The Flour Convoy
“The Flour Convoy” is a masterful weave by a writer skilled in his craft, and the reader is at once captivated and repelled by the tapestry of corruption, brutality, greed, and lack of concern for common people. A must read for anyone interested in post-colonial literature and Caribbean literature in particular.
Sarah Sooknanan
Reprinted from the Guyana Chronicle Online
| The Shaping of Guyanese Literature… : The 2012 Guyana Prize for Literature (Part I) |
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Professor Frank Birbalsingh |
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Saturday, 28 September 2013 |
| CHAITRAM Singh won the 2012 Guyana Prize for Literature (awarded September 2013) in the category of Best First Book of Fiction with his first novel, The Flour Convoy. Singh’s other entry, The February 23rd Coup, was shortlisted in the Category of Best Book of Fiction.Below is a review by Frank Birbalsingh,Professor Emeritus.The February 23rd Coup is the second novel (after The Flour Convoy) by Chaitram Singh, a Guyanese graduate of West Point – the American Military Academy – and former officer in the Guyana Defense Force. Singh is also author of a non-fiction work, Politics in Plantation Society, (1988) and teaches political science at Berry College, Georgia, in the USA.
Singh’s second novel focuses on the dictatorial régime of Forbes Burnham, which, by the late 1970s, had, in the words of one of the novel’s American characters, turned Guyana into “a refugee encampment for people desperately seeking to flee the punishing conditions of life created by the mismanagement and corruption of a self-perpetuating clique.” (p.246) Singh’s novel acknowledges the role of the US as one of two superpowers in the second half of the 20th Century, when the Caribbean Sea was (and still is) regarded as a privately-owned American lake, and territories within or bordering this sea treated largely as the personal effects of Americans. So, it is not surprising that, despite the novel’s fictional coup being planned by Guyanese, every move is monitored, controlled and eventually derailed by the CIA, in cahoots with the US embassy in Guyana. History repeats itself when the CIA Station Chief, Colonel Fred Hitchcock reminds the Guyanese President after his brief capture: “Surely you remember from your days in the opposition, back in the 60s, that we [Americans] have friends in the [Guyanese] trade union movement. It worked to your advantage back then.” (p.180) Hitchcock also reminds another American, Stephen Erikson, Assistant Military Attaché at the US embassy in Guyana, that “American interests” were paramount, and in 1980 aimed “to prevent the spread of communism.” (p.156) When the action of the novel opens in 1979, Guyana is firmly in the grip of a corrupt government run by the ‘Kabaka Party’ (alias the People’s National Congress led by Burnham), while the Opposition is the People’s Party (alias the People’s Progressive Party, led Dr. Cheddi Jagan). Both parties are socialist, as is a third party, the Workers’ Party (alias, the Working People’s Alliance of Walter Rodney), which is led by Dr. Nelson, a true Marxist, of whom the Americans are most afraid. To the US, “the President was an opportunist whose only concern was to maintain himself in power,” (p.155) while the Opposition leader was toothless, because he supported the government ideologically; but Dr. Nelson was a real threat, according to Hitchcock. “…we couldn’t have a government under a diehard Marxist like Donald Nelson.” (p.204). Thus, no one worries later, when, like the historical Walter Rodney, Nelson’s car explodes under mysterious circumstances, and he is killed. The coup itself is meticulously planned, in strict secrecy, by Captain Ralph Spooner, Capt. Malcolm Felix, Capt. Anthony Cassius McGowan, and Colonel Franchette Taylor. A fifth officer – Capt. Andrew Rambarran – joins only after much persuasion. The author revels in the professionalism of his West Point expertise in presenting this plan, carefully tailored down to the last detail. The date – Saturday 23rd February, 1980 – is carefully selected. It is the day of the official Republic Day parade, which will involve servicemen from all three services – the Army, National Service and police. After the Parade, the weapons of all servicemen will be deposited in two armories, except for a group which is controlled by one of the conspirators. Supporters of the coup will be strategically placed, and the whole operation set to begin at 23:00 hours. This precise planning is executed to perfection, and the President arrested; but the coup fails, because of unexpected collaboration between the CIA Station Chief, Colonel Hitchcock, and one conspirator, Capt. McGowan, whose brother, Joe Henry, is head of the Public Service Union. After the President’s arrest, Hitchcock virtually orders the President to treat Capt. McGowan’s collaboration in the coup attempt leniently, since his betrayal of his fellow plotters restored power to the President. On top of that, lenience would promote good relations with the Public Service Union. It is almost an exact repeat of 1964, when similar “American interests” were first covertly imposed on Guyana. Not that ‘The February 23rd Coup’ is anti-American. On the contrary, each chapter opens with a date and place in the form of a diary, for example: “February 23, 1980: Georgetown, Guyana”, accompanied by a style that includes American military