Keeping Chowtaal alive

THE name Harripersad Sonnylal is popular in El Dorado Village, Tacarigua. This gentleman has dedicated his life to the promotion of youths of his home town and has formed the 50-member strong El Dorado Bhuya Saaj (EDBS) choir, with members ranging from eight to 30 years. The group was founded by past principal of El Dorado South Hindu School Pundit Deosaran Sharma.  However, Sonnylal quickly took over and began his mission of getting youths outside the school population involved with the choir. While members have come and gone since the choir’s inception, one thing has remained constant —the songs performed are the same each year. Chowtaal and other bhajans are the highlight of many performances in central and south Trinidad.

Sonnylal, 57, said that he was following his father and uncle in up keeping the traditions of India. His dad, Sonny Lal, came to TT on the SS Ganges ship in 1917 as an indentured labourer. Both father and uncle also performed in the Tacarigua area. While growing up Sonnylal learnt Hindi by listening to his parents speak. He now has a good command of the language and writes Hindi. “My uncle Chowtkhan Lal wrote hundreds of chowtaal songs and this has been our source for many years. The words were so well written that all we had to do was put music to it,” he explained. Through the years he decided to stick with chowtaal and bhajan singing. “I wanted to preserve the art of chowtaal singing because it brings the young people together. It can only happen when they join with each other,” he said. Sonnylal is enthusiastic over hearing the collective voices of the youths whenever they perform. He raised his hands saying: “It is so unique and powerful that it commands the attention of everyone.” His dream is to get more young people involved in choir singing.

The busiest time of the year for the El Dorado Bhuya Saaj is around Phagwa when chowtaal is in the air. Members are then involved in constructing costumes and rehearsing songs for their stage appearances to which they travel to on a big bus. “This is really a joyous time for the kids. And I feel that I have been able to accomplish a goal by seeing them perform on stage,” Sonnylal said. Choir singing, he laments, is not popular in TT as in other countries. “The choirs here are small. The parang groups and church choirs and the temple groups consist of approximately 12 people but in other countries they have up to 100 people involved in singing in the churches and vocal institutions,” he said. Sonnylal wants to establish a school for chowtaal in Tacarigua for future generations. “There is a need to have composers and music directors as well and this is something we have to look into,” he said.

His only regret is that the corporate sponsors are not doing enough for the youths of his area. “It is difficult to get donations and sponsorship. When we approach any of the businesses, they all say the same thing: ‘Call back another time.” This, he says, is discouraging as there are talented young people who are willing to get involved in singing but are not financially equipped to pay for transportation and purchase costumes. The correct stage costuming was important to the performance, he stressed. “The children must wear the suitable outfits for this occasion. We cannot allow them to get into a jeans and jersey because this art is of a religious nature.” He would like to see more of the businesses agreeing to sponsor the under privileged children of the Tacarigua area. Young people are always at Harripersad’s home as he is like a father to the students. He attributes this to his method in dealing with them. “You must apply a lot of patience and understanding when dealing with youths. It takes a lot of time to actually get through to them and have them learn the Hindi songs,” he said. The group will dedicate all their performances for the new year to one of India’s greatest leaders, Mohan Dass Karamchand Gandhi. Apart from Sonnylal, the El Dorado Bhuya Saaj choir is ably supported by its president Anil Sookoo and secretary Maria Rattan who both put in longs hours to ensure the group’s success. Sonnylal’s only passion in life is to watch the choir perform chowtaal song with style.