Villagers mourn death of young pundit

RESIDENTS OF Lothians Road, Princes Town, went into deep mourning after 23-year-old Pundit Dharam Maharaj was killed Tuesday night when a 400-gallon tank fell and crushed him. The young pundit was well respected for the religious work he did in the area. Maharaj was also a graduate of UWI with a degree in Chemistry and worked at Lever Brothers West Indies Ltd. Scores of villagers flocked to Maharaj’s home after hearing of his death and some were seen crying openly.

His older brother Anand, who is also a pundit, postponed his wedding which was due to take place on Sunday. With pain and frustration clear on his face, he described his brother’s death as God’s work. Popular tassa drummer Devanand Mandeo, who lives in the area, said news of Maharaj’s death had “stopped us all in our tracks. “The pundit did service to the village and he was someone we could boast about. It is a tremendous loss to us,”  he said. Mandeo said Maharaj will long be remembered as a person who lived a life of spirituality. Arjune Teeluck, a coordinator of the Princes Town Theatre Workshop (PTTW), said Hindus believe in reincarnation and the cause of karma. “The body is dead but the soul has moved onto a safer place. I am urging the devotees of Lothians Road to look at his passing as a warning from God because life is short and we must now look at our every action. “Pundit Dharam has gone to Lord Vishnu and it is now our duty to celebrate his life,” he said. Members of the PTTW did several mantras in remembrance of the young pundit. Robert Village and Rio Claro Hindu Schools remained closed yesterday for the young pundit’s funeral service.