idioms, forms of address and speech, and technical discussions of tactics and strategy which give the impression of a professional, (West Point) military briefing. But this stiff formality is relieved by the warmth of a love story between Andrew Rambarran and Lena, the sister of Colonel Ralph Spooner, and moreso by another (more challenging) relationship between Steve Erikson and Anita, Rambarran’s sister. Yet, the real appeal of the novel is in its concluding chapters when Rambarran is imprisoned in Suriname, and is rescued in a series of daring, and exciting, action-packed exploits, both on land and sea, in the style of American Western films, where beleaguered but good heroes win against overwhelming odds. At the end of the novel, these exploits are seen in terms of virtue by Erikson and Rambarran who agree on their sanction by Hindu religious texts, the Ramayana and Mahabarata: “That’s what we stand for, isn’t it? Virtue?” (p.317) But if American interests in preserving the régime of a corrupt Guyanese dictator are virtuous, where do they leave poor, little Guyana, or us poor, Guyanese wretches? Frank Birbalsingh |
While many Guyanese characters express dissatisfaction with the Burnham régime by emigrating abroad, The February 23rd Coup highlights an attempted military coup by members of the Guyana Defense Force on February 23rd 1980. A successful coup would be improbable, since it conflicts with historical accuracy; whereas failure of the coup conveys the truth, as expressed by another American official: “…suffering would continue, and every low-level official would exact, without impunity, bribes and other favors from people too destitute to pay, but too powerless to resist.” (p.246)
The FLOUR CONVOY
Review by Roopnandan Singh
I have never done a written book review before, but after reading The Flour Convoy, winner of the Guyana Prize for Literature 2012 and written by Professor Chaitram Singh, I felt impelled to share my thoughts on the book.
For me the following constitute a good work of fiction:
- It must be engaging, holding your interest all or most of the time. In other words, you don’t ever feel like putting it down. You always want to know what is next.
- It’s realistic, feels like a true story, making you forget it’s a work of fiction.
- You can relate to the story in some way or another, or at least you feel as if you are on the scene, an eyewitness to what’s going on.
- If it’s a thick book, you brace yourself to go through it, yet when it’s over you wished it had more.
Well, well, well . . . What do you know?!. Turns out that The Flour Convoy is all of the above. For some Guyanese, both at home and abroad, it evokes a lot of memories and is therefore, nostalgic. Paradoxically, for many, it brings back to life some bitter days that are best obliterated from memory. And, even those in the latter group, will find it interesting to read, if only to celebrate the dawn of a new era in Guyana in 1992. In this fictionalized work of history, that captures the spirit of the time with its bit of humor and unique Guyanese culture, the plot, characterization, and style are flawless.
In today’s world, The Flour Convoy, is still relevant and, indeed, a timely reminder of what to guard against in every society.
I highly recommend Flour Convoy to all and sundry.
Roopnandan Singh
Prashad Nagar, Guyana
The Flour Convoy
Dr. Larry Marvin’s Review
Chaitram Singh’s The Flour Convoy accurately conveys a country on the brink of revolution while a corrupt government increasingly plays dirty tricks to stay in power. Through two central characters Singh shows what it means to be on both sides of the equation. The hero of the story, Captain Allan Moore, is a West Point graduate and dedicated professional officer in the Guyana Defense Force. Within his limited means, Moore tries to remain above the corruption and squalor besetting his homeland but in the end has to decide whether to stay and be permanently stained by corruption, or seek a better life somewhere else. Moore’s dilemma stands for one faced by thousands of others in Guyana at the time (ca. early 1980s). In some ways Singh’s anti-hero, the general Clive Agrippa, is a more complex character. Agrippa does not come off as a stock villain but rather as one who may have had good intentions at one time but became part of a rotten system and who uses that system for his own personal gain. Agrippa is not an evil genius; almost comically he repeatedly makes serious errors of judgment but dodges and weaves to stay in power. His success in doing so of course increasingly compromises not only the office he holds (chief of staff of the army) but undermines the army’s position as loyal, non-partisan servant to the state. Singh is particularly well placed to tell this story. A native of Guyana, he graduated from West Point and is a professor of government at Berry College. The descriptions of his homeland, life and lifestyle of professional army officers, the native dialect and dishes skillfully convey the sights, smells and sense of a place most Americans have never heard of. The author’s academic expertise and descriptive powers pull the reader in and involve us in well-drawn characters in a society on the edge. I recommend this book to those like myself who know very little of the politics, culture and society of this corner of South America. The reader gets a surprisingly engaging story and a lesson in politics and moral ethics south of the border.
