Beloved pundit Chaitram Hargobin died after suffering an allergic reaction to a wasp sting.
His death has left many in mourning, including the Hindu community, the United National Congress (UNC) and the Penal community and environs.
Hargobin, 44, affectionately known as Pundit Ram, was at his Gopie Trace, Penal home on Thursday when he went out into the backyard to answer the phone and got stung.
Unable to hold back her tears, his wife Lutchmie Maharaj-Hargobin said she was cooking when she heard the commotion.
“All of a sudden I hear him running coming inside, ‘Lutchmie, Lutchmie, a jep bite meh. I want two piriton.’” She said her husband took two tablets. He wanted to bathe before he went to the hospital so he went upstairs. She told one of her sons to stay with him in case of any emergency, but before he (son) got upstairs her husband collapsed.
Maharaj-Hargobin said she then sent her other son to help his brother.
“Then I hear the two of them bawling so I run upstairs too. When I run upstairs I see him in the bathroom. He fall down and he was unconscious so I call 911 then I call my neighbour to come and help me.” She said he was breathing when the ambulance left with him. “By the time I reach there the doctor was waiting for me already to give me the news.”
The grieving women recalled about a month ago he had a similar reaction to a wasp sting and was treated at the hospital. But, she said this time his condition deteriorated very quickly.
“I don’t know if it was more than one bite him, I can’t say. I don’t know. God alone knows.”
Paying tribute via Facebook, Oropouche East MP Dr Moonilal said he was a Mahapatra, an entrepreneur, a community activist and a political activist and advocated for the Sanatan Dharma.
“His humanitarian spirit knew no bounds. In fact he inspired me by his dedication to the poor and the underprivileged. Our community is richer for his service than we are poorer for his loss.”
Hargobin’s close friend Pundit Atma Maharaj said, ”Many of us come forward and assist society, give charity. The thing that made Ram different is that he always made you feel as if it is something he wanted to do. He enjoyed doing it and that is really the essence of true service.”
Oropouche West MP Dave Tancoo and former MP and minister Chandresh Sharma who were also at his home lending support to his grieving family recalled that he was very involved in charitable and community activities. “He is a good soul and decent human being,” said Tancoo.
Sharma who shared a close relationship with Hargobin said he was also a small contractor, served on the EMA board and his two sons attend Naparima College.
“Ram was a giver, that’s how I knew him best, always willing to do something.”