Naipaul who passed away on August 11, 2018 would have been 86th
birthday. It is almost like the old colonial rhyme, if Naipaul’s life can be minimalized
into the weeklong life and times of Solomon Grundy.
But with all the acclamation pouring in on his death, the
awards he has from the literary world including the highest – the Nobel Award
for Literature; with more than 30 works to his name, two honours from the Queen
of the Commonwealth, and as holder of the highest national honour of Trinidad
and Tobago – the Trinity Cross, it cannot be said that Sir Vidia died
‘unnecessary and unaccommodated.’ (See Reflections on Naipaul this blog)
somewhat haunted by the sense of non-belonging and metaphoric homelessness that
surfaces in many of his works, captured in the early pronouncement in his epic
and most quoted biographical novel, A House for Mr Biswas: “How terrible it would have been…to have
lived without attempting to lay clam to one’s portion of the earth; to have
lived and died as one had been born, unnecessary and unaccommodated.”
contribution we will embark on a yearlong series of LiTTributes to the
LaureaTTes here and abroad in keeping with the LiTTributes that followed the
publication of LiTTscapes – Landscapes of Fiction from Trinidad and Tobago. See article image this page.
has been well -recognised in the critical acclaim, LiTTscapes defines and
captures the ‘sense of place’ of Naipaul and a hundred other writers, locating
them not only in landmarks, but also in cultures, lifestyles and experiences of
small island life.
of Derek Walcott, spearheaded with Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott in his 75th
years in conjunction with the Trinidad Theatre Worksop.(See Nobel Tears for and of A Neobel Bard this blog)
of LiTTributes to the LaureaTTes by which we will revive appreciation, respect
and understanding of the land, culture and peoples that inspired the works of
Trinidad-born Nobel Laureate Sir Vidia Naipaul who passed away last week on August 11, 2018, and Nobel Laureate Derek
Walcott who died two years ago on March 17, 2017.
the land of his birth, if at all. As I reminded on the death of Nobel Laureate
Derek Walcott with whom I collaborated over several years for culling a
literarily-friendly environment, we are not doing them, but ourselves, any
favours by such remembrances. All we can aim to do is pass on the value of
their ingenuity to next generations that is reflected in their life’s work.
traditions from which we have emerged to balance the celebration of mindlessness
which art we are also known to have refined and along the lines of presenting
this through events, activities and collaborations at home and abroad.
Caribbean, the Americas, Canada, the UK and Europe.
LiTTscapes at WhiteHall one of the Magnificent Seven in Port of Spain which
featured children reading and dramatisations and local cuisine represented in
LiTTscapes, the first LiTTribute to the
Republic took place in Trinidad and Tobago in commemoration of the Jubilee year
of Independence, and Republican status, hosted by the First Lady of Trinidad
and Tobago, Dr Jean Ramjohn Richards and the author of LiTTscapes at the 19th century
Knowsley Building in Trinidad’s capital.
Guyana was held in collaboration with Heritage building, Moray House and Guyana
Drama Guild with dances and dramatisations. Head of the Guyana Prize for literature
provided an appraisal and review of LiTTscapes. LiTTribute to the Antilles in
Antigua featured veteran authors and poets as well as the young poets, staged
amidst the heritage collections of the Antigua Museum
icon Royston Heath who carries his name, BBC’s Ros Atkins, director of
the Commonwealth Foundation, writer Lakshmi Persaud and others. Other
LiTTributes have been staged in Europe, America and Canada.
book Finding A Place, – that it unearths much
about his father Seepersad, that he, Naipaul did not know is the value to many other
Trinbagonian families in the diaspora whose history and heritage Finding
A Place traces back the hundred years from Naipaul acclaimed as “The
Lord of the English Language” through their processes of social, political and
cultural adaptation since their departure from the Motherland.
new edition, Finding a Place has been critically acclaimed as an original
and groundbreaking study in its mapping of the literary history and heritage of
our islands and the antecedents of writers as Sir Vidia Naipaul as it traces
the social, political, cultural and literary processes over the century that
saw the blossoming of a national literature and the nation of Trinidad and
Tobago into Independence.