Dyal (Zab) Panday’s Review of The Flour Convoy
I am writing these comments on The Flour Convoy, not as a literary critic, but as someone who is well acquainted with the historical context of the novel and one who greatly appreciates the way the novel is rendered.
For me, The Flour Convoy evokes strong feelings of nostalgia for several reasons. As a former officer in the Guyana Defense Force, which seems to be the army referenced in the novel, I could not help reminiscing about the military routines and rotational schedules so graphically depicted in the work. I was stationed at both Camp Stephenson and Camp Ayanganna and am very familiar with the Officer’s Messes at both locations, as well as the almost daily travel between these two main camps.The Messes were truly the hub of social life in the GDF, and great were the times I had at both locations. However, during the period captured by the novel, the army did play a peculiar role in the political life of the country, corrupting its professionalism and permitting some of its senior officers to act as law onto themselves. Readers would want to know I am sure, that in this work of fiction, the author accurately captures the decadent subculture of the senior officer corps, which had with open eyes become the handmaiden of a political regime. The notion of “An Officer and a Gentleman” could hardly describe those who held senior ranks in this military; rather a “crab in the barrel” attitude more accurately characterized the senior officers, who used their offices for personal gains and for acts that would on the surface appear to be unlawful. The episodes presented in this novel are perhaps much truer than the author imagined.
No single work can realistically capture the political, social, and cultural life of a country in its entirety even one as small as Guyana. Nor does that appear to be the major aim of the author. That said, Chaitram Singh cleverly interweaves elements of the Guyanese culture in the narration of this story and employs the local dialect with tremendous effect. The novel is rendered in a style that makes it easily accessible to most readers, and with a sharp wit and a briskness of pace that makes you keep reading. However, the novel’s ending forcefully reminds one of the seriousness of the message at work. The reader is very much aware of the strangled post-independence developments of Guyana which encouraged the migration of thousands to other countries.
A wonderful piece of fiction by a Guyanese-American writer.
The Flour Convoy
Review by Abel Peters
I AM writing to share some comments on the novel, The Flour Convoy, a novel by Chaitram Singh, published by the University Press of the South. This is Chaitram Singh’s first fictional work. (His earlier work was “Guyana: Politics in a Plantation Society.”) Set in the early 1980s and deriving its name from the illicit practice of the smuggling of contraband flour across the Corentyne River from neighboring Suriname, at a time when the regime of President Forbes Burnham was banning almost all imported food in its short-sighted drive to replace them with local substitutes, the book reveals an incredible pattern of fraud, corruption and murder, and the lengths to which the regime resorted in order to cling to power. Unique is the author’s bold application of the local Georgetown lingo in the dialogue coursing throughout the book – a feature that augurs well for authenticity. But he did not do this at the expense of good prose, which he also exhibits in the narrative portions of the novel. And complementing it all is subtle injection of humour, interspiced with references to elements of Guyanese diet such as metagee, chicken curry, rice bake, and mauby. The book gives some insight regarding the modus operandi of the ‘Comrade President’ and his party in the conduct of general elections; how, at a time of rampant starvation among the populace due to the banning of food items and myriad other short-sighted economic policies, when there was nation-wide clamor against the ‘elected’ government, the party was ‘re-elected’ by a landslide majority; how ballot boxes from PPP (the opposition party) strongholds would mysteriously disappear before eventually ‘reaching’ the party-designated counting center. The Flour Convoy attempts to give the reader a sense of the depth of depravity into which this fictional regime was mired. Through the protagonist, Captain Alan Moore, and his uncle, an Anglican priest, the novel repeatedly makes the point that the fortunes of the Guyanese people are best served by honest government. Readers might be interested to know that the novel does not address issues of race, but simply issues of right and wrong. The Flour Convoy compels us to examine past wrongs, if only never to repeat them again. I strongly recommend this work of fiction to every Guyanese, including those of us who reside overseas but still have a great portion of our heart in that “land of palm trees, croton, and fern.” ABEL PETERS, NEW YORK.
