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HEARTBROKEN FOR HANS: Myrna Hanoomansingh, right, is consoled by her niece Zysha Hanoomansingh at her husband Hansley Hanoomansingh’s funeral at the Curepe Presbyterian Church, Lyndon Street, Curepe, on July 14. - Photo by Ayanna KinsaleVETERAN broadcaster Hansley "Hans" Hanoomansingh, 82, was fondly remembered by friends and family members as a giant of the airwaves and a pioneer of East Indian culture, who once even stepped into the political ring as elected MP for Caroni East.
The tributes flowed at his funeral on July 14 at Curepe Presbyterian Church – led by his brother Gideon Hanoomansingh – with several public figures also expressing their sentiments to Newsday after.
Mourners included former first lady Zalayhar Hassanali, Central Bank former governor Winston Dookeran, former speaker Nizam Mohammed, former minister Rudranath Indarsingh and pundit Ravi-ji. Hanoomansingh was remembered for once interviewing Bishop Desmond Tutu and Mother Theresa.
Independent Senator Deoroop Teemal told Newsday he knew Hanoomansingh as the founder of the National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC) and the Divali Nagar site.
Teemal said, "I will always remember him for his depth, his dignity. Despite all his accomplishments, he would always be willing to communicate and talk to everybody.
"Greatness is not only a reflection of what you have achieved, but it is how you get along with your fellow man. He would always remind me of that – a unique quality that he had."
Teemal said he knew Hanoomansingh only via the NCIC and Nagar.
"I never had the honour of working alongside of him, but I would have interacted with him particularly over the last four-five years, when I became president of NCIC.
"We had many long discussions. He shared his wisdom. He gave his advice freely. And it has helped me, in terms of taking up the responsibilities I have now with the NCIC."
Newsday also spoke to former government minister and former principal of UWI, St Augustine, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie.
Tewarie said, "What can I say? He was a larger than life individual. He was larger than religion, he was larger than race, he was larger than community.
"He was in some was larger than the society, because sometimes he would lift himself above the fray, so to speak, to comment in a way that was not negative about things that were happening.
"Because he was that kind of person. He was a positive person, very developmental, and he wanted to see everybody thrive and to live well and to work together. He spent his life doing those kind of things."
Hans Hanoomansingh. -
Former government minister Prakash Ramadhar told Newsday, "I grew up knowing that voice. And later in life I got to know him in politics. On a personal level he was extraordinarily generous to me, with a balanced approach to politics to give us coverage when we had none. I will always cherish the conversations we had and the interviews he conducted.
"There is a subtlety of intelligence that is so rare, and a beauty in his spirit that came across in almost all he said and did.
"I felt very special to be interviewed by him and to share a space and the opportunities he gave to us." Ramadhar described Hanoomansingh as "a multi-generational hero."
Ramadhar hoped people would look at Hanoomansingh's life "not just to praise, but to emulate him." Ramadhar said TT needs more/new heroes. He said Hanoomansingh had broadcast since the 1960s to just a couple of years ago when his health issues had arisen.
Former TT high commissioner to India Chandra Singh told Newsday, "I spent many, many years with Hans. Many, many projects. I'm a foundation member of NCIC.
"I have followed his career. I have been recording his programmes on 610 (Radio 610 FM) for many years – different orchestras and different musicians."
Singh said he had worked with Hanoomansingh to develop the Nagar and for the visit to TT by the then Indian president Shankar Dayal Sharma.
"I knew him from since he was a very young fellow." The two knew each other as teenagers.
"He was married in Rousillac and I am from Fyzabad. In his political days I was associated with him, as the youngest MP in the history of TT."
Singh recalled Hanoomansingh as being very active "from politics to social life to cultural life".
He said, "He was a visionary. We had a common bond in that, sharing new ideas to the country, and a lot of it geared towards multi-ethnicity and national unity. He was very strong in those areas."
