NCIC
Issue 2
FORTY-EIGHT YEARS OF THE NCIC
single entry contained even a few words
July 19th 2012 marked the forty-eighth of Hindi or Bhojpuri, and the tunes and
(48th) anniversary of the founding of the music were mostly influenced by tradiNational Council of Indian Culture tions other than our own.
(NCIC), an organisation dedicated to the Have we gone too far away from our
promotion and propagation of Indo- roots to generate a revival? The answer
Trinibagonian culture, a culture that was seems to be in the affirmative. However,
brought by our forefathers from India there are serious attempts at preserving
during their long period of Indentureship. the authenticity by many groups in our
The basis of our culture derives from the country. For example, local classical singbowels of the Indo-Gangetic plains of ing; classical music and songs; classical
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the North In- and folk dances; folk singing; religious
dian states from whence our forebearers bhajans; customs and traditions as we
came, bringing with them the whole see in Hindu weddings; in Pujas; and
gamut of Indian culture - music ,song, other religious activities. Dress and food
dance, religion, dress, values etc. - trans- too, we have continued to preserve. In
ported wholesale to their new homeland. dress particularly, there has been an
Against tremendous odds they managed upsurge as we see now in practically all
to retain all that they had brought with Indo-Trinbagonian cultural and religious
them and which they passed on with functions. The latter can be traced to the
easy availability and affordability of
each succeeding generation.
traditional East Indian clothing which was
Today we can boast that we Indo- not the case perhaps just ten years ago.
Trinbagonians are proud of our culture What was then available was beyond
which we of the NCIC have pledged to the reach of the ordinary Indopreserve and promote for our future Trinidadian folk.
generations. Cross-cultural influences in a
multicultural society such as ours, how- The NCIC over these past forty-eight
ever, are bound to affect the purity of years has played its role in ensuring the
what was handed down to us, more so survival of our culture by promoting auwhen we have allowed the languages of thentic Indo-Trinbagonian traditions in all
our forefathers - Hindi, Bhojpuri, Awadhi areas. The NCIC also recognises the efand Urdu - to practically disappear from forts of all the other groups who are
promoting our traditions in a similar manour land.
ner and feels that with all of our efforts
It was sad to see that in a recently held together we will be able to overcome
local song competition by the NCIC for whatever obstacles may be before us.
the 50th Independence Anniversary cele- The NCIC pledges to double its effort s
bration of Trinidad and Tobago, not one in this regard and is prepared to join all
other groups that have similar objectives.
These past few years have seen a vast
improvement in the physical infrastructure of our facilities which is there for all
to see who have visited the compound.
Much still has to be done but Godwilling, we will continue to bui ld and upgrade and make the Nagar a place of
which we can all be truly proud. Our
immediate plans, apart from continually
improving our infrastructure, are to set
up a Heritage Gallery and a Library
dedicated to our culture and the Indian
Diaspora. Plans are already afoot to
make both a reality in the coming years.
In September 2012, I am indeed happy
to announce that we will induct persons
into our Hall of Pioneers; who have
served and helped develop our country
in whatever field. This year is our seventh
(7th) induction ceremony wherein we
have researched and documented the
contributions of our citizens of East Indian
descent. We will incorporate this Hall
into our Heritage Gallery preserving for
all times the story of the Pioneers and
their invaluable efforts in improving the
lives not only of the Indo-Tribagonians,
but of all of our citizens.
In this the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Trinidad and Tobago, the
NCIC extends heartiest congratulations
to all and pray to the Almighty for the
continuing growth of our country in a
manner that the lives of all of our citizens
will be improved.
Deokinanan Sharma, LLD (Honoris Causa)
"Sanskriti Vaahana - The Vehicle of Culture"
An initiative of the Youth Arm of the National Council of Indian Culture
Would you like to contribute to
the content of this newsletter?
Do you have a suggestion or a
comment?
www.ncictt.com
National Council of Indian Culture of Trinidad and Tobago
www.twitter.com/ncictt
2
November 2012
The Sanskriti Vaahana
November 2012 Team:
Mr. Deokinanan Sharma
(Editor-in-Chief)
Ms. Amrica Seepersad
Ms. Nesha Abiraj
Ms. Aneela Bhagwat
(Committee Members)