First published in the Stabroek News
The Flour Convoy
Review by Julius Nathoo
I have now read Chaitram Singh’s “The Flour Convoy.” I have also read Abel Peters’ review.
Anyone wanting to have an authentic flavour of the decadence prevalent in Guyana during the Burnham regime must regard this as a must-read. The author revisits scenes very familiar to me. Like the protagonist, Captain Moore, I also attended Berbice High School. I thought I knew New Amsterdam and the Corentyne Coast very well. But for the first time I was able to really “see” the scenes through Chaitram Singh’s precise descriptions. Indeed he gave a dynamic living vocabulary to places which animated these scenes in an unusual way. It was as if I was seeing them for the first time.
The reader empathizes with the protagonist who, schooled in an advanced military establishment (West Point) is forced to endure the barbarities of a depraved political order. Through Captain Moore’s perspective the reader gets an inside view of the corrupt military establishment prevalent in Guyana at the time. This has hitherto been a closed book to most Guyanese.
Abel Peters’ review is justifiably laudatory of Chaitram’s first novel. Indeed, Abel’s review can hardly be surpassed for its accuracy of perception and precision of language.
The author has deliberately avoided sensationalism so that the accuracy of the portrait may not be blurred. Underlying it all is the tragic plight of honest, hardworking Guyanese being brutalized by a tyrannical and incompetent regime. I agree with Abel Peters. “The Flour Convoy” is a historical work of art!
Julius B. Nathoo
The 2012 Guyana Literature Awards Ceremony
Reviews
(To respond to this author, either call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)
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General Michael Alexander:
In The February 23rd Coup, Chaitram Singh weaves a spell-binding tale replete with political intrigue, love, and armed violence. Two young army officers from different countries renew their friendship as they are drawn into a local revolt. A truly enjoyable read, even an important one for U.S. military and embassy personnel who might find themselves embroiled in Third World political disturbances.
Brigadier General Michael Alexander, US Air Force (Ret.)
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Julius Nathoo’s Review:
Chaitram Singh’s recent novel The February 23 Coup is a tour de force. With consummate artistry and skill the author ignites our imagination by placing us in a setting of political and military intrigue where nobility is juxtaposed with treachery. The heroism of Captain Rambarran and Assistant Military attaché Erikson is portrayed in sharp contrast to the cowardly personal ambition of Captain Antony Cassius McGowan as the dominant motif, the coup, moves the novel to its inexorable conclusion.
It takes some time for the novel to gather full momentum as the author indulges his nostalgia for the land of his birth reminding us again and again of the culinary delights of his native land described with mouth-watering delicacy. We are, indeed, taken on a grand tour of Guyana visiting places many of us have never seen including Etherinbang, Kurupukari and Bonfin and vicariously enjoying world-famous Guyanese hospitality even in the midst of severe shortages imposed by a repressive regime. We are also transported to the offices of the Military High Command and eavesdrop on conversations at the American Embassy where we learn of the ambivalent role of the United States in South America in its efforts to control the spread of communism.
Plans for the February 23 Coup move to their relentless and inevitable conclusion and when that is finished, you would think that the action would come to an end. Not so. “It’s not over until it’s over” says the author quoting the famous words of Yogi Berra. The action moves to Suriname and the high seas where a naval battle is fought that competes with the battle of Trafalgar in its riveting excitement and gallantry as Captain Rambarran and Military attaché Erikson perform acts of incomparable heroism and nobility reminiscent of Nelson and Arjuna of the Bhagwat Gita. It is not an accident that the vessel from which they perform these acts is appropriately renamed “Tulsidas” and that it is Erikson who inscribes the name fully aware of its historical significance.
Against the backdrop of military and naval action, and in sweet relief, is the delicate romance between Erikson and Anita reminiscent of Bollywood’s “Bride and Prejudice” and the passion of Rambarran and Lena which imbue our heroes and heroines with the courage and nobility from which spring their sense of duty and sacrifice.
