Talk:Sahadeo Tiwari

message: Pundit Sahadeo Tiwari
 
Pundit Tiwari was born in the village of Sarwan in Bihar,India on 25th February,1892.He came to Trinidad as an Indentured Immigrant in 1910 and later married Sunbass Tiwari(not related).This marriage according to his daughter Kanti, produced two sons:Ramakant and Surrindra and, five daughters: Mayanti,Shanti, Savitri,Kanti and Reanti.In January 1932,Tiwari established The Sanatan Dharma Board of Control(Port-of-Spain Gazette:17th January 1932).The principal objective of the organization was as noted by the Gazette, to unify Hindus and further the interest of the Hindu religion among the Hindu section of the local community.The Sanatan Dharma Board of Control was based in Tunapuna and as stated by the Port-of Spain Gazette, was composed of predominantly orthodox,practising Pundits.The organization also had as its ojectives:
(a).To further and assist by whatever means in its power,the education and advancement of the adherents to Sanatan Dharma.
(b).To provide by voluntary subscriptions of its members with the aid of donations:
   (1).For the relief or maintenance of members when in distressed circumstances.
   (2).For the relief or maintenance of members during sickness or infirmity.
   (3).For the payment of the burial and other incidental funeral expenses of any members
       case of need.
   (4).For the giving of a dowry in a suitable case to the daughter of any member who by 
       reason of his or her poverty shall be unable to provide for her marriage.
      (Port-of-Spain Gazette:17th January,1932).
Pundit Tiwari was the first Pundit to perform a Hindu marriage ceremony or Vivah Samskara in the day despite vehement opposition(according to Pundit Kaysho Byragie) from other Pundits who even threatened his life.The Hindu marriage ceremony at the time was performed in tht night and this resulted in the procession from the boy side or Baraat having to stay overnight.The family of the girl side or Dulahin had to look after and entertain the Baraatians,a rather costly exercise.
It was because of such economic circumstances that Pundit Sahadeo Tiwari felt it best to perform the marriage ceremony of Francis Jairam Bhopalsingh and Rajoo Narayansingh in the day.The ceremony took place on April 23rd 1933 at 11:00 am in Tunapuna at the Old Railway Station (Port-of-Spain Gazette: 20th April,1933).Pundit Tiwari refused to succumb to the opposition against him for doing the ceremony in the day.He imported a book from India called the Vivah Paddhati,a Hindu manuel on the marriage ceremony and was able to silence his opposition.Debate among the elite (Panchayat) was simple. Pundit Byragie stressed that a wedding performed in the night meant that the Dhruva Taara (North Pole Star) was shown to the bride and because the star was fixed, it was used to demonstrate to the bride that she should remain fixed in her commitment to her marriage.However, if the ceremony was done in the day, then Surya Darshan or the Sun was shown and it was made clear that the Sun held the same significance of the North  Pole Star which was that it is in a fixed position.Thus, Pundit Kaysho Byragie concluded,the validity of the day wedding was established.
Pundit Sahadeo Tiwari died on the 14th April 1972.During his life he tutored a number of well known Pundits such as the late Ramcharan Byragie,the late Satnarayan Panday and Pundit Param among others.
209.94.219.115 01:05, 7 February 2007 (UTC)
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