Basdeo Harilall

Basdeo Harilall was born on 23rd June 1919 in Zeeburg, Guyana, S. America. His mother was Sukdai and his father was Gangadin Maharaj. He had two older sisters, Kunti and Dularie and a younger brother, Harry. Early in life, Basdeo's father died from an asthma attack and later his mother remarried to Ramchand. As a child, Basdeo worked hard in the cane fields, cutting cane and loading punt. Those were the days when he had to actually carry his boss across the punt trench so that the boss's feet did not get wet! One of his first jobs was with Cheatow Lemonade factory-delivering soft drinks to shops from Wales to Essequibo. It was not an easy life, many times he would have to sleep wherever he had to because he wasn't able to get back home from his travels. Basdeo was eventually able to buy a stall in Staebroke market, selling snacks, milkshakes and toddy's. One day, a stranger went to the stall and asked for a toddy, and even though he didn't have enough money to pay, Basdeo let him have it without payment. That was the kind of heart that Basdeo had throughout his life. Life has its own rewards, because the stranger would later become his son-in-law, Hardatt who he loved dearly. Basdeo progressed to purchasing his own shop in Wales in 1957 where he sold groceries etc. He eventually sold the shop, and bought a house at New Road. Then bought a Morris Oxford car and he set up his own taxi business. He always said "2 plus 2 makes 8"-this was advice he always gave to young people and this belief worked for him. Basdeo was a handsome and grateful man, very popular with the ladies. He met and married Mahadai in 1942. They had a daughter Sita! She would be Basdeo's only child! Around 1960, while attending a ramayan singing, Basdeo again met Hardatt. He saw Hardatt sharing coffee and inquired into Hardatt's background etc. He was then able to arrange for the marriage of his daughter, Sita to Hardatt. The couple got married on 19 March 1961. In August 1963 they moved to London leaving their first child, a daughter, Vejai (Joy) in the care of her grandparents, Mahadai and Basdeo. Joy was always his favorite grandchild, he called her "wick wack". In 1964 Sita along with Hardatt sent for her parents. Her father arrived in England in March 1964. Sita's mother, Mahadai followed in 1965. Basdeo's first job in the UK was at Maybury, an engineering firm, where he worked to make tools. He later changed to a firm called Londex and stayed there for a few years. His last job in London was working at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane. He did a great job in the maintenance department, and was very proud of his work there. One Pagwah season he sang chowtal and had all the Englishmen clapping and cheering him! During this time, Sita had 2 more daughters, Nalini and Nadia. Basdeo was a proud grandfather of 3 and he adored the girls. Sadly, Basdeo's wife, Mahadai, passed away in 1973. Her death was so sudden and was a shock to all the family, more so to Basdeo and his daughter Sita. This happened during the time that Basdeo was caring for his nephews Krishna and Vishnu. The following year he married Liloutie, who is from Ruimzeigt. Liloutie came to England and they lived first in Mosslea Road and later moved to St Johns Road. She was a seamstress and worked for a while sewing and then later joined him at Londex. Over the years they provided a home for many young people: Vidhur, Vedha, Nalini Naraine. Even after retiring, Basdeo never stopped his physical work. He loved to be active. He was always outside doing something, sweeping, cleaning up, painting and gardening - ¬wherever he was - at his own house or with family. He loved people, he went to great lengths to befriend them and would strike up a conversation with a perfect stranger and think nothing of it. His neighbors and anyone passing outside his house was a friend and someone to have a conversation with. Once he got caught up in the filming of a BBC drama (The Buddha of Suburbia!). Basdeo met the former heavyweight boxer, Mohamed Ali, in London and in Guyana he also met with Dr. Cheddi Jagan, the former President of Guyana. Basdeo loved chowtal singing, ramayan singing, cricket and Guinness. He especially loved traveling. He and Liloutie traveled to India for 10 weeks. They went to 31 States and met Dharmendra! He also visited places such as Trinidad, Sri Lanka, America, North Africa, Holland, Germany and Surinam. In the meantime Basdeo had lost both his sister Dularie and his brother Harry. During his life, Basdeo went back to Guyana as often as he could. He would always visit the church in DeWillem where his parents were buried. He helped to maintain and support this church throughout his life. He also contributed to the Dharamsala in Georgetown. Basdeo Harilall was an amazing man. He loved life and be lived it well. He loved people and they loved him right back! Let me close with one of his favorite sayings : Jairam Ji Ki"