Moses and Padma Dookhan
Embedded Files
Moses Dookhan was born in Canal #1, West Bank Demerara, Guyana.
Moses Dookhan was born in Canal #1, West Bank Demerara, Guyana.
Moses Dookhan was born in Canal #1, West Bank Demerara, Guyana. Born on August 13, 1948.
Padma Dookhan was born in Region 6, Berbice, Guyana.
Padma Dookhan was born in Region 6, Berbice, Guyana.
Padma Dookhan was born on July 25th, 1953, born in region 6, Berbice, Guyana.
Introduction
Introduction
For my WeSearch Case Study Product, I chose to research my maternal grandparents, Moses and Padma Dookhan. When I started this project, I chose to research these two individuals because of their accomplishments. From a surface level point of view, my grandparents can be seen for leading a life of success and influencing many generations after them to model values in hard-work and the importance of an academic education. However, after learning more about my grandparents, I began to realize that their successes are so much more than monetary. Their family oriented attributes helped them survive the most difficult days. I chose to do both of them because they are like two peas in a pod, you can never find one without another. But then again, the more I researched, the more I found that a relationship like Padma and Moses is a story of love, sacrifice and most of all faith in time of uncertainty. During this project, I learned many aspects that I didn't know before. One of the major takeaways I had from this project is the value of family. My grandparents dedication time and time again helped them through the roughest times. Another thing I learned from this project is solidarity within the Caribbean community not only through social but specifically political solidarity of the islands that opened their borders during Guyana's political crisis. Furthermore, I got the privilege of understanding my Indo-Caribbean heritage and how many Indians ended up in Guyana as a result of indentured servitude throughout the world.
Brief Background
Brief Background
Padma Dookhan was 16 years old when she met Moses Dookhan. After coming from the West Coast of Demerara, Padma was scheduled to take a ferry with her aunt back to Berbice. With absolutely no intention of settling down, her aunt proposed the idea of staying at her friend's house as it was too late in the evening. Upon arrival, Moses had been laying in the hammock of the house that Padma would be spending the night to where she would continue on her journey the following morning.
Padma and Moses got married on September 13th, 1970, and settled in Pouderoyen, Guyana. After the birth of their first child, they moved to Canal #1. In 1980, now with four beautiful kids, their story had just begun. And while inside of the Dookhan’s home was nothing but love and everlasting joy, the political turmoil of racial segregation had just begun. President Forbes Burnham was elected as the President of Guyana in 1980 where he would make life for Indo Caribbeans such as the Dookhan’s an uphill battle. Forbes Burnham was the leader of the PNC Party. The PNC Regime, led by the PNC, a political party who tried to introduce, eat what you produce in order to stop relying on foreign exchange, without a backup plan. This led to the ultimate economic downfall of the Guyanese population under this political rule. The lack of resources left most families including the Dookhan family, famished and fighting for their own survival.
The American Dream
My grandparent's perspective of the American Dream helped me to understand that the idea of the American Dream is based solely on one's desire to achieve goals. My grandparent's perspective of the American Dream taught me that for immigrants within the United States, they often find refuge in America based on what they could no achieve anywhere else. However, the idea of the American Dream is based on perspective of achievement. In the United States, we hold achievements as a monetary aspect and are constantly fighting to be better or have better. And as a New Yorker, never settling for less seemed like a reward. But really, my grandparent's journey to their success was achieved by hard work. They faced the reality that despite the glories of the American Dream, it is not easy to leave your family behind. This interview and research series especially taught me that as much as we can try to deny, there is no place like home. Most importantly, home is where you can find your family, whether chosen or by choice.
“Raising her children in the right way, when she had her first child, she forgot all of her pains and thought ‘this is worth it all’.
Page updated
Report abuse