Meet Our Pandits

Pandit Ravideen Ramsamooj was born in the village of Carolina in Trinidad, and grew up in an Arya Samaj family. From an early age, he was exposed to Hindi music and culture through his father who was a Ramayan singer and thus created a musical atmosphere in the home. During his youth, he was also actively involved in the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, the Vedic Mission Bharitiya Vidya Sansthaan, and was one of the founding members of the Trinindad Arya Vir Dal. He assisted with coordinating Arya Vir Dal Camps within Trinindad and even arranging inter-visitation with the Guyana Arya Vir Dal in 1977.

After completing high school in 1976, he worked as a teacher at the Montrose Vedic School. Two years later, he joined the Mausica Teachers’ College and the then Valsayn Teachers College where he acquired his Teacher’s Diploma, with music education as his elective. After graduation, Pt. Ravi taught at Carapichaima Junior Secondary School as a music teacher.

In 1984, Pt. Ravi with his family went to India to study. He joined Delhi University from which he received his B.A. Honors, and M.A. in Hindustani music, an opportunity afforded to him through a scholarship awarded to him by the ICCR of India. During his five years stay in India, he was able to meet with talented musicians.

In 1990, he and his family migrated to the USA and he joined the Arya Spiritual Center as a music teacher and a practicing pandit. Recognizing the need for Hindustani music education among the Hindu society, Pt. Ravi very soon established the East Indian Music Academy in Queens, NY, an institution that has graduated thousands of musicians from within and outside of the Hindu community, inspiring young and old alike in authentic Indian music. Over the ensuing years, he pursued advanced studies in music, and graduated with a PhD in Hindustani music from Rajasthan University. Pt. Ravi now serves as a senior priest at Arya Spiritual Center.

In recent years, Pt. Ravi has been instrumental in revitalizing the Arya Pratinidhi Samaj Mandir in Carolina in Trinidad, traveling often to lend in-person support, and assisting with materials for standardizing Vedic Havan and selected bhajans.

Pandit Bharat Singh was born in the village of Cornelia Ida in Guyana. At a very early age, he developed a deep interest in Satya Sanaatan Vedic Values, and became actively involved with the Guyana Arya Pratinidhi Sabha and Guyana Arya Veer Dal. Through the influence and coaching from several prominent Acharyas in Guyana, he assisted in organizing several Arya Veer Dal Shikshan Shivirs and Workshops.

Pt. Bharat pursued higher education studies at the Cyril Potter College of Education, and taught for four years in Guyana.

In 1990, Pt. Bharat traveled to India on a Government of India scholarship to pursue studies in Hindi at the Kendriya Hindi Sansthaan in New Delhi, India, where he graduated with Certification in Advanced Hindi Studies. After completing his studies in India, Pt. Bharat came to New York, and in 1992, was invited to join the Pandits’ Sabha of the Arya Spiritual Center. He immediately took on the role of Hindi teacher for the Friday night classes at the mandir for many years. He also participated in formal Pandit Training workhops offered at the mandir under the guidance of Dharmacharya Pt. Ramlall Ji and Dr. Satish Prakash. With inspiration from Pt. Ramlall Ji, he was certified to practice as a Pandit by the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, USA. Over the years, Pt. Bharat also furthered his studies and graduated with a B.A. in Economics from The City University of New York (CUNY).

Pt. Bharat has been associated with the Arya Spiritual Center for the past 29 years. He is actively involved in the Center’s Cultural and Spiritual Education programs. He is also enthusiastically involved in Vedic Prachaar in the New York Tri-State area and travels to many other states, to Guyana and Canada promoting Satya Sanatan Vedic Dharma.

Pt. Deepak Raman was born in Trinidad. From a very young age, he became actively involved in Arya Samaj activities by participating in, and coordinating Arya Vir Dal Camps for the Trinidad Arya Pratinidhi Sabha. In 1977, he traveled to Guyana as part of a contingent for an inter-visitation with the Guyana Arya Vir Dal. As a young man, was also actively involved in Vedic Mission Bharitiya Vidya Sansthaan, and Hindi Nidhi for several years.

Pt. Deepak spent most of his professional life in Trinidad as a school teacher starting off at Montrose Vedic School. After obtaining his professional qualification from Corinth Teachers’ College, he continued teaching at Chaguanas Junior High School, and later obtained a position at Carapichaima Senior Comprehensive Secondary School until leaving for the USA. Pt. Deepak pursued tertiary education at The University of the West Indies, graduating with a BSc., and the Post Graduate Diploma in Education.

In 1988, Pt. Deepak traveled to India on an ICCR scholarship from the Indian Government to pursue studies in Hindi. He graduated in Advanced Hindi Studies at the Kendriya Hindi Sansthaan in New Delhi, India.

