The Dharm Shala (Home of Wellbeing for All Races), founded by Pandit Ramsaroop Maharaj, turns 100 today.
Pandit Maharaj founded the charity in 1921 after traveling all over Guyana. He was a gold dealer in his earlier years so that allowed him to travel to the most remote parts of Guyana, where he encountered the state of his countrymen.
On these trips, he saw their poverty, suffering and deprivation moved deep to the point where he knew he needed to play his part in tackling them. He was financially enabled early in life to give up his profession and commit to full-time voluntary service towards helping the less fortunate of Guyanese society.
With the support of the Colony Government and its own resources, it would build residential homes for the orphanage, as well as schools and churches in Georgetown and Berbice.
All services would be free of charge.
The Pandit was a regular and authorized visitor to the leprosy refuge, the Mental Asylum, the Penal Colony and settled disputes at Plantation Uitvlugt, De Kinderen and Tuschen. The Pandit was subsequently awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal and later an MBE in 1935.
Accompanying the Pandit whenever time was allowed was his eldest son, confidante and mentee, Harry Ramsaroop. The Pandit, while considering extending his charitable efforts to Essequibo county and suffering a chronic illness, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on October 11, 1950.
He had ensured his son Harry understood the importance of charity, so when he died, Harry resigned from his civil service job and continued with the charity for over 63 years.
He died in October 2013.
Under the stewardship of Harry Ramsaroop, the former Dharm Shala Residential Homes in Georgetown were torn down and replaced by two large concrete buildings with modern amenities.
Four other Dharm Shala buildings in Georgetown were also rebuilt / repaired.
The Hindu temple was also repaired and Albouystown Nursery School rebuilt.
Also, the Priest’s home within the Temple courtyard was renovated.
A chapel was also built – St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, next to Harry Ramsaroop’s home for the Christian residents of the Dharm Shala in Georgetown. Later, the Berbice Dharm Shala was rebuilt.
The Georgetown and Berbice Dharm Shala have a total of 11 Dharm Shala buildings and Harry would also find time to serve as Chairman of the Prison Assistance Fund for released prisoners and later Chairman of the YMCA for Albouystown. He would also hold other positions.
The Dharm Shala would become an icon of private charities, a household name and visited by royalty and visiting dignitaries.
Harry Ramsaroop was honored on three occasions – being awarded the MBE, MS, CCH for services to Guyana by colonial Governments and later the independent Government of Guyana.
Following his death in 2013, Harry Ramsaroop’s four daughters, Kella, Pamela, Ula and Pauline took over the running of the charity. Kella and Pamela undertake most of the work while Ula and Pauline provide voluntary service whenever time permits.
The siblings keep their father and grandfather’s legacy alive with the proper functioning of the charity.
One hundred years later and the Dharm Shala remains a safe haven for those in need.