Who is Pandit Balram Persad? Look around! This is Pandit Balram. The walls resonate with the story of his toil; the smiles of the teachers, a reflection of his perseverance; the success of the students, tangible evidence of his foresight…this school Swaha Hindu College, the fruit of his dream.
Eleven years ago Pandit Balram was entrusted with the responsibility to lead one hundred and five odd students with the assistance of nine young graduates to transform the then Swaha Hindu College into a premier educational institution. For many of you who may not know, Swaha Hindu College started off at the site of the Tulsi Manas Mandir. A homework centre and shed was converted to accommodate three classes. It was at this point that Pandit Balram began to use his charm to rally the support of the parents, use his managerial skills to bring forth the greatness inherent within the staff and students and to use the blessings of his parents to pave a path where there was none visible. He became the backbone of the institution, a man of fixed and unbending principles.
His ideas were radical, insane even. No meat! Meditation! Yoga! No soft drink! He adopted a new leadership style. He could not give the formula for success at the time, but he knew the formula for failure: Try to please everybody. For those who were under his stewardship, they would remember, he was not always liked but he was always respected. As the saying goes, “A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.”
Pandit Balram has made history; history has not made Pandit Balram! So, a brief trip down memory lane! Where did he come from? Pandit Balram, the second son of the late Shankaracharya Pandit Hari Prasad and the late Chandrawtie Persad, a beloved of his mother, the compassionate one, the shadow of his father. Pandit Balram today stands before you, an accomplished pandit for over forty years, a principal for over eleven years, a visionary educator, a skilful cricketer and a farmer, all due to the blessings of his parents. If it is one principle one should emulate from Pandit Balram as a person, it is that nothing is impossible with the blessings of one’s parents.
As I end I will recite the following that I believe represents Pandit Balram the best: We are tired of leaders we fear, tired of leaders we love and tired of leaders who let us take liberties with them. What we need for leaders are men of the heart who are so helpful that they, in effect, do away with the need for their jobs. But leaders like that are never out of a job, never out of followers. Even after retirement you never lost us; we reflect on your contributions and are grateful. You have created a harmonious environment from the years of churning the ocean of turmoil and challenges. We are happy and comfortable because of your hard work and for this we are eternally grateful. We salute you, Pandit Balram Persad.