Rampersad’s book takes an intimate look at the blossoming of Trinidad s
literary consciousness. Through the eyes and the words of the writers, she maps
their contribution to Indo Trinidadian literature from those evolutionary years
in 1850, to its flowering in the 1950s. It also represents a close look at the
exciting oral culture of these people as depicted by their music, dance and
storytelling, and examines the biographies of the main figures who contributed
to social, cultural, economic and political development throughout this period.
While the main focus of the work is on language and literary development, other
aspects of Trinidad’s development are also explored cross-culturation,
politics, race relations, social mobility and women’s issues in relation to
their influence and impact on the writings. Further, the raw material of
Finding A Place (12 little-known and rare publications between 1850 and 1950)
introduce a new set of data through which the evolution of Trinidad and Tobago
can be examined by others.
Naipaul and other writers, examined through family lore and reports,
manuscripts and collections. I looked at housed at the Naipaul collections at Universities
in America and Britain but written and oral accounts of many family histories
in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. This knowledge fed into LiTTscapes
as well. I am in the process of collating the full array of this research for
future study. (See more this blog
Demokrissy – www.kris-rampersad.blogspot.com).
and the genius of the likes of Nobel Laureate Sir Vidia Naipaul and
substantially inspired Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott and the literary canon of
Trinidad and Tobago. This is what Finding a Place began and LiTTscapes
celebrate. The LiTTributes and LiTTours launched in conjunction with the book
invite intimate engagement with not only writers, but to engage with those
elements of value in whatever spheres and fields, that create and sustain a
nation, including spheres of education.
Derek Walcott’ which included Evening Epic under the patronage of the then President
of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency George Maxwell Richards and the piloted five
awards for literature, drama and film in conjunction with the Trinidad Theatre
Workshop while we were producing Walcott’s musical Steel.
instituted on its national events’ calendar a week in tribute to its Nobel
Laureates. Movie Towne, which was a sponsor of what we pitched as the award for
film scripts, developed that with its partners into what has now become a
national film festival. Many of those who participated in those awards
developed confidence to advance their creative interests and there were many
other spinoffs.
Naipaul’s receipt of his Nobel Laureate in 2001.
Singh, had endorsed a proposal for then new National Library to be named after
Naipaul but there was widespread negative reception, even from among the so-
called intellectual and academic and many who should know better and be
supporting efforts to forge an enlightened society, not tear it apart.
Surveying the state of the country, riddled with crime, mindlessness and
disrespect of elders, groups and others, some of them may want to rethink their
stance and let go of animosities or other hostilities and recalcitrance in the
interest of next generations.
others in the national to international spheres to become partners and
associates. The ‘Year of LiTTributes to the LaureaTTes’ will include a number
of grassroots-driven developmental actions that would secure legacies of
learning, aspirations for excellence and appreciation for generations to come,
while stimulating new paths for economic, cultural, social and political
development.
actions to transform it. We have a historically ingrained cultural habits that
scoff and downplay achievement, intelligence, knowledge and book learning and
we are still saddled with systems that treat literature and learning as
elitist, exclusive clubs and cliques.
LiTTributes have infinite number of forms with a blueprint of many
exciting actions for anyone who may be interested in meaningful social development
and cultural transformation. These include but are not limited to developmental
initiatives associated with sprucing up or engagement with the natural, built
and cultural environment, some of which have been promoted by LiTTours and
LiTTeas and LiTTevents, but there are many more in our bag of innovation and
imagination.
understanding that break down animosities, make connections, foster
intergenerational and elderly appreciation and value the positive and creative
stimuli that spring from our natural social and cultural impulses, so as to
downplay those negative elements. By this, we will be not only reclaiming
‘writers’ in the process, but our environment and people as well.
