At the core of SWAHA’s mission to encourage cultural and spiritual enlightenment, the recently held Swadeshi Awards ceremony stood as a tribute to the dedication of individuals and organisations serving both SWAHA and the wider community. Celebrated on Indian Arrival Day at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Co-operation, the event shone a spotlight on four exemplary stalwarts of service.
The ceremony also honoured the musical talents of the SWAHA Ramayan singing competition 2024 winners, with SWAHA Bhakti Jyot Mandali proudly claiming the top prize. The gathering was graced by the profound words of Pt. Prof. Prakash Persad, Spiritual Leader of SWAHA Divya Ashram, and the distinguished presence of the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, S.C., Leader of the Opposition, who extended Indian Arrival Day greetings.
Here are the inspiring biographies of two of the esteemed awardees: Ms. Rupatee Singh and SEWA TT. Also winning awards were Ms. Kamalwattie Ramsubeik, of SWAHA Sukh Shanti Bhakti Mandali and a President of the National Ramleela Council of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Mr. Ramjattan Maharaj (posthumous) of SWAHA Divya Ashram. Their stories exemplify the spirit of selfless service and community engagement that SWAHA seeks to celebrate and encourage.
Rupatee Singh
Whenever the words, dutifulness, efficiency, perfection and integrity are mentioned, members of SWAHA would certainly agree that the person who epitomises all those qualities is none other than Miss Rupatee Singh.
Rupatee is not only a member of the SWAHA Secretariat and the Gyaan Deepak Kirtan Mandali but holds several other portfolios in SWAHA, giving yeoman service in each role. Many years ago when kudos were given to this humble individual for excellent work, her response was, “I have never ever considered what I do in SWAHA as work. Even in my career as a teacher I never saw my duties and responsibilities as work.” This mindset of selfless service, coupled with her unwavering commitment to excellence, as well as her deep dedication to the growth of our organisation undoubtedly makes her an ideal recipient for this year’s Indian Arrival Day Awards.
Rupatee’s journey, that has culminated in today’s award, began more than forty years ago, when her spiritual quest led her to a Ramaayana satsang conducted by our Paramacharya of SWAHA Pt. Hardeo Persad, who himself was at that time a young but deeply intense pundit with a goal to uplift and educate the Hindu community. In 1983 she was initiated by Paramacharji, setting the stage for a lifetime engagement with the world of religious and spiritual activities.
As a teacher for 33 and a third years, most of which were spent at the Endeavour Hindu School, her life was dedicated not only to the academic education of our next generation but to the general uplift of children in an underprivileged area of Trinidad and Tobago. Even though totally dedicated to her profession, she was still able to devote a tremendous amount of time and energy to the Gyaan Deepak Kirtan Mandali from 1984 onwards. There she served for many years as Education Officer contributing greatly to Ramleela, Swadeshi, the teaching of Hindi, and is greatly involved in all activities of the temple. Presently she is a member of the GDKM Advisory Committee and as expected her input is always sought by executive and other members.
While still involved in her teaching career, Rupatee’s input into SWAHA Publications Committee was tremendous with specific regard to the monthly newsletter, which has been in existence for almost 30 years. In 2003 she was appointed to the position of chairperson of this Committee, under whose leadership, several SWAHA publications have been produced.
In 2007 Ms. Singh retired from her job as Acting Principal and fully immersed herself in service to SWAHA. As a member of the SWAHA Education Board she performed exceptional service, overseeing SWAHA’s four preschools. From 2009 to 2023 she served as Chairperson of SWAHA Education Board where she headed the management of SWAHA Hindu College, four ECCE Centres and education in SWAHA generally which involved SWAHA Quiz, Swadeshi and the Religious Instruction (R.I.) Programme for Secondary Schools. She was not only involved in the planning of the R.I. programme but also functioned as an R.I. teacher at St. George’s College.
As a member of the SWAHA Secretariat, she continues to be part of the organising committee of all SWAHA activities and is a key part of the decision-making body of SWAHA’s National Executive. As a founding member of SWAHA, Ms. Rupatee Singh continues to work with devotion, efficiency, humility and guidance from her Guru. She serves as an inspiration and encouragement to all those who are involved in service as she continues on a spiritual journey of love and devotion while guided by the watchwords that ‘service to humanity is service to God’. SWAHA takes immense pleasure in honouring Miss Rupatee Singh at this year’s Indian Arrival Day Celebrations for her unparalleled contribution to SWAHA.
Sewa International TT
Sewa International TT is a dedicated volunteer-driven, non-profit organisation committed to
fostering selfless service and community empowerment in Trinidad and Tobago. Their
mission is to address deficiencies in emergency response, health and wellness,
environmental sustainability and humanitarian needs through strategic, impactful projects.
Key Initiatives Include:
- Health & Wellness: Sewa TT conducts extensive healthcare screenings in rural
areas, providing essential examinations such as eyes, dental, breast, prostate and
pap smears. They also organise blood drives and vaccination campaigns,
contributing significantly to the National Blood Bank and the mass vaccination
efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, administering over 86,400 shots, and as part
of the co-ordinating team that administered over 250,000 vaccinations. Covid-19
support also included the distribution of 2,000 plus meals for medical personnel,
40,000 homemade masks and over 400,000 KN95 masks.
- Humanitarian Efforts: Sewa TT is deeply involved in providing meals and essential
supplies during disasters. They have a robust Feed the Homeless initiative and
regularly organise large-scale food and clothing drives. Their recent clothing drive
amassed 23,000 pounds of clothing to be distributed to over 1,200 families,
showcasing their commitment to supporting those in need.
- Environmental Projects: Sewa TT leads reforestation efforts through their Hike and
Plant initiative, which has successfully planted thousands of trees across Trinidad
and Tobago. Additionally, they are pioneering plastic recycling solutions with
innovative projects like their plastic shredder and the development of a plastics to
oil machine.
Partnership with SWAHA Hindu College:
Sewa TT’s efforts are bolstered by fruitful partnerships with local institutions, notably the
SWAHA Hindu College. Teachers and students from the college have been instrumental in
supporting various activities, including health drives and the Fun Run on the school
compound. Their involvement extends to administrative tasks and, soon, a dedicated
Blood Drive. This collaboration exemplifies the power of community engagement and the
impact of collective effort.
Recognition and Awards:
Sewa International TT’s impactful work has not gone unnoticed. They have been
recognized with several awards, including the Express Organisation of the Year 2021. They
have also received commendations from the Prime Minister for their efforts during the
COVID-19 pandemic, awards for environmental protection and recognition from the
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States for their support following the La Soufriere
Volcano eruption.
Community and Volunteer Engagement:
Sewa TT’s projects are designed to foster interaction and collaboration among volunteers
and other organisations. With over 300 active volunteers contributing thousands of hours
annually, they ensure that their initiatives are family-friendly and accessible to all. The
success of each project is measured by tangible outcomes and the intangible impact of
instilling values such as discipline, timeliness, reliability, compassion, innovation and
efficiency.
Sewa International TT invites everyone to join in making a difference through dedicated
service and community engagement. Together, they aim to continue building a resilient,
compassionate and sustainable Trinidad and Tobago.
