Premnath Gupta - principal and poet

Even though his left leg is longer that his right leg and his steps are not as straight as it should be, Premnath Gupta, 50, walks proudly.

He is rated one of the ten best poets of the world by the International Library of Poetry of the USA and he is one of the most respected principals among 43 of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha. His right leg shrunk following an attack of polio while he was a child. Indeed this gentle man is now soaring the heights of success both in his profession and as a poet. Speaking from his desk at Tunapuna Hindu School (where he has been the principal since 2000), he smiles on receiving the comment that he is a great individual. “I am a humble writer who performs his duty with his heart,” he said. Last year Gupta answered a call for poets from any part of the world to submit a piece to be judged on an international scale. This poem, ‘The Guru’ won the best spiritual piece and he was called to receive a trophy in Miami, however, because he was not able to afford the trip Gupta never collected his trophy. The impression on his face says ‘maybe someday I will’. Today Gupta’s poem is on a CD that is marketed throughout the world and it is one of ten displayed in the popular libraries in the US.

Gupta’s climb to success has not been an easy one. He told People that life is a gift from God, not a battle to be fought. “Even in the most trying times we must be conscious of the fact that as humans we are capable of achieving a whole lot and we must not bring ourselves down at any point in time,” he said. Since he took up the post of Principal of Tunapuna Hindu School, there has been a massive turn around in the overall performance of the students and also the infrastructure of the school. Among all the Maha Sabha schools, he was able to open the largest computer-room  which is fully air-conditioned and can accommodate up to 60 students at one time.  With a student body of 670 and a teaching staff of 28, he sits at the head of one of the largest primary schools in the country. He was also responsible for leading the PTA to raise $270,000 to build the school’s open auditorium where morning assembly is conducted. Apart from this he established a fully air-conditioned music room with harmoniums, dholaks, dhantals, sitars, tassa-drums and other small instruments.

The obvious question to Gupta was: What’s next? He answered almost immediately, “A breakfast shed that will be open at 6.30 for students who cannot afford breakfast at home. A storage room for all the machinery and equipment of the school and a room for Art and Craft. I would also like the entire school to be air-conditioned.” His dreams are becoming a reality, one by one. And he is able to accomplish all this with ease. What then is his secret to accomplishing his goals? “It is all about working with the people around you. The staff at this school has been dedicated and hard working. I set the goal and they do everything in their power to make it a reality. If it means coming on weekends to work, they do it because they are able to see the goal as they go along,” he said. “I have been able to work with people, because I look for their strength. I never see their weaknesses. I go pass their weaknesses and capitalise on their strength. This way they know that they are worthy people who can change the life of people with ease. And whenever I meet with my staff I try to show them what exactly they are capable of.  This has been my way in motivating my staff to accomplish the goals.”

Gupta remembers his childhood days in the rural district of Brazil, which is in central close to the forested area. Even though he had a minor disability with his leg, it did not keep him back from playing football and cricket. People stared at him when he walked pass them but he kept his head straight and never looked backed at them, who sometimes jeered. He attended the Brazil RC School as a child and later the North Eastern High School. His first teaching job was at Paradise High School. He also worked as  a sale’s clerk at the then Kirpalani’s in Arima, before moving on to Mausica Teachers Training College. In Mausica he was well respected for his intelligence among the other teachers. While there, he was seen in a different light. “Everyone there was training to be a teacher. Therefore I did not have to prove that I was brilliant. And I really saw myself as a teacher and someone in society. No one noticed the way I walked and this was relief for me,” he said.

Gupta joined the Maha Sabha in 1975 as a teacher at El Dorado South Hindu School. He taught at Sangre Grande, Mohess Road - Penal, before he took up the post of principal in 1994. At Mohess Road, Penal and later at the Five Rivers Hindu School. He praised the Secretary General of the Maha Sabha, Sat Maharaj for encouraging him to achieve so much. “Whenever I met with Mr Maharaj, I would be inspired to work harder and I believe it is because of his inspiration that I am able to achieve so much with the Maha Sabha schools,” he said. Gupta is married to Juliana Ann Gupta who is an employee of the Ministry of Works and they both have two teenage children — Devika Kassandra and Dev Anand. The best time for him is when he goes shopping with his family he also loves to spend time with them at home looking at movies and sharing dinner. This makes him very happy. He also loves to go the various projects organised by the Maha Sabha. “This function really gives me fulfillment. I see a bright future for the children of the Maha Sabha school and this is indeed very fulfilling,” he said. As for writing poetry? He takes his pen and paper wherever he goes and he is able to put down some poetic words even in the middle of a crowd. Talented and devoted, Gupta remains one of the most admirable individuals. He is one of five persons who will be receiving awards for nation-building, by United Promotions later in December.