Ramgoolam still dancing at 78

His eye make-up and bright lipstick stood out as he danced as though he were in his 20s.

His powerful voice blended in with the tassa drums and dholak as he sang about King Dasharat from the Ramayan (text of Hindus), at a recent Indian Arrival event at the Divali Nagar in Chaguanas.

“I have a passion inside burning like an everlasting flame,” said Sadhu Boodram Ramgoolam as he spoke about the art form he has been performing for more than 60 years. He explained that some Ramayan stories are expressed in the ancient dance style of Biraha. He said the dance is highly spiritual and he knows that the gods are looking down at him and helping him through his routine.

“Long ago, our forefathers would sing a verse and then act it out in dance so that people will better understand the significance behind the story that was being told,” he said.

Ramgoolam said he learnt to sing in rhythmic style from listening to his forefathers sing chowtal songs. “When you understand the Hindi language, then this art becomes easy.” He encourages the youths and those into Bollywood- type music to learn the language so that they can better express themselves when it comes to the music and songs.

The septuagenarian from Hermitage Village, San Fernando, is actively involved in Ramleela and other dramas that are staged in temples across TT .

Ramgoolam who is a vegetarian and lives a simple life in the countryside sat in his hammock at his home as he spoke to Newsday about his life. He is an ex-Caroni worker who spent all his spare time reading and explaining the Ramayan in villages across the country. He is known for doing the Biraha dance at local functions and in the US.

“I have a passion for this Bira ha dance because it really is a powerful means in which to enlighten people about the scriptures that originated more than 5,000 years ago in India.” His life’s work is based on reciting and enacting stories from the Ramayan and other Hindu texts.

“Ramleela comes just before Divali and it is done in ten days’ time, but with the Biraha dance an audience can get any excerpt from the Ramayan or the Bhagavad Gita at any point in time,” he said.

He praised the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) for hosting several workshops in Hindi and in the art of Biraha for the younger people who were interested in learning. “I believe this art should be shown in schools and through the community outreach programmes as it contains valuable life lessons to benefit people.” President of the NCIC Dr Deokienanan Sharma described Ramgoolam as an unsung hero who should be given a national award for his work in keeping this ancient culture alive. He agrees with Ramgoolam that this art should be taught in schools and through community-based programmes. Sharma commended Ramgoolam whom he said, is one of a kind in the Caribbean.

Ramgoolam’s command of the Hindi language led him to play various roles in Ramleela at Tarouba in 1964.

“I had to prepare my own elaborate costuming and I was excited to present the ancient characters for the viewing public back then,” he said. Through the years he developed footworks by practising folk dances. His dance wardrobe is worth thousands of dollars. “I use brightly-coloured clothing for all my performances,” he said, adding that this helps in bringing out the art in a fashionable way.

For the future, Ramgoolam says he takes one day at a time enjoying nature, singing and dancing everyday.

“You do not need an audience to perform.

You have to dance and sing for the lord. Make your art a prayer and then everyone else will appreciate it.” He believes that Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman will give him the strength to continue dancing and singing all through his life. He also believes he will be dancing until he is 100 years.