try to impose forms and formats that frustrate the development and blossoming
of natural talents. Naipaul in fact summed up the education system in his
rather succinct satirical statement placed in the mouth a caricature of one of
his teachers as Queen’s Royal College, “the purpose of education is to form,
not to inform.” We are reaping the whirlwind of this depreciation of knowledge
and intelligence and uninformed approaches to development.
room outside the reading room,’ with LiTTscapes, LiTTributes, LiTTours
and related events, existing arenas become our classroom, whether it is
industrial or community spaces and our medium is those already practiced
lifestyle and habits — the vast and open landscapes, cultures, habits and
activities through which persons of any age, any field, interest or discipline
can identify, participate and share confidently his/her or their value with
others. They are geared to reawaken our sense of self, as several of the
reviewers of LiTTscapes have noted, but also to attract interest, and
investment as well. So the targets are not only to children and families and
communities and schools, but the industries and industrialists, social planners
and investors as well in a range of spheres too, who want to distill the best
of what they have to offer to their employees, investors and others. Other specific
elements of the vision to encourage those with resources to make more
meaningful investments in developing the social and cultural capitals of the
fields, spheres and districts they occupy – and not just in the physical sense
– will unfold as we move forward. There are many ways we can plant the best of
us into the landscapes and mindscapes of our country and people for the better
evolution of our society.
collaborations email Dr Rampersad with the subject ‘Laureates’ at lolleaves@gmail.com
and visit and follow developments on social media.
Links:
Games We Play LiTTours: https://goo.gl/ENum7X
video: https://youtu.be/A8TgWZPuEkE
Star Tops SEA: https://goo.gl/iNqt32
A.Bourdain and Aboud. Port of Spain and Lebanon : https://goo.gl/zwtyWq
a vehicle of understanding against extremism violence https://goo.gl/gpfGPp
https://goo.gl/xL3DEd
Museum http//goo.gl/FHs3Fr
mirror https://goo.gl/pvnX9d
Fellowship of Partnerships Book 11. A Sequel Futuring the Agenda Forward https://goo.gl/HU3rp3
Nationhood in contestation with globalisation: http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/2017/08/nationhood-in-contestation-with.html https://goo.gl/KWdUtx
/from-beirut-to-port-of-spain-how-west.html
Exploring a World Through MultiCultural Lenses
https://ift.tt/2veR3ei
affair
https://ift.tt/2haopDO
LiTTscapes for Littribute to the
Antilles
A LiTTribute at UNESCO
Inscription by UNESCO of Poems
Small only in Size UNESCO Executive
Board told
World in a Fishbowl
A Musical Heritage walk UNESCO
Creative Cities
Stone in Dana Seetahal Assassination
Creating Centres of Peace in
Trinidad and Tobago
The Price of Independence:#DanaSeetahalAssassination
Conceive. Achieve. Believe
Demokrissy: Wave a flag for a party
rag…Choosing the Emperor’s …
Oct 20, 2013 Choosing the Emperor’s New Troops. The dilemma
of choice. Voting is supposed to be an exercise in thoughtful, studied choice.
Local government is the foundation for good governance so even if one wants to
reform the … http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Old Casked Rum:
The Emperor’s New Tools#1 – Demokrissy – Blogger
Apr 07, 2013 Old Casked Rum: The Emperor’s New Tools#1 –
Towards Constitutional Reform in T&T. So we’ve had the rounds of
consultations on Constitutional Reform? Are we any wiser? Do we have a sense of
direction that will drive …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: Valuing Carnival
The Emperor’s New Tools#2
Apr 30, 2013 Valuing Carnival The Emperor’s New Tools#2….http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
See Also:
Demokrissy: Winds
of Political Change – Dawn of T&T’s Arab Spring
Jul 30, 2013 Wherever these breezes have passed, they have
left in their wake wide ranging social and political changes: one the one hand
toppling long time leaders with rising decibels from previously suppressed
peoples demanding a …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: Reform, Conform,
Perform or None of the Above cross …
Oct 25, 2013 Some 50 percent did not vote. The local
government elections results lends further proof of the discussion began in
Clash of Political Cultures: Cultural Diversity and Minority Politics in
Trinidad and Tobago in Through The …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: Sounds of a party –
a political party
Oct 14, 2013 They are announcing some political meeting or
the other; and begging for my vote, and meh road still aint fix though I hear
all parts getting box drains and thing, so I vex. So peeps, you know I am a
sceptic so help me decide. http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy:
T&T Constitution the culprit | The Trinidad Guardian
Jun 15, 2010 T&T Constitution the culprit | The
Trinidad Guardian · T&T Constitution the culprit | The Trinidad Guardian.
