Comprehensive
COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL – REUNION TICKETS AVAILABLE
The Comprehensive HS Alumni are holding a reunion on July 11, 2009 at Antun’s in NY. Grads from other schools (CHS-JCCSS; LCGSS) are also welcome to buy tickets. According to Joe Ragnauth “tickets will be available for them”. Tickets cost $75. For more info pls check out the Comprehensive High School website:
http://www.comprhsnhs.com/news_events.php
Rishi Singh
One Response to “Comprehensive HS Reunion/Tickets”
- Julius Nathoo Says:
March 12th, 2009 at 4:35 pm edit
Excellent liaison between the two schools. I commend this enterprise. It is reminiscent of the mutual respect that prevailed between J.C.Chandisingh and Rudra Nath.
I am positive that it has the blessing of these two great pioneers.
COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL – REUNION
I saw Comprehensive High School is having a reunion. I didn’t see any ticket information. I know of several people who are interested in attending. It will be great if the contact information can be posted on the JCCSS site. Thanks.
Yamonee
Yamonee, Joe Ragnauth will be sending me some info to publish.
They must not be forgotten
It is indeed so refreshing to read your comments since men like Mr. Chandisingh and Mr. Rudra Nauth must never be forgotten. They did so much for so many in such a difficult period. I worked as a staff member for both of these noble minds and indeed I must say how much I benefited. Thanks for any
support on the re-union on July 11, 2009 as a tribute to Mr. Nauth and all who contributed to the cause of education.
Harry Ghaness
Former Teacher – CHS and Comprehensive HS
7 Responses to “They must not be forgotten”
- Rishi Singh Says:
March 4th, 2009 at 7:45 pm edit
Harry,
We were both on the CHS teaching staff around the same time, idealistic teenagers that we were at the time!! I remember we were both at Chetram Khilawan’s wedding – when was that, 1974? The ineluctable march of time, such as it is, has now rendered us eligible for membership of the AARP … but life was so much different back then that one wonders whether the Cold War wasn’t a more agreeable dispensation …
You can count on our support anytime.
- Professor Paul Erriah Says:
March 4th, 2009 at 9:50 pm edit
I am hoarse from teaching a three hour class(one session per week) on Wednesday 6:30pm-9:30pm.So I am typing and shutting UP!
Rudra Nath provided a School in the Rose Hall Swamp Section where they cleared all the Grab Grass and the school was a physical replication of the loggie we lived before that in Plantation Albion.
I know this since my Didi(sister) lived in the neighborhood. THAT MAN PROVIDED AN ALTERNATIVE FOR STUDENTS WHO COULD NOT GO TO CHS DUE TO SPACE AND DISTANCE!!
He became my friend and I even interviewed him on my Radio program in New York on WTHE Radio 1500AM with Fenton Ramsohoye in the late1970s. Rudra passed in Florida and to have his name mentioned here is DEFINITELY ICONIC! OM NAMA SHIVA YA!
I am indeed exhilarated that his pass students are meeting to celebrate their gratitude for what they have become because of RUDRA and their parents!!
Sincerely,
PROFESSOR ERRIAH
- Syd Latchana Says:
March 5th, 2009 at 5:27 pm edit
I would like to applaud the former students of the Corentyne Comprehensive School and other related high schools for coming together to honour and pay tribute to the great educator, Mr Rudra Nauth.
Although I knew him some what on the Corentyne, I really got to know the real Rudra Nauth in the early 1970’s when I was a full student attending Ryerson University in Toronto and we both used to live in the same apartment building in the east end of the city. Most weekends, myself Rudra and his brother in law, Navin Seetaram, used to meet up socially. Rudra gave us a history of his upbringing on the West Coast of Demerara and his involvement with other activities before coming to the Corentyne to start his High School at the infamous Rock Diamond Hotel building in Rose Hall. Rudra made a significant contribution to secondary education on the Corentyne and many of his students are very thankful to him for their success.
I recall Rudra, in the early 1960’s, during his fund raising campaigns to build Comprehensive High School visiting various villages in the late evenings and nights holding meetings under gas lamps and pleading with the villagers for assistance. I attended one such meeting held at the market square at Fyrish Road and one of the other speakers at this meeting was no other than Julius Nathoo who had then recently joined Rudra’s staff after his departure from CHS.
Also, Rudra was quite a dedicated sports enthusiast- motor cycling and car racing. I was present at one such event held at the Esplanade Park in New Amsterdam in the mid 1960’s where Rudra driving his Mini Cooper won the coveted trophy by defeating all his competitors.
May God bless the soul of this wonderful and selfless individual.
Syd
- Julius Nathoo Says:
March 5th, 2009 at 9:18 pm edit
Syd:
Rudra had great mechanical know-how. He had bought a special portable generator for these meetings and with it we “electrified” the venue. I have written a special blog to record the breadth of this enterprise. Rishi will soon release it.
I have also written one on Rudra for the Rose Hall High/Comprehensive website which , I am told, will soon be launched.
