Hala at 103
small staff of about five.
In 1941, the Dharm Shala extended to Berbice, where a building of similar capacity to hat at Albouystown was built, he sisters explained. Accordng to the Ramsaroop sisters, both homes were built with a Hindu temple and a Christian chapel. They had said that the hought of including a mosque was discussed but due to a and issue it was not built.
The mantle of leadership was then taken over by Pandit Maraj’s son, Harry Ramsaroop, the women’s father, following his father’s death. Harry Ramsaroop fulfilled services for many years until his passing in 2013 at the age of 97.
Kella had told this newspaper that the journey to 100 years was not easy but she believed it was a privilege to serve and that God provided hem (all who assist) with a conditioned mind to underake the task. “It’s not easy to manage a place like this. You have people of diverse personalities and I tell you, for me, my life was on the line about five times,” she had disclosed n 2021. She had added that people who take up residency sometimes seem normal but as time passed they did strange things. She recalled several instances when such people acted in an unsettling manner toward her, however, they were then transferred from the institution. For this reason, they are very particular about the type of people who can stay. The women had explained that people who cannot look after themselves and are psychiatric patients were often turned away, but that there were a few who got accepted and had thus far caused no such trouble. “We have had all sorts of people. My father used to entertain all sorts of people whether they are sane or insane but you can’t do that these days,” Kella had explained.
As for funding of the Dharm Shala, the women had said that aside from donations from business firms and other charitable foundations, they completely fund the service. There is also a subvention from the government of $1 million, but much more is needed.