In 2010, Pt. Deepak migrated to the USA with his family, and became actively involved with the Arya Spiritual Center of New York as a practicing Pandit and teacher of Vedic studies. Pt. Deepak has functioned as a Vedic Pandit for more than 40 years altogether.

Pt. Deepak has been associated with Arya Spiritual Center for 12 years. He has been instrumental in establishing the monthly Sunday morning Gaayatree Yajya at Arya Spiritual center, and during the pandemic began facilitating a weekly zoom forum for Sandhya and meditation. He is the coordinator for the Center’s Cultural and Spiritual Education programs, including planning for continuing education for adults interested in furthering their knowledge in Vedic education. A strong proponent of Satya Sanatan Vedic Dharma, Pt. Deepak is involved in Vedic Prachaar as a community service.

Pandita Bharati Ramsamooj was born in Windsor Forest in Guyana. At a young age, she began singing bhajans at Yajnas and by age 10, had completed the eighteen chapters of the Bhagwad Gita under the guidance of Shri Deonarineji. She received her secondary education at Indian Educational Trust College in Georgetown, and upon completion of her studies, began working at Prashad’s Hospital in Georgetown. During this time, she was also involved in, and promoted cultural radio programs at the Guyana Broadcasting Station and Radio Demerara.

As a young girl, with guidance and encouragement from her cousin, Dr. Satish Prakash, she became involved in Arya Vir Dal Camps in Guyana. It was through one of these camps that she met Pt. Ravideen Ramsamooj. In 1981, she married Pt. Ravi in Trinidad, and later, she and their son Avirodh, accompanied him to India to pursue further studies. While in India, she pursued higher education and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Agra University and a Diploma in Hindi from Delhi University. She also attended Shri Ram Bharatiya Kalakendra where she studied light classical music under the guidance of Shelly Dutt.

In 1990, she and her family settled in New York and joined the Arya Spiritual Center. Pt. Ravi became a practicing Pandit with the Center, and Pta. Bharati accompanied him in the chantings, and bhajans, and delivered religious messages of her own. She also assisted in the planning and execution of the annual Vir Dal camps, both as an advisor and instructor, teaching mantras and shlokas to young children and teenagers.

When Pt. Ravi founded the East Indian Music Academy, Pta. Bharati was the Principal and the Hindi and Culture Teacher. Both Pta. Bharati and Pt. Ravi are household names among Hindu families and temples in New York City because of the significant impact they have made upon the society in the area of Hindustani music.

Despite settling in Florida, Pta. Bharati’s and Pt. Ravi’s commitment to Arya Spiritual Center remain strong. They continue to play an active role in weekly ‘Satsangh’ and special events, and they continue to spread Vedic knowledge and Hindustani music to their community mandir in Florida, and through the music school in New York.

Jaiwantie Davi Lakhnath, fondly known as Davi, is a native of Guyana and comes from a deep-rooted Arya Samaj/Hindu family. She was a student of the late Dharmacharya Pandit Ramlall Ji and one of the founding members of Arya Spiritual Center. As a life member with a committed spirit to Arya Spiritual Center, she takes deep interest in imparting Vedic/cultural education to children and families towards their god of becoming a true Arya Samajist. Pta. Davi is an active member of the Arya Prathinidhi Sabha in India and USA, and Guyana Central Arya Samaj, where she has attended and conducted workshops. For 30 years, she has successfully directed the Arya Vir Dal camps at the Arya Spiritual Center and the Arya Samaj community in Guyana. She has. helped establish the youth form platform. As a saywak (volunteer) and current President of the United Arya Samaj Federation- New York, Pta. Davi continues to relentlessly work to achieve the goals of “Krinvanto Vishwam Aaryam - Make The Universe Noble”.

Pta. Nirvani was born in Guyana in a dual-religion home. Her mother was a practicing Arya Samajist, and her father, a practicing Muslim. Pta. Nirvani states that she was strongly influenced by her mother who practiced weekly havan at home, and was inspired by her mother’s motto: ‘As an Aryan woman, always be open to opportunities that will uplift you and your community.’

As a young girl, Pta. Nirvani’s mother, Mataaji Sumintra, took a leading role in Arya Samaj in Guyana. She had the opportunity to accompany her father, Pandit Raja Ram of Uitvlugt, on his Vedic outreach missions where she was encouraged to deliver messages on the Vedas. She is one of the original Viranganas under the guidance of Pt. Usharbudh Arya.

As a teenager, Pta. Nirvani assisted her mother with the radio program she hosted for the Guyana Arya Pratinidhi Sabha. There Pta. Nirvani met members of other Mandirs across Guyana as they came to record their messages, and was inspired.

When she migrated to the USA, Pandit Ramlallji invited her to Arya Spiritual Center. She and her family soon became actively involved in the mandir’s cultural programs. Pta. Nirvani states that the mandir has provided an anchor for her family. Their two daughters grew up in the Mandir attending the Vir Dal camps and participating in cultural programs. Occasionally, Pta. Nirvani facilitated lessons for the younger children during the camps.

