Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

124 BHADASE SAGAN MARAJ (1920-1971) B hadase Sagan Maraj was born and grew up in Caroni in a devout Hindu family where his father was the village elder. He became a strong six-footer and even was a wrestler in his earlier years. By the time he was 19, Bhadase had purchased a small boat and was mining sand from the Caroni River bed which he sold to the Americans who were constructing military bases in Trinidad during World War II. His relationship with the Americans grew and he was able to purchase a docksite from theAmericans, off Wrightson Road, in 1947 for $182,000. By the time Bhadase was 30, he was already a millionaire. In his ‘30s, and into his ‘40s, Bhadase took a greater role in the upliftment of Hinduism and in 1952 became the leader in the community and the President-General of the newly formed Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS). By 1956, the SDMS had established 40 primary schools and the SDMS Education Board of Management. A large portion of the costs of establishing these schools was absorbed by Bhadase. His role in politics started in 1956when he supportedChankaMaharaj to win the St George constituency. He later contested the Tunapuna seat in 1950 as an independent candidate and won. He formed the PDP in 1953. As a politician, his support was the SDMS and the sugar worker’ union, ATSE&FWTU. From 1958, he was the leader of the DLP and in the Federal elections of that year, the DLP won 6 out of 10 seats. He handed over leadership of the DLP to Rudranath Capildeo in 1960. He was instrumental in the movement that resulted in Divali being first declared a public holiday in 1966. MURIEL DONAWA McDAVIDSON (1929-2001) M uriel Donawa-McDavidson served in the Senate and the House of Representatives, both in the Government and in Opposition.