Author Dr Kris Rampersad told Newsday she had worked closely with Hanoomansingh in broadcasting and now urged serious efforts be made by media houses to salvage video/audio footage of his work. The funeral service itself was officiated by Rev Adrian Sieunarine, Rev Daniel Teelucksingh and Rev Harold Sitahal.
Sieunarine in his sermon dubbed Hanoomansingh "an agent of change, an inspiration and an encouragement to all of us."
While saying Hanoomansingh exemplified the biblical adage to "look to the ancient ways", he also said he had also succeeded in getting people to have a change of perspective so as not to be ashamed of their culture including his promotion of meals of roti and bhaji (spinach).
Gideon Hanoomansingh said his brother exemplified novelist George Bernard Shaw's adage to live life not as a candle but as a flaming torch.
He said Hanoomansingh joined Radio Guardian in 1961 where he met top broadcasters including Bobby Thomas with whom developed an extremely close friendship, largely based on their love for theology. Gideon recalled former government minister Dr Suruj Rambachan hailing Hanoomansingh, a Presbyterian, for giving a national focus to Hinduism.
"He gave the festival of lights the place it deserved on the national landscape."
Gideon said Culture Minister Michele Benjamin hailed Hanoomansingh as "a broadcaster and cultural leader has shaped how we celebrate who we are as a people, as a nation."
REST WELL: Former politician Dr John Bharath pays respect to Hansley Hanoomansingh at Hanoomansingh's funeral at the Curepe Presbyterian Church, Lyndon Street, Curepe, on July 14. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale
He said Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles said his excellence in broadcasting and culture earned him the respect of citizens across all walks of life.
Gideon recalled President Christine Kangaloo dubbing him "a pioneering journalist and key figure in the promotion of Indo-Trinidadian art and culture."
Gideon recalled Hanoomansingh as a travel agent boycotting Barbados until it showed BWIA respect by granting it landing right from a lucrative overseas destination.
Hanoomansingh's niece Jovan Sankar-Paul spoke of his deep commitment to his family including the siblings of his wife Myrna nee Sankar, plus his shift from stern figure to doting granddad.
"Uncle Hans loved our family gatherings and despite his demanding schedule as a media personality, business executive, entrepreneur and cultural activist, he gave our gatherings priority over all his other commitments." She said he was a family man, motivator and influencer.
Sankar-Paul read a tribute from her cousin, attorney Ronnie Bissessar who hailed his parliamentary advocacy for his constituents, largely poor, rural, East Indians.
"Not the magical, gilt-coated voice he possessed, but their own voice that would give them a place in the Port of Spain sun.
"And then as a journalist, where he advocated for Indianness and identity. Not the Bollywood music and dance variety but one that preserves the culture, language and traditions of the indentured labourers."
He did this in his pioneering radio programmes ‘From the Silver Screen’ and ‘Melodies of India’ in the 1960s and 1970s when most rural East Indians homes did not have a television.
"His later interviews, aired on his own radio station Heritage Radio 101.7, were often aspirational, driving us to do and be better than our forebearers as his later interviews with Bishop Desmond Tutu and Mother Theresa demonstrated. His 1990 Humming Bird Gold Medal belatedly recognised his long and meritorious service in the spheres of culture and broadcasting."
Hanoomansingh's son Kurt Hanoomansingh recalled his father's dutifulness when another son, Peter Hanoomansingh, fell ill with multiple myeloma which he did not survive. He said the family was inspired by Hanoomansingh's example, wonder, courage, passion and service to those around him.
Hanoomansingh's other son, Ravi Hanoomansingh's son recalled him hosting the West Indies and India cricket teams at his home with legends such as Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards plus Sunil Gavaskar. "You could put him in a room with anyone and he could connect, regardless of race or religion.
"He left an indelible mark on anyone he met."
Saying Hanoomansingh had championed the dignity and richness of the Indo-Trinidadian, Ravi said, "He was Trini to the bone."
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