A Moment with Tomato Boy Business Magnate Bally Maharaj

Tomato Boy the nickname given by his recently deceased wife might be an apt description for this nation builder who holds the National Chaconia Gold Medal.

Popularly described as a Business Magnate, Bally Maharaj’s legacy is as much what he did as a grassroots entrepreneur from a tomato farmer and district corner shop and as a community leader who has focussed his attention on development of his hometown, Arima, the Royal Borough, and by extension the nation.

I joined the Acting Indian High Commissioner, His Excellency Raju Sharma and close friend Dolores Juteram, Past President of the Rotary Club of St Augustine, in a signal Hats off to Tomato Boy!

The eclectic mix of friends, well-wishers and speakers at the launch of his biography, Th Life and Lessons of Bally Maharaj – From Tomato Boy To Business Magnate is testimony to his easy reach across the multiethnic, multicultural community of his hometown Arima, which boasts of vibrant populations of First Peoples and descendants of the subsequent streams of migrants from Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific – India and China, Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.

The warm ceremony included an assemblage of the diverse communities from an invocation by Indigeneous Chief, Ricardo Bharath to cultural performances that represented the ethno-cultural mix with district educators, business people, politicians, family and friends.

As he openly grieved the passing of his wife while celebrating the heritage of his ancestors, tracing and retracing footprints from India to Trinidad, the publication of his life-efforts will remain one of the indelible moments in the memory of the Royal Borough.

His impact on a wide sphere of activities as cricket and sports, social and community infrastructure, the supermarket association and food sector.

Media Magnet

Dolores, who insisted that I accompany her to the literary event, was tickled when Maharaj shared the nightly news video of the event showing him autographing a copy of the book for me (see at the opening and in the video at 0.6 to 0.8 and 1.10 to 1.16. Media magnet if not magnate!

I continue to encourage you to tell your stories to counter the negative narratives of nationhood that defy the public representations that pervade political interpretations of our society.

Your life and lessons, as Bally Maharaj’s are valuable to understanding how we navigate the meandering landscapes of diversity. People like Bally Maharaj are quintessential of the metal and mettle from which generations have sprung.

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About Dr Kris Rampersad

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