Jagernath Lachmon Chairman VHP
Jagernath Lachmon was born in the district of Nickerie on 21 September 1916. His mother, Bekhanie, came as immigrant from British India of the day. She lived at Chaunpur, Uttarpradesh. Also his father came as immigrant from British India. He lived at Kaanpur, Uttarpradesh.
Consequently, Lachmon belongs to the first generation of the descendants of British Indian immigrants in Suriname. He prosperously finished his studies in jurisprudence as early as at the age of 23, and in the following year, in 1940, he had his own lawyer's office.
Lachmon is married to Fawziya A.L. Abdul Sovan. Her support in the numerous and very responsible assignments is indispensable.
Except for his mother and his eldest brother Narpat, two educators have left behind deep traces.
J.P.Sukul, who later took his doctor's degree on the Bhagvat Gita, and
Dr. Julius Caesar de Miranda who not only trained him free of charge in jurisprudence, but also passed across knowledge, that contributed to a high degree to shaping Jagernath Lachmon's personality.
Since the first general elections were held in 1949 on the basis of democratic foundations, he has always been elected convincingly as a member of Parliament. During many years Lachmon occupied the post of Speaker.
Lachmon's leading principles
General
Jagernath Lachmon has become a household word on account of his essential contribution to particularly decision making processes, primarily in the political field during a very long period of our political history and on account of his prolonged political leadership. Reaching consensus -creating a bridge between parties- arriving at a determination by means of dialogue in prevailing cases has always been a leading principle for him.
Respect for religious views and cultural attainments and the determination to work together in peace, freedom and harmony in the building and progress of the entire country, based on the foundation of the constitutional state and democracy form the basis of his political conduct. A healthy and harmonious community based on these principles in a plural society as ours in which the individual can develop best, and in which the community can acquire well-being, have shaped -since the earliest beginning- his political ideal, known as the 'fraternisation politics'. Nowadays, the 'harmony model' is also used as the basis for a peaceful society.
Propagating and actually implementing the concept of fraternisation is one of Jagernath Lachmon's deepest convictions; possibly also one of his most conspicuous merits. The fraternisation politics as he himself calls it, embraces the idea that the cultures present in Suriname in all their forms of expression: food, dress, language, religion, etc., may be expressed freely and with respect for one another without deliberately imposing restrictions of any kind.
‘Making Suriname a model for the world, where all great cultures and religions are present and where, moreover, the population displays a great diversity of ethnicity is like a garden with many kinds of flowers. A country with so many differences and where one can still live in peace’. These notions identify the ideas and social ideals of Jagernath Lachmon.
The growth of all these groups of people with their own identities towards a nation is a process that has to be cherished.
The concept of fraternisation mainly concerns the developing and enabling of these qualities still sensitive in us and which have to be cherished.
The idea of fraternisation has been perceivable during Jagernath Lachmon's entire political career:
- the recognition of the religious communities of Hinduism and Islam mentioned above, with which the principle of equality of rights is expressed, is of importance for a further development of the 'nation' concept;
- in 1952 the VHP introduced a motion in Parliament from an opposition position to enable all those who wished to commemorate 1st July to do so by dispensing them from their duties with salary or wages. This decision was passed by Parliament. This day was later declared a national holiday. 1st July is the day on which in the year 1863 the slaves were enfranchised, predominantly African slaves.
The fraternisation concept and its implementation have a broader and deeper importance than merely creating a peaceful society. The idea of fraternisation in a heterogeneous society in ethnic as well as in religious respect implies not only the conservation as well as further cultivating of the respective culture values but it also forms the basis for the development of a Surinamese nation of one's own.
Lachmon sees in 'nation' something more than the official independent status of a country, which is formal of nature.
Lachmon has been occupied since the beginning of the fifties with a process of laying the basic conditions of shaping the nation.
To Lachmon, Nation implies a greater and deeper meaning: a historical solidarity of destiny which we all share, an alliance with the soil we all cherish, but also a solidarity with one another, a mutual acceptance of one another and well-meant loyalty towards one another.
Consequently, it is understandable that Lachmon encountered resistance in his fraternisation politics. Within his own ranks he was reproached for making too many concessions to 'others’ and for being careless in the conservation of one's 'own' in the cultural field. These developments have to be placed against the background of a growing de-colonising process in the Third World Countries, particularly in India, while in Suriname itself a movement 'Wie Egie Sanie’ (one's own things) led by Bruma was very active among the Creole population. As reaction a great part of the cultural group that formed Lachmon's supporters started to exuberantly celebrate India's independence day (15 August). Under these circumstances Jagernath Lachmon had to explain to his supporters that fraternity did not mean assimilation that he was being reproached for.