ACCLAIMED HINDU LEADER VISITS T&T

HIS commanding presence, mastery of diction, and resonant voice made him an effective platform speaker.  

Trinidadian-born Canadian citizen Dr Balliram Chadee, 60, has thousands throughout the world listening to his lectures and following his charities.

For his work in the development of religious culture and his contribution to humanity, he has received several awards, including a Doctor of Letters, the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award, and Canadian Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.

He has also been honoured with the Hind Rattan Jewel of India award in New Delhi, in 2014, and the Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Gold Medal in 2012.

He has assisted victims of domestic violence and drug addiction on a path of recovery and well-being.

He uses voice therapy.

He said: “When someone prays routinely every day, he or she eventually gets the inner strength to battle any issue.

“It is attaining a certain power to tackle issues that are obstacles in the path of success.”  

Chadee is due to visit Trinidad and Tobago on February 25 to chant 121 Hanuman Chalisas (40 verses dedicated to the Hindu God, Hanuman) at Shree Ram Mandir, Mon Desir Road, Fyzabad.

This will commemorate 40 years in the service of humanity.

“I cannot think of any other place else I would rather celebrate but with my own people in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

“I want to call on Hanuman to save those who have been suffering as a result of violence.”

In a video call from his home in Ontario, Canada, Chadee spoke about his humble beginnings and a life of poverty that led him to pray hard for success.

“At the age of 11, I was about to write the then-Common Entrance exam and my grandmother was doing a puja (Hindu rituals) under a mango tree in the yard where I live,” he related.

He said he was so moved by the mantras (Sanskrit prayer) that he asked the pundit to teach him one that he can use to attain success in his exams.

The pundit gave him the prayer, which, translated into English, means: “I take refuge in Sri Hanuman, the one who is swift as thought, who is more powerful than the wind, who has conquered his senses, the best among the wise, the son of the wind-God, the commander of the army of forest creatures.

“Lord Rama’s messenger, the incomparable Lord Hanuman, I seek refuge in thee.”

Chadee said: “This was the turning point for me.

“Following this day, I became pious as I recited this mantra over and over again.”

Chadee believes that Hanuman saved him from doing wrong as a youth and showed him a path to prayer and devotion and service to people.

“This gift from my mother was proof that I was doing the right thing.”  

Chadee works 16 hours a day, spending much time on charities.

 “This is what keeps me going in life,” he said.

His goal in life is to build a state-of-the-art home for the aged in TT.

He said: “I see the older folks taken advantage.

“Many times, their children cannot find the time to look after them and they end up suffering and, in many cases, dying from a lack of care and compassion.”