extended condolences to the bereaved family saying the council plans to further honour Ramaya in due course for his contribution to Indian culture in TT.

He went on to say Ramaya did indepth research on Indian culture and compiled several papers on events, and data from the early days of indentureship in Trinidad and Tobago.

As a tribute to Ramaya, the NCIC, in collaboration with the Chaguanas Borough Corporation named the street leading to the Divali Nagar compound the “Narsaloo Ramaya Marg.”

Born in 1919 in the Forres Park Sugar Estate of Claxton Bay, Ramaya, the son of Indian indentured labourers, loved and enjoyed Indian music.

His parents, who came to TT from India in 1912, first settled in Claxton Bay but eventually moved to Duncan Street, Port-of-Spain in 1931 when Ramaya was ten and where he enrolled in the Bethlehem RC School.

It was after viewing the first ever Indian movie to show in Trinidad, Bala Joban in the year 1935 (at the Globe Cinema in Port-of-Spain), that his passion for Indian music and song was ignited and he was inspired to purchase his first violin.

He became an accomplished, self-taught violinist who led the Naya Zamana Orchestra and later formed the Triveni Orchestra (Now JMC 3Veni lead by Veerendra Persad).

He represented Trinidad and Tobago at various international musical festivals and was the recipient of many awards including the Hummingbird Medal. Ramaya was a teacher, retired as a school principal and also served as a Research Officer in the Ministry of Culture.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,179592.html

http://www.hindisongstt.com/artist_detail.php?id=55

[Sumana.00]

jai ho RIP

[dougla_boy]

RIP meng

[~Vēġó~]

rip Ram

[Mr.Bollywood]

Although I did not know him R.I.P , may his soul be blessed

[zcarz]

I only know him because my gps does say turn onto narselloo rameya street when I going to price plaza

[shogun]

Just read up on him.

R.I.P to a cultural icon.



Narsaloo Ramaya the great violinist of Trinidad and Tobago was born in the year 1919 in the Forres Park Sugar Estate of Claxton Bay. He was the son of Indian Indentured labourers. At the tender age of 10 Narsaloo's Family moved to Port Of Spain where he grew up and attended Primary school. From a very young age he enjoyed listening to Indian 78 Rpm on the Family Gramophone. Narsaloo had a moving experience after viewing the first ever Indian Movie to show in Trinidad Bala Joban in the year 1935 at the Globe Cinema in Port Of Spain. This is where his interest towards Indian music began, thereby inspiring him to purchase his first violin. Despite not having any formal training, he blossomed into one of the top violinist in the land. He later became a key member of the Naya Zamana Orchestra, fellow members included in this band were a very talented group of performers Taran Persad, Jhagroo Kawal, Nazeer Mohammed and Jang Bahadoor. In 1965 Narsaloo Ramaya became the leader of the Naya Zamana during which time they performed in England at the Commonwealth Arts Festival and later at the Expo in Montreal, Canada. In 1970 Narsaloo Ramaya was honoured with the Hummingbird Bronze Medal for his invaluable contribution to Indian Classical music in Trinidad and Tobago. In the late 1970's he gave up his responsibilities with this band and he later formed the Triveni Orchestra. He has served as a main judge on the Television programme Mastana Bahar since 1978 for a great number of years. This gifted artiste has received many awards from a number of local organizations for his exceptional contribution to the arts and entertainment. The National Council of Indian Culture named a street, the "Narsaloo Ramaya Marg,"which is a fitting tribute to this remarkable icon who has selflessly given of himself to the development of Indian music and culture in Trinidad and Tobago. (Copyright Nisha Sharma 2013)

http://www.hindisongstt.com/artist_detail.php?id=55

[zcarz]

RIP very accomplished

[RedTiger]

Well known ... RIP Ram

[Hook]

Triveni had a much richer heritage than I thought

[cinco]

dam tbh i thought he was dead a long time ago
RIP

[2 d Max Auto]

RIP to an ICON...............

Condolences Eliteauto

[Sky]

A fitting death for a boss I must say. Peacefully in his sleep.

RIP.

[Country_Bookie]

His parents, who came to TT from India in 1912, first settled in Claxton Bay but eventually moved to Duncan Street, Port-of-Spain in 1931 when Ramaya was ten and where he enrolled in the Bethlehem RC School.

How times have changed eh? Not even the ppl living on Duncan St now want to live there, far less for ppl from other communities.

I wonder what he thought of this generation of rum till I die chutney singers.

[kurpal_v2]

BODOW to the departed

[Dizzy28]

Mentioned this to my father Wednesday and he was actually taken aback. Narsalloo thought my father and all my Uncles in Tunapuna Hindu School back in the 50s.