'Mighty mouse' Walid Baksh laid to rest

THOUGH small in stature, the late Walid Baksh was remembered as a giant of a man, akin to the fictional character Mighty Mouse, tiny but powerful, by one of his sons, Newsday employee Micah Baksh.

A retired teacher who never stopped teaching even on his retirement after 38 years, Baksh wore many hats, but stood out for his contribution and dedication to the arts, changing the cultural landscape and honing many talents along the way.

In this sphere, as a former executive member of the San Fernando Arts Council, San Fernando Hill and Carnegie Free Library, San Fernando Carnival Committee and as founder of the Artistic Cultural Troupe, he was awarded the Humming Bird Medal (silver) for community service, culture and education in 2022.

Even from his deathbed, Baksh envisioned getting better and mounting one of his many plays, Chutney Love, which was never produced, listing the cast and characters they would portray.

Baksh did not get to see this dream fulfilled, as he died on August 8, at 74. He has left behind his wife Monica, former principal of Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School, and their two sons, Micah and Marcus and their families.

The funeral was held on August 12 at the family’s Marabella home. Baksh was later buried at the Piparo cemetery.

In his eulogy, Micah compared his father to Mighty Mouse who wore a double "M" on his chest.

“If you flipped one of those ‘M’s’ you would get ‘MW’ – Mighty Walid, which he symbolised. For the 'mouse' part, he was tiny and you never heard him speak loudly, even though he was strict and a disciplinarian.”

Despite his size, Micah asserted, “He was one who would not back down from any challenge. Given the society we have today, anyone growing up with a father like him, it would be beneficial to the entire society.

“I say that because growing up, we never knew anything about race. We did not know anything about 'wrong' religion,” explaining that his father was a practising Muslim and his mother a Presbyterian' and the family embraced both religions.

“We did not know anything about what was culturally correct for us to attend."

He recalled going to Carnival and Best Village events, where: “Out of 300 people, we were the only four East Indians in the crowd.”

As a chief Carnival judge, Baksh acted with fairness, and often his quiet voice of reason was relied on to quell many steelband clashes and warring bandleaders in the early years.

He said his father was a creature of habit, who must have a hammock, whether at home or on Mayaro beach, his crossword-puzzle books and physical copies of the three daily newspapers, which he read from cover to cover every single day.

Hearing Micah’s tribute to his father, Imam Amir Mohammed, who led the service, urged mourners to honour their parents while they are alive.

“Children give their parents so much trouble when they are alive. We have children today cursing their parents and telling them all kinds of hurtful things, but when they die, they cry. While your parents are alive, treat them with love and kindness. Cherish them.

"You could pray how much you want, but if you are disobedient to your parents, the Almighty God will deal with you.”

Principal of TML Primary School, San Fernando, Camille Hosein remembered Baksh's continued dedication to the school arts and cultural programme, long after his retirement in 2010.

His sister Gloria Edwards-Seebaran said in life they were inseparable, and he would continue to live in her memory.