Pta. Nirvani has been with Arya Spiritual Center for 20 years. She obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the City University at Queens College. She states that her greatest achievement has been as a mother. Her personal goal is to continue growing spiritually and to encourage others, especially women, to grow. As coordinator of the Mahila Samaj, her focus is to nudge women beyond their comfort levels to lead Sandhya and Havan, and present inspirational messages starting at the mandir level. Pta. Nirvani looks forward to continue growing through participation in the Pandits’ Training Program.

Born in Guyana to parents who were practicing Arya Samajists in Enmore, Pt. Prakash Persaud’s commitment to Arya Samaj was strongly influenced by his father, who had a close relationship with Professor Bhashkaranand as a young man, and had attended the first Arya Vir Dal Camp organized by late Dr. Usharbudh Arya, where he became associated with Pt. Ramlall.

At an early age, Pt. Prakash and his younger siblings became actively involved in Arya Vir Dal Training Camps throughout Guyana, serving as camp leader on several occasions. As a teenager, he traveled with Pt. Ramlalji to Suriname and Parimaribo to participate in an Arya Samaj Samellan. This relationship influenced him to join Arya Spiritual center when he migrated to the USA.

A teacher by profession, Pt. Prakash pursued higher education at the University of Guyana where he graduated with the BSc. in Mathematics. In 1983, he and his family migrated to Jamaica where he served as an Examiner of Mathematics for the Caribbean Examinations Council while teaching mathematics and physics at Clarendon College.

In 1986, Pt. Prakash migrated to the USA and settled in New York City. He became a high school teacher of mathematics with the NYC Department of Education. He pursued graduate studies at Brooklyn College, obtaining an M.A. in Mathematics, and later, the MSc. in School Administration and Supervision at Mercy College. In 2004, Pt. Prakash joined the staff of Richmond Hill High School as Assistant Principal of Mathematics. In 2011, he became an Education Administrator with the City of New York, a position from which he is now retired.

Pt. Prakash became a member at Arya Spiritual Center in 1990, and began to take an active role in the Center’s programs, especially at the Vir Dal Camps. Later, he joined the administrative leadership within the organization, and its community representation. He and his family have been associated Arya Spiritual Center for over 31 years.

Pt. Prakash was motivated by the late Dharmacharya Pt. Ramlallji to become a Pandit with Arya Spiritual Center, having participated in and completed formal Pandit Training workhops offered at the mandir under the guidance of Dharmacharya Pt. Ramlall Ji and Dr. Satish Prakash. With Pt. Ramlallji’s urging, he applied for certification from the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, USA to practice as a Pandit. He has been a practicing Pandit for over twenty years at the mandir, and in the larger Arya Samaj community within and outside of the USA .

Pt. Bharrat Bisesar hails from Clonbrook, Guyana. From his youth, he was highly influenced by his Nana (maternal grandfather), and his Mamoo (maternal uncle), both of whom were firm disciplinarians. His Mamoo was a school teacher and inspired him to always strive for academic excellence, laying the foundation for his academic aspirations.

When his Mamoo migrated to England, he was sad. However, he received a partial scholarship to the Cove and John Hindu College where he excelled in his first year of studies. Inspired by Brahmachary life there, he expressed the desire to become a resident student and his Nana supported him. He embraced the discipline of dormitory life, and the etiquette of the Havan culture with its scientific base, an influence that has remained with him throughout his life.

Pt. Bharrat later went to Indian College in Georgetown where he obtained his high school diploma. Thereafter, he obtained a job with the Government of Guyana during which time he was seconded for two years with the United Nations conducting a feasibility study on the hydro-elctricity project in the interior of Guyana. Working with international professionals in this venture and the Canje Bridge project in Berbice gave him expansive knowledge, which served him well when he migrated to the USA.

After nine years with the Guyana Government, Pt. Bharrat migrated to New York with his young family, and experienced a culture shock in many ways. In order to get a proper job, he pursued higher studies, graduating as a Certified Mechanic under the Society of Quality Assurance. This qualification gave him twenty-five fulfilling years in the aircraft industry working with Boeing, Lockheed, Grumman, and others. His disciplined mind and work ethics earned him respect from his employers and co-workers alike.

Pt. Bharrat’s association with Arya Spiritual Center spans over twenty-five years. After migrating, he continued with religious practices at home with his growing family. As his children grew, he realized the need for them to belong to a religious organization. A family friend introduced him to the Arya Spiritual Center. He joined the organization and soon became entrenched in the activities of the Center, especially the Satsanghs, becoming a Pandit within the organization.

Pt. Bharrat credits his strict upbringing to his Nana and Mamoo, having lost his father at a young age. The Gurukul experience provided the foundation for his life.