Bhadase Sagan Maraj

Bhadase Sagan Maraj
2nd Leader of the Opposition of British Trinidad and Tobago
In office
26 October 1956 – 21 September 1961
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorSolomon Hochoy
Edward Beetham
Chief Minister & PremierEric Williams
Acting on his behalfA. P. T. James (1959)
Simbhoonath Capildeo (1959-1961)
Preceded byAshford Sastri Sinanan
Succeeded byRudranath Capildeo (as Leader of the Opposition of the Dominion of Trinidad and Tobago)
Member of Parliament
for Chaguanas
In office
1967–1971
Preceded byRudranath Capildeo
Succeeded byBalraj Deosarran
Member of the Legislative Council
for Caroni North
In office
26 October 1956 – 21 September 1961
Preceded byMitra Sinanan[2]
Member of the Legislative Council
for Tunapuna
In office
1950–1956
Succeeded byLearie Constantine
1st Political Leader of the Democratic Liberation Party
In office
1971–1971
Preceded byInaugural holder
Succeeded byNone (party dissolved)
1st Political Leader of the Democratic Labour Party
In office
1957–1960
Preceded byHimself as Political Leader of the People's Democratic Party
Succeeded byRudranath Capildeo
1st Political Leader of the People's Democratic Party
In office
1953–1957
Preceded byInaugural holder
Succeeded byHimself as Political Leader of the Democratic Labour Party
1st President General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
In office
1952–1971
DharmacharyaPt. Jankie Persad Sharma (1955-1971)[4]
Pt. Basdeo Misir (1952-1955)[5]
Succeeded byRampersad Bholai[3]
3rd President General of the All Trinidad Sugar Estates and Factory Workers Union
In office
1957–1971
Preceded byMcDonald Moses
Succeeded byKrishna Gowandan
1st President General of the Federation of Unions of Sugar Workers and Cane Farmers
In office
1953–1957
Succeeded byHimself
as the 3rd President General of ATSEFWU after FUSWCF merged into ATSEFWU
Personal details
Born
Bhadase Sagan Maraj

(1920-02-29)29 February 1920[6]
Caroni Village, Caroni County, Colony of Trinidad and Tobago, British West Indies
Died21 October 1971(1971-10-21) (aged 51)
Port of Spain, Saint George County, Trinidad and Tobago[7]
Cause of deathSide effects of Pethidine[12]
Political partyDemocratic Liberation Party (1971-d.)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse(s)Vijanti Maraj (ann.)
Hilda Chinibas
Rachel Chinibas
RelativesSatnarayan Maharaj (son-in-law)
EducationPamphylian High School Tunapuna[10]
Occupation
  • Politician
  • religious leader
  • businessman
  • wrestler
  • writer
Nickname(s)Baba[11]
Big Bhadase
Personal
ReligionHinduism
SectSanātanī
Organization
Founder ofSanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
Religious career
Literary worksHostile and Recalcitrant

The Rt Hon. Bhadase Sagan Maraj (pronounced [bʰəd̪eːsə səɡənə mərəɟə]; 29 February 1920 – 21 October 1971) was a Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician, Hindu leader, civil rights activist, trade unionist, landowner, businessman, philanthropist, wrestler, and writer. He founded the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha in 1952, which grew to be the largest and most influential Hindu organization in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. He also founded the Caroni East Indian Association, the People's Democratic Party, the Democratic Labour Party, the Democratic Liberation Party, the Federation of Unions of Sugar Workers and Cane Farmers, and The Bomb newspaper.

  1. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago Parliament".
  2. ^ "UWI Today".
  3. ^ https://m.facebook.com/sdms1952/photos/a.105983271127919/350048696721374/?type=3&locale=ne_NP&_rdr [user-generated source]
  4. ^ "Pandit Jankie Persad Sharma Rare Photos & Biography, Audio & Video Recordings, S.D.M.S."
  5. ^ "Pandit Basdeo Misir Rare Photos & Biography, First Dharmacharya of Trinidad & Tobago".
  6. ^ "50th Anniversary of Independence of Trinidad and Tobago by Paria Publishing - Issuu". 26 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Shared Roots". Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  8. ^ "The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0". Archived from the original on 22 May 2012.
  9. ^ "The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0". Archived from the original on 22 May 2012.
  10. ^ "The Caribbean History Archives: Bhadase Sagan Maraj". 23 December 2011.
  11. ^ "Indo-Trinis and "Black Power": Why Bhadase and Dr Williams agreed on issue of Indian-African unity". 18 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Sat Maharaj: Hindu Civil Rights Leader of Trinidad & Tobago – Biography". YouTube. 5 November 2017.