Senior Multimedia Reporter
joshua.seemungal@guardian.co.tt
Historian, author, academic, former government minister, and Professor Emeritus at the University of the West Indies Dr Brinsley Samaroo died at the age of 84 yesterday.
Dr Samaroo was hospitalised in critical condition at a private hospital a week ago after suffering a brain aneurysm. His family said he died peacefully after a brief illness.
After obtaining his Bachelor of Arts and MA in History from Delhi University in India, and then his PhD from the University of London, he taught New World and South Asian History at the University of the West Indies.
He rose up the ranks at UWI to become the head of the History department.
He was also later appointed a senior research fellow at the University of Trinidad and Tobago.
Dr Samaroo published many books and scholarly articles on Indo-Caribbean history, as well as the history of T&T’s working class movement, and political and institutional development.
Among his books were: India in the Caribbean; The Art of Garnet Ifill: Glimpses of the Sugar Industry; Adrian Cola Rienzi: The Life and Times of an Indo-Caribbean Progressive; and The Price of Conscience: Howard Noel Nankivell and Labour Unrest in the British Caribbean in 1937 and 1938. Samaroo was also a former politician. Between 1982 to 1986, he served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.
Between 1986 to 1991, he served as the MP for Nariva and also served as the minister of food production in the National Alliance for Reconstruction government.
Over the years, Dr Samaroo shared his perspective on social issues facing the country.
As recently as three weeks ago, he called on the nation to educate youths—especially those vulnerable to lives of crime—about the culture and lives of their ancestors.
“The nation should involve itself in the study of the life and culture of all our peoples. That is quite absent in schools.
“The Hindu and the Muslim communities have understood this and so they have many radio stations and television stories that talk about their ancestry.
“As a long-standing politician, I was fortunate enough to interact quite often with young people and these young people in society are not foolish.
“When you think about the way in which they plan a robbery, plan a heist, and how carefully they do it, it shows they have sense.
“But the rest of the country has decided to fight these bright, young people of the criminal element,” he said at the inaugural Adrian “Cola” Rienzi Memorial Forum Award.
Dr Samaroo leaves behind his wife, Joan, and daughter, Kavita.
Tributes
It’s like if a big, big library has burned down–Besson
Fellow historian Gérard Besson described Dr Samaroo as a mentor, saying he first met him after becoming a member of the council of UWI’s St Augustine campus. He said Samaroo, perhaps more than anyone, understood the role that non-academic historians had in society.
He said the Professor Emeritus was not the type of academic who buried his head in books, but rather was an original man–part scholar, part academic, part politician, and most of all, a humanist.
“He really believed in the human quality of people. He didn’t believe that people were without humanity … He was able to look around him and see other people and hear other voices–who had other opinions and other points of view about the interpretation of history.
“He was a man who encouraged learning, and he was a man who encouraged the dissemination of knowledge, especially new knowledge, new interpretations of history. Brinsley was, to a considerable extent, a revisionist. He was one to revise the historical perspective that we inherited from the British colonial system,” Besson said.
The writer described Samaroo as an excellent teacher who encouraged people keen on examining the very interesting and complicated historical past of T&T. Besson expressed particular admiration for the late historian’s work in preserving the history of the sugar industry.
“It’s like if a big, big library has been burned down. Like a huge encyclopedia has disappeared. Like a big slice of our collective memory of the people of this place has just been removed.
“There are people who should always be spoken about in the present tense and Brinsley is one of them,” Besson said.
He was humble and had a simplicity about him–Tewarie
Meanwhile, former NAR cabinet/UWI colleague and close friend of Samaroo, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie was very saddened by Samaroo’s passing, describing it as a personal loss to his family, academia, the country, and region.
“Brinsley was a good friend over many years, at UWI, and in politics, government, culture, over books, we often crossed paths over the years. And however long we might not see each other, it was always warm when we met or talked.
“Prof Samaroo’s contribution to West Indian history, to the history of East Indians in the Caribbean, to Cultural Studies, and to Caribbean knowledge and letters generally, was immense. But he made significant contributions to politics and to the government in Trinidad and Tobago, and as a parliamentary representative, he represented Nariva well,” Dr Tewarie said.
“He loved people and found it easy to relate at every level of society. He was humble and had a simplicity about him.
“He loved life and living, cherished research and academic work, shared freely what he knew, and enjoyed people. He gave much, mentored and nurtured many, and asked for little. He went about his business contentedly. He will be missed and I will always remember him fondly.”
He moulded and empowered young minds–Dr Teelucksingh
Also commenting on Prof Samaroo's passing was a national award winner and lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, who was one of his proteges.
Calling on the country to recognise the profound contribution that Samaroo made to the historical record of T&T, Dr Teelucksingh said, "Brinsley Samaroo, the academic legend, was a master of his craft. He was respected as a serious scholar who unearthed historical treasures in libraries and archives across the globe."
Dr Teelucksingh, clearly moved by the late professor's work added, "Later, he would distil this knowledge into food for thought for eager audiences. He had a lively delivery style in his many presentations. It is a talent to take a topic, considered boring, and transform it into an article or speech that is exciting and interesting!"
Recalling Prof Samaroo's commanding presence whenever he spoke, Dr Teelucksingh said, "Prof Samaroo earned respect for his depth of knowledge, experience, excellent memory, humour, and captivating anecdotes. Despite some disagreements with his views, Prof Samaroo held an esteemed place in the hearts and minds of those who knew him. His impeccable research enriched their lives and broadened their understanding of Trinidad and Tobago's history."
The late professor had a profound impact on countless students, having lectured to hundreds at both Naparima College and the University of the West Indies, Dr Teelcuksingh said.
"He also nourished the minds of many more through his presentations at conferences and seminars around the world," Dr Teelcuksingh added.
Saying that many of Prof Samaroo's former students have gone on to achieve success in various fields, Dr Teelucksingh said they succeeded under his tutelage and guidance.
"He moulded and empowered young minds while fostering a generation of civic-minded Caribbean citizens," Dr Teelucksingh said.
He said the legacy of Prof Samaroo lives on, not only in the pages of history he meticulously explored but also in the hearts and minds of the individuals he inspired and mentored. "His contributions to academia and his dedication to the study of Trinidad and Tobago's past will forever be remembered and cherished by those who had the privilege of learning from him. As the nation mourns his loss, may his memory continue to inspire future generations of scholars and historians to delve into the rich tapestry of their own heritage," he added.
(with reporting by Radhica De Silva)