Posted by Kris Rampersad at 8:20 AM · Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare
to Facebook …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Related:
Demokrissy: To vote, just how we
party … Towards culturally …
Apr 30, 2010 ‘How we vote is not how we party.’ At ‘all
inclusive’ fetes and other forums, we nod in inebriated wisdom to calypsonian
David Rudder’s elucidation of the paradoxical political vs. social realities of
Trinidad and Tobago. http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: DEADLOCK: Sign of
things to come
Oct 29, 2013 An indication that unless we devise innovative
ways to address representation of our diversity, we will find ourselves in
various forms of deadlock at the polls that throw us into a spiral of political
tug of war albeit with not just …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: The human face of
constitutional reform
Oct 16, 2013 Sheilah was clearly and sharply articulating
the deficiencies in governmesaw her: a tinymite elderly woman, gracefully
wrinkled, deeply over with concerns about political and institutional
stagnation but brimming over with … http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy:
Trini politics is d best
Oct 21, 2013 Ain’t Trini politics d BEST! Nobody fighting
because they lose. All parties claiming victory, all voting citizens won!
That’s what make we Carnival d best street party in the world. Everyone are
winners because we all like …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
New Media, New Civil Society,
and Politics in a New Age – Demokrissy
Jan 09, 2012 New Media, New Civil Society, and Politics in
a New Age | The Communication Initiative Network. New Media, New Civil Society,
and Politics in a New Age | The Communication Initiative Network. Posted by
Kris Rampersad …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: T&T politics:
A new direction? – Caribbean360 Oct 01, 2010 http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Oct 20, 2013 Choosing the Emperor’s New Troops. The dilemma
of choice. Voting is supposed to be an exercise in thoughtful, studied choice.
Local government is the foundation for good governance so even if one wants to
reform the … http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Old Casked Rum:
The Emperor’s New Tools#1 – Demokrissy – Blogger
Apr 07, 2013 Old Casked Rum: The Emperor’s New Tools#1 –
Towards Constitutional Reform in T&T. So we’ve had the rounds of
consultations on Constitutional Reform? Are we any wiser? Do we have a sense of
direction that will drive …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: Valuing Carnival
The Emperor’s New Tools#2
Apr 30, 2013 Valuing Carnival The Emperor’s New Tools#2….http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
See Also:
Demokrissy: Winds
of Political Change – Dawn of T&T’s Arab Spring
Jul 30, 2013 Wherever these breezes have passed, they have
left in their wake wide ranging social and political changes: one the one hand
toppling long time leaders with rising decibels from previously suppressed
peoples demanding a …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: Reform, Conform,
Perform or None of the Above cross …
Oct 25, 2013 Some 50 percent did not vote. The local
government elections results lends further proof of the discussion began in
Clash of Political Cultures: Cultural Diversity and Minority Politics in
Trinidad and Tobago in Through The …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: Sounds of a party –
a political party
Oct 14, 2013 They are announcing some political meeting or
the other; and begging for my vote, and meh road still aint fix though I hear
all parts getting box drains and thing, so I vex. So peeps, you know I am a
sceptic so help me decide. http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy:
T&T Constitution the culprit | The Trinidad Guardian
Jun 15, 2010 T&T Constitution the culprit | The
Trinidad Guardian · T&T Constitution the culprit | The Trinidad Guardian.
