Muradali hailed as patriot, Indian arts patron

FORMER MP and radio personality Nazim Muradali was a true patriot and an Indian arts patron, says Naparima MP Rodney Charles.

He was speaking as tributes were paid to Muradali at the start of the House sitting on Wednesday.

Charles said Muradali, who died in Barbados on November 30, served this country well and was among a host of cultural icons like Lionel Seukeran, Kamaluddin Mohammed, Hans Hanoomansingh and Pat Mathura "who were able to leverage their service in the development of the arts to engage in politics.

"They were indeed patrons of Indian arts in TT. In essence Mr Muradali and his fellow icon gave a voice to the largely East Indian, rural and disenfranchised community in the national arena. At the same time they were able to engage in cultural retention and adaptation by giving a not-insignificant groups of citizens a sense of cultural identity, self-esteem and social stability in a largely hostile colonial environment that saw all things non-European such as what they called the 'heathen practice of shouting by Shouter Baptists' as unworthy of contemplation."

Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell, extended condolences on behalf of the PNM, said when Muradali served as the member for Naparima North from 1966-1971 as a candidate for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and just after the country gained independence. He said Muradali served with some of the political giants including (first prime minister) Dr Eric Williams, (former speaker) Arnold Thomasos, (former prime minister) George Chambers, (DLP political leader and scholar) Rudranath Capildeo and (PNM senator) Verna Crichlow.

"As a new member of this honourable House I can only imagine what it would be like to serve in that era steering the course for where we are today as a country."