A column of Guyanese music passing on
Dear Editor,
Seeta Panday, a pillar of the Indo-Guyanese community in America has passed on. He died Sunday afternoon at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He was in hospital for a few weeks. He died of COVID issues Saturday night in a hospital.
Seeta is known as the Melody Queen of Guyana. She was well known among Guyanese, Trinis, and Indian citizens as a legendary artiste. Community leaders expressed their grief over her demise. She held a special place in the heart of the Indian diaspora for her singing talent and generosity at community events. When she was kept in hospital, prayers were for her to recover. She had legions of fans, who are sad to hear of her demise. The Indo-Guyanese, Indo-Caribbean communities are in shock as news of her death makes the rounds with tributes pouring in from fans, community leaders, religious figures, and Indian music lovers.
Seeta, as she was popularly known, was recognized by Indo-Guyanese community leaders as not only a great singer but also a great human being. He sang Bollywood, local Chatney, and devotional songs. She has recorded several albums over the past thirty years. He also led several groups on trips to India. He captivated audiences throughout the US, Trinidad, Canada, India and his native Guyana.
Seeta performed at countless events. Her performances, comments with an evergreen voice, were bankable. He sang solo and duo as well as in choral performances. Her voice captivated audiences wherever she performed. And performed in various venues in America as well as in Canada, India, Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica. She carved a special place for devotional songs relating to Diwali and religious services. The community expressed an outrage over his passing.
She will be remembered for her amazing Hindi Filmi bhajans and songs with her inspiring voice. He contributed to charitable philanthropic service, the way many did not. She never told a request. She committed to her people. There was hardly a public event that involved singing Indian songs (Hindi, Bhojpuri, Guyanese dialect) that she was not asked to put in a performance. Her presence at public events has always been recognized for her position in the Indo-Guyanese and Indo-Caribbean community. She gave of her service already without payment. He performed at countless events including at every India Arrival Day celebrations in New York going back two decades.
Seeta was a true patriot, a loyal servant of the Guyanese diaspora in America. He supported and lent a helping hand to fund Guyanese, Indo-Caribbean, and Indian diaspora related events. She was at the annual Guyana Independence Day and Indian Independence Day events. Her presence was noted at the India Day parade as well as in the Diwali and Holi marches. She was honored for her singing talent and charitable, community activities by dozens of organizations. Unfortunately, she was neither recognized nor honored by the governments of Guyana or Trinidad or India for her contributions to the diaspora of those nations.
As noted by Dr. Tara Singh, President of the Guyana Democracy Project, “With Seeta’s death, the community is very sad. She is a great singer, a legend. She is a cultural icon. She is one of the most respected and versatile vocalists of Indian, Indo-Caribbean and Guyanese diasporas. Her community work is immeasurable. We have lost a great soul, a wary personality. No one can take her place ”.
Indo-Caribbean President Ralph Tamesh praised Seeta’s contributions to the Caribbean Federation of India for over thirty years. “She was a judge for various talent and beauty competitions at the Arrival Day celebrations. She entertained Seniors at the annual Christmas dinner. He brought many talents together, a mentor to vocalists. We will miss her involvement ”.
I am very fortunate to have attended countless events where Seeta performed including in mandirs, weddings, matticores, funerals, wakes, jhandis, Koran Shariefs. Bhagwats, Ramayanas, concerts, etc. She had a very warm, friendly, charming personality. She always had a gentle voice in her comments and a smiling face. She was never angry or upset with anyone.
Her death is a loss to the music fraternity as well as to the Indo-Guyanese community in America. My deepest sympathies to her family. May her soul rest in peace. Her family should take comfort in the fact that her musical legacy will last forever! Om Shanti!
Truly,
Bisram Vishnu