Posted by Kris Rampersad at 8:20 AM · Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare
to Facebook …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Related:
Demokrissy: To vote, just how we
party … Towards culturally …
Apr 30, 2010 ‘How we vote is not how we party.’ At ‘all
inclusive’ fetes and other forums, we nod in inebriated wisdom to calypsonian
David Rudder’s elucidation of the paradoxical political vs. social realities of
Trinidad and Tobago. http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: DEADLOCK: Sign of
things to come
Oct 29, 2013 An indication that unless we devise innovative
ways to address representation of our diversity, we will find ourselves in
various forms of deadlock at the polls that throw us into a spiral of political
tug of war albeit with not just …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: The human face of
constitutional reform
Oct 16, 2013 Sheilah was clearly and sharply articulating
the deficiencies in governmesaw her: a tinymite elderly woman, gracefully
wrinkled, deeply over with concerns about political and institutional
stagnation but brimming over with … http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy:
Trini politics is d best
Oct 21, 2013 Ain’t Trini politics d BEST! Nobody fighting
because they lose. All parties claiming victory, all voting citizens won!
That’s what make we Carnival d best street party in the world. Everyone are
winners because we all like …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
New Media, New Civil Society,
and Politics in a New Age – Demokrissy
Jan 09, 2012 New Media, New Civil Society, and Politics in
a New Age | The Communication Initiative Network. New Media, New Civil Society,
and Politics in a New Age | The Communication Initiative Network. Posted by
Kris Rampersad …http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: T&T politics:
A new direction? – Caribbean360 Oct 01, 2010 http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Others: Demokrissy: Old Casked Rum:
The Emperor’s New Tools#1 …
Apr 07, 2013
Old Casked Rum: The
Emperor’s New Tools#1 – Towards Constitutional Reform in T&T. So we’ve had
the rounds of consultations on Constitutional Reform? Are we any wiser? Do we
have a sense of direction that will drive …
http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: Valuing Carnival
The Emperor’s New Tools#2
Apr 30, 2013
Valuing Carnival The
Emperor’s New Tools#2.
http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Wave a flag for a party
rag…Choosing the Emperor’s New …
Oct 20, 2013
Choosing the Emperor’s
New Troops. The dilemma of choice. Voting is supposed to be an … Old Casked
Rum: The Emperor’s New Tools#1 – Towards Constitutional Reform in T&T.
Posted by Kris Rampersad at 10:36 AM …
http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: Carnivalising the
Constitution People Power …
Feb 26, 2014
This Demokrissy
series, The Emperor’s New Tools, continues and builds on the analysis of
evolution in our governance, begun in the introduction to my book, Through the
Political Glass Ceiling (2010): The Clash of Political …
http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Envisioning
outside-the-island-box … – Demokrissy – Blogger
Feb 10, 2014
This Demokrissy
series, The Emperor’s New Tools, continues and builds on the analysis of
evolution in our governance, begun in the introduction to my book, Through the
Political Glass Ceiling (2010): The Clash of Political …
http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: Futuring the Post-2015
UNESCO Agenda
Apr 22, 2014
It is placing
increasing pressure for erasure of barriers of geography, age, ethnicity,
gender, cultures and other sectoral interests, and in utilising the tools
placed at our disposal to access our accumulate knowledge and technologies
towards eroding these superficial barriers. In this context, we believe that
the work of UNESCO remains significant and relevant and that UNESCO is indeed
the institution best positioned to consolidate the ….. The Emperor’s New
Tools …
http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
Demokrissy: Cutting edge journalism
Jun 15, 2010
The Emperor’s New
Tools. Loading… AddThis. Bookmark and Share. Loading… Follow by Email.
About Me. My Photo · Kris Rampersad. Media, Cultural and Literary Consultant,
Facilitator, Educator and Practitioner. View my …
http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com/
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