Rajkumari Singh

Rajkumari Singh (13 October 1923 – 1979) was an Indo-Caribbean, Guyanese writer, political activist, educator, and cultural leader. Rajkumari was the first published Indian woman from the Caribbean and although she never wore the term "feminist," her life's work contributed to this movement in her hemisphere of the world, in addition to her advancement of a national Guyanese culture of integration while still upholding Indian culture within this new mold.

Contents

• Ekathu panite by rajkumari singh
• Selected works
• References

Her iconic poem, "Per Ajie," epitomizes the journey of Indians to the Caribbean, through the eyes of an Indo-Caribbean visualizing her paternal great-grandmother making the voyage on one of the historic migratory ships headed for Guyana. It was written in a Shakespearean style of language, in order to elevate the topic of Indian indentureship into circles of serious literary critique. Another piece, "I See Bent Figures," describes the struggles and achievements of indentured Indians laboring on plantations in the Caribbean.

Singh's work is an important part of the early Hindu Caribbean literary canon, with her poem "No More Kitchrie for the Groom" shedding light on the shared responsibility of families and communities for the well-being of daughters, and the abuse of the Hindu tradition of dowry. Another of her poems "Deepavali," is a picturesque piece documenting Diwali rituals in the Caribbean.

Rajkumari was also a dramatist whose work has been described as lively and polemical. A "critic of Indian racial chauvinism and gender oppression", she was a key member of the British Guiana Dramatic Society during the period from 1929 to 1947. Her essay "I am a Coolie" takes a word which at first connoted something negative and turns it into a concept of positive cultural identity.

In the 1970s, she founded The Messenger Group, a Guyanese literary collective created to foster and nurture Indo-Caribbean artists and writers. Those mentored within this group include Mahadai Das, Rooplall Monar, Henry Muttoo, and Gushka Kisson, among others. In fact, Das' poem "They Came in Ships" relays the immigrant message of "Per Ajie."

Also a broadcaster on Radio Demerara, Rajkumari wrote several radio plays and on-air programs for "Broadcast to Schools."

Rajkumari was a Wordsworth McAndrew Award Laureate (2002) and was also honored with Guyana's Arrow of Achievement (1970).

Rajkumari hailed from and proliferated a lineage of arts and activism. Her father was Dr. Jung Bahadur Singh, OBE, a politician, doctor, and philanthropist involved in various groundbreaking institutions and movements in Guyana around a critical time before the nation gained independence. J. B. Singh was a founding member and president of the British Guiana East Indian Association and with his wife, Rajkumari's mother Alice Bhagwandai Singh, was also pivotal in the evolution of Indo-Caribbean theatre, as they were co-founders of the British Guiana Dramatic Society, which produced plays with an Indo-Caribbean cast and crew. Over in Suriname, Rajkumari's maternal grandfather, Seetal Prashad was a renowned champion of Indian rights.

Rajkumari, crippled by polio from the age of six, had eight children, and continuing the family legacy of arts and activism, her son, Karna Singh, is an author and cultural historian, and her son Gora Singh, was the Caribbean's most highly acclaimed kathak dance exponent and founder of The Rajkumari Cultural Center, a New York-based non-profit cultural organization. Her daughter, Pritha, is a dramatist and playwright, and her daughters Chitra and Radha are musicians, composers, vocalists and recording artists. Rajkumari's granddaughter, Sharda Shakti Singh, is a playwright.

CURRICULUM VITAE OF RAJKUMARI SINGH, A.A.

1940–57 British Guiana Dramatic Society - President, Secretary, Producer-Director

- To promote and develop dramatic arts in B.G. and the Caribbean

1941-57 British Guiana Maha Laxmi Sabha - Founder-Member, Secretary, Advisor

- The upliftment of Hindu women in education, social welfare and religion

1953-54 Women’s Progressive Organization WPO – Founder-Member

- The political emancipation of women for democratic socialism in B.G.