- Syd Latchana Says:
March 6th, 2009 at 10:19 am edit
Jules:
Yes, indeed Rudra had a great mechanical mind and know-how. He could have fixed or solved any mechanical problems. This self taught individual started out his career as a bicycles’ repairman on the West Coast of Demerara. Also, he used to do his own tune ups on his motor cycle and car which he used to race with in Guyana and most times defeated his competitors.
On his fund raising campaigns, he had started out briefly with the gas lamp in the nights but shortly after bought his portable generator because the crowds grew too large and came in droves to listen to dynamic speakers like yourself electrifing them.
I am really looking forward to your blog on him. Whenever Rudra visited Toronto, he always enquired from his in laws about me. The last time I saw him in Toronto and we had lunch together was in the spring of year 2002, about a year prior to his passing away.
Syd
- Julius Nathoo Says:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:21 pm edit
Your memory, Syd, is once again encyclopaedic.
I once took my bike to him to be fixed. He looked at me and laughed.
Then he said: Jules, when I was a child. . . Now I am a man; I have put away childish things.
Then he proceeded to fix my bike!
What a guy!
He lived with me for a short time here in London, Ontario but his mind was not in London. His wife was not here. After a few months he left either for Toronto or New York. I met him again at the Rose Hall High School Reunion where his own students showed an inability to listen to him. Mainly because they had no less than ten speakers before him!
I was later to experience a similar fate in New York. The organizers must be blamed.
There is going to be a Reunion in New York in New York in July. Hope the organizers have learnt from all this or woe betide the guest speaker. People have to learn to put away their egos for these occasions.
- Syd Latchana Says:
March 6th, 2009 at 1:27 pm edit
Hi Jules:
I am sure Rudra fixed your bike and did a great job at absolutely no charge. When he left you in London, Rudra came to Toronto to join his wife who had arrived from Guyana. They stayed with his wife’s brother, Navin Seetaram, for sometime in the same apartment building where we lived before they departed for New York.
Myself and wife were also present at the Rose Hall High School Reunion held in Mississauga in year 1995. My wife, Mela (nee Madhoo) had attended Comprehensive. When Rudra arrived that evening at the hall where the function was kept, he welcomed me warmly with open arms at the entrance as we had arrived at the same time with him.
I have to agree with you that there were too many speakers at the Rose Hall High School Reunion and the speeches were quite lengthy. Very little time was available that evening to meet, greet, socialize with those we had not seen for sometime and to dance the evening away. In my opinion, this is all what a reunion is all about and speeches should be limited. However, we were just guests like yourself and others and had no part in planning this function. Hopefully, we all learn from the past and the next one will be better.
Syd
Two Corentyne Icons
Corentyne High School was an envy of many institutions in Guyana, especially for its administration and quality of education delivered in the Corentyne area. As a student of Rose Hall High School and Comprehensive, I am delighted that we can reciprocate in our understanding of the origins and success of the schools.
With respect to Mr. Chandisingh and Mr. Rudra Nath, it was characteristic of these men of profound decency and honesty, who could have been easily swayed by the temptations of riches and privileges, but instead manifested selfless sacrifices for the benefits of students of their schools. Their acts were noble and magnanimous. Their traits have now disappeared from the earth.
Please spread the word of our re-union July 11th 2009 @ Antuns, Queens Village.
Sincerely,Joe Ragnauth
Alumnus, Corentyne Comprehensive HS
5 Responses to “Corentyne Icons”
- Julius Nathoo Says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm edit
Noble sentiments eloquently expressed. I agree with you but not in totality. Nobility and magnanimity live on in their students and in those who were fortunate to work under them. Nor will their traits ever “disappear from the earth.” They are live sparks of the Divine Fire.
- Rishi Singh Says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:34 pm edit
Joe,
Both Mr. Chandisingh and Mr. Nath were transformational leaders and innovative luminaries of their day. That many decades after we still remember them with fondness and awe is testament to our sublime assessment of their legendary traits and legacies you speak so well of.
I thank you for reaching out and planting the seeds of friendship on our web pages. Our cricket match this Summer will be a further harbinger of enduring cordialities.
- Abel Peters Says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 pm edit
Joe:
Please allow me to congratulate you on taking the initiative in establishing your school’s web-site, spearheading the upcoming reunion, and reaching out to “planting the seeds of friendship” with us, CHS alumni. I’ve always known you as a relentless go-getter – both with matters relating to your esteemed alma mater and to your involvement, over the years, in the drive to make things better for your fellow Guyanese. I know you have not been accorded the recognition you deserve but, then again, you are not one to go tooting your own horn fishing for accolades. I know also that with you at the forefront, your reunion will be succesful. I look forward to render my support and to be there at Antons!
Joe,
Nice post.
The Comprehensive reunion is a great idea. I knew from Julip Singh and Walter Ramdeholl that this was in planning since last year. Rudra Nauth was indeed a very good and respectable man and a great educator. I remember the exodus from Rose Hall Reef and the struggle under the most difficult circumstances to hold the school together at Port Mourant Racetrack. The school came a long way.
We are also delighted to participate in the cricket match on July 12 and look forward to seeing our Comprehensive HS friends at Antuns on July 11.
- Julius Nathoo Says:
March 4th, 2009 at 5:57 pm edit
My dear nephew, Joe:
I support your noble cause with all my heart!