It is fitting that The Kaieteur Restaurant is the setting for the launch of this masterpiece. It is here that the story begins when a reunion to celebrate an act of supreme heroism leads to the narration of this wonderful tale. It is not “déjà vu all over again.” It is an occasion of great historical significance as Chaitram launches a novel which reveals the expert knowledge and training which he acquired at West Point. The entire military establishment should be proud of the author’s precise mastery of the intricacies of military and naval warfare. It is an education for all of us. If we cannot go to West Point, West Point comes to us through Professor Chaitram Singh. In Guyana, says the author, the sun shines “like a freshly minted shilling.” So does his remarkable novel.
Julius B. Nathoo
***
Ahilya (Narain) Ganesh’s Review of Two Novels:
I have read The Flour Convoy and The February 23rd Coup, both written by Chaitram Singh, and I am happy to share some of my reactions to the novels. I realize that my review is much later than those which appeared shortly after the launch of the second book last August, but I ask for some latitude because the circumstances surrounding my personal and devastating loss prohibited me from reading the novels in a more timely fashion.
Both books were great reading for me. The Flour Convoy took me back on a glorious trip to Guyana, literally transporting me from Timehri to Skeldon. Every village and estate mentioned brought back a lot of memories. The “Convoy” was not only a way of familiarizing the reader with the geography of the country, (Berbice, in particular) and set up the conditions for the dramatic ending, but, as others have commented, it was also metaphor for transporting the reader into the halls of power and corruption.
The book is fiction, but the brilliance of the author shines through as he made it appear so real from chapter to chapter, making it a real page turner. The everyday life, and the colloquial language we all enjoyed speaking, were all cleverly drawn together. Captain Moore’s struggle to free himself and his family from the web he was caught up in was indeed very sad and a situation many of us were victims of. In that sense, it is the story of the Guyanese immigrant, who left his beloved Guyana because of the depredations and humiliations visited on him by a corrupt clique.
The February 23rd Coup is a sequel to the first novel, it seems. A group of idealist officers attempted to remove from a tyrant from power but are betrayed. The group included Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese, Christians, Hindus, and Muslims, so Guyanese in composition, and conveying a strong sense that goodness resides in all ethnic groups and in all religions. I found the military terms and action fascinating, as well as the Surinamese places with their Dutch names. The detailed description of the Pooja ceremony was beautiful. I learned a few things I did not know, such as the meaning of Mohanbhoog. I also liked the names of the boat, “Lakshmi” and “Tulsi Das” (and the references to the two Hindu epics), common to that region of the Corentyne.
I thoroughly enjoyed both books and lamented the fact that they ended.
Ahilya (Narain) Ganesh
***
Ahad Ishoop’s Review: The February 23rd Coup
The author has cleverly interwoven several threads of discourse ranging from political and economic issues to a serious commentary on human behavior in a post republic era in Guyana. The several encounters with the Kabaka and his responses to the critical issues illustrate the megalomania into which he was slowly and surely immersing himself. The author portrays the Kabaka as a true to life character while the political and social policies wreaked havoc on the lives of the suffering and hapless citizens of the country.
What is even more alarming is the degree to which a fellow officer bearing the name of his equally treacherous counterpart, Anthony Cassius McGowan went to betray his fellow officers for personal gain – one of the brilliant examples of the lies, treachery and corruption that enveloped the land of the author’s birth.
I was at the meeting by the market in Kitty when the “small man would be a real man” and “milk and cassava” rhetoric was spewed on the unsuspecting people. Chaitram cleverly weaved its significance into the novel to buttress the hollow promises, lies and corrupt practices that became a canker in the sides of a suffering populace. The debased economic backdrop combined with the sharp practices in appointing “comrades” to key positions, was the last straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. Men whose integrity was nurtured in professionalism and ethics of the highest order saw that it was a veritable affront and an unquestionable insult to their training and beliefs. Hence the plot to launch The February 23rd Coup.
As the story unwinds, it captures the emotions and relationships of people in love (Anita and Steve) and of (Lena and Andrew) in an ingenious and tender style that resonates with many readers. I am sure one cannot help but identify with a generous dose of empathy for the gallantry with which Dr. Spooner attempted to defend his family and property against the state marauders.
We witness and are touched by the friendship, loyalty and sacrifice as evidenced by Captains Ralph Spooner, Andrew Rambarran, Asad Shah, Steve Erickson and McCurchin (all reminiscent of Damon and Pythias of Greek Mythology)
We are introduced once more to the delicacies of traditional Guyanese cuisine. The author must be complimented for elevating the names of the