1955-57 Kaie Players – President

- To promote the dramatic work of Classical Theater with related techniques

1961-67 The Balak Sahita Mandalee – Member, Adviser

- To provide educational and social facilities for needy mothers and children

1961-67 Radio Demerara Needy Children Fund – Member, Advisor

- To provide social facilities for needy children

1964 Commission for Inquiry into Wismar Riots – Governor’s Nominee

- Tribunal set up to investigate the riots of the town of Wismar in Guyana

1964 Wismar Refugee Relief Fund - Manager

- To aid victims and refugees of the political and racial riots (May’64)

1965-72 National History & Arts Council – Vice President

- To promote and develop all areas relating to the historical and cultural development of Guyana

1965-67 Guyana Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha – Vice President

- The upliftment of religious, social, educational and festival activities of Guyana

1966-72 Guyana Independence Celebration Commission – Member-Advisor

- Formulating, implementing and monitoring all activities relating to Guyana’s Independence Celebrations – May 1966 and Anniversaries.

1966-72 P.E.N. International (Guyana Writer’s Group) – Founder-Member

- The promotion of Literature – journalism, writing, publications - active involvement in developing activities in Guyana related to World Organization of Poets, Essayists and Novelists. 1967-70 The United Nations Human Rights Committee (Guyana) Founder-Member, National Secretary, Advisor - To establish human rights in Guyana and the Caribbean

1967-78 Council on the Affairs of Women – Government Nominee

- To investigate the status of women in Guyana, to rectify their roles in regards to nation-building and their contribution to society.

1967-69 Guyana Agricultural Exhibition Committee - Member

- To outline and display methods for agricultural development in Guyana.

1970-78 Guyana Republic Celebrations Commission – Government Nominee

- To plan and implement activities related to Republic Week.

1972 Carifesta Secretariat – Advisor

- To formulate and plan all activities for the first Caribbean Festival of Arts with30 participating countries from the Caribbean and South American Art - To promoting historical literature, arts and crafts of Folk Culture in Guyana

1973-78 Guyana Messenger Group – Founder-Member, President

- Promoting historical literature, arts and craft related to Folk Culture in Guyana

1974 Planning Unit, Guyana National Service – Founder-Member

- To formulate and plan the nationwide National Service

1975-78 Guyana National Service – Captain, Cultural Coordinator, Advisor, Consultant

- To implement, supervise and evaluate culture programs within the structure related to training in arts, crafts, sports, lectures and libraries.

1975-78 Women’s Revolutionary Socialist Movement – Founder-Member, Advisor

- To promote involvement of women in development of the Caribbean Region.

1975-78 United Nations International Year of Women Conference, Mexico - Delegate

- To develop an international charter dealing with the affairs of women, as stated in the United Nations Charter, 1975

1976-78 Guyana Wheelchair Association – National Secretary

- To assist handicapped persons in professional, cultural and social welfare. - To provide counseling and equipment needed.Professional Activities (1943-1978)

Radio Broadcaster: Radio Demerara: Children’s Programs Guyana Broadcasting Corporation: Adult Programs Government Information Service: Educational Programs

Journalist: Articles relating to cultural, political, & social themes: Guyana Graphic, Guyana Chronicle, Mirror, New Nation, The Corpsman, Amar Jyoti, Heritage

Teacher: English Literature - High School, General Certificate of Education: Guyana Oriental College, Guyana Cooperative College, Kindergarten School for Handicapped Children

Headmistress (Principal): Guyana Cooperative College: High School

Broadcaster: British Broadcasting Corporation: Overseas Programs

Commissioned Officer: Guyana National Service: Rank of Captain

Special Awards and Talents 1948-78: Poetry, short stories or children & adults, radio & stage plays

Prize-winning Works: For the Young at Heart- Quartet of Children’s Stories Sardar Birbal Singh- Adult Short Story Per Ajie: Tribute to the First Indian Immigrant Woman- Poem Roraima- Radio Play The Sound of Her Bells (Inki Ghungru Ki Awaaz)

Major Award: The Golden Arrowhead of Achievement - Orders of Service of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana - The First Republic Day Honors List with citation for “an outstanding contribution of an exceptional nature, beyond the normal call of duty towards the people and Nation of Guyana.”

In the United States: Rajkumari Singh received awards and recognition from the Guyana Cultural Association, Guyana Folk Arts Festival, the Jahajee Sisters' 2nd Annual Indo-Caribbean Women's Summit, posthumously, and her legacy of caring for the folk through excellence in the arts is continued by the Rajkumari Cultural Center.