Pundit: I lost my leg but not the chance to serve

HE’S A PUNDIT, a private investigator, a karate black belt, a herbalist, and is aspiring to capture the predominantly UNC area of Othaheite/ Rousillac on a PNM ticket in the July 14 Local Government elections. But Pundit Gaya Persad Maharaj, aged 44, is determined to jump that hurdle despite having only one leg. Pundit Maharaj told Newsday that only two months ago he lost his leg to diabetes, after he had already been screened and selected by the PNM to run for councillor of the area. He revealed: “I lost my leg very suddenly. One day in April I hit one of my toes badly as I was leaving to conduct a service around 4pm. Afterwards I drove myself to a nursing home and by 7pm my leg was gone”. And he added with a smile: “I couldn’t drive back home.” So now how does he intend to serve the constituency now that he is disabled? By going around in a wheelchair ? By hobbling along on crutches? The answer is both.

According to Pundit Maharaj he has been serving the Othaheite/ Rousillac community for almost 29 years and wants to continue his service in an official capacity. “This community is predominantly a UNC area. But the UNC has disappointed us for years. They have never done anything that they have promised.” Maharaj said he has been a follower of the PNM for several years and became an official member two years ago. He understands that he has a battle on his hands to break the UNC stranglehold. Despite the loss of a leg Pundit Persad stated, “I have decided on this action because people in this area feel a lot of bitterness towards the UNC for all the unfulfilled and broken promises. What makes the difference with me and my followers are that they are voting for me. I explained to them that you have to vote for someone who will make things happen and the PNM is the safest and the wisest ticket. It is the party in power.” He admits though that when his leg was amputated his campaign was set back for a month and it took sometime to get his life on course. But even as he came to grips with his handicap, his relatives and friends insisted that he continue on the campaign trail. “I never thought about  throwing in the towel. My supporters came and said ‘Is now you have to campaign, even with one-leg’”

Maharaj’s wife of 13 years, Sharda, said she has thrown her full support behind her husband for the road ahead. “ He is keeping us strong and has enough strength to serve the public. People come by the dozens everyday at our door seeking help, be it spiritual, medical, physical or domestic. And this way he can continue his service in a bigger way.” Their three kids, Suman, 12, Divya, nine, and Narendra, eight, are also excited about their father getting involved in politics. Maharaj said  he is not seeking sympathy from anyone, but wants to be a role model for the handicapped community. He recalled the standing ovation accorded him when he was introduced at the PNM launch of the local government candidates on Saturday. “I walked across the stage with my crutches and everyone was cheering me on. I looked down and saw some handicapped persons sitting in the front and they were smiling at me. I could see they had hope on their faces, and if I win I intend to make national representation for the handicapped.Their plight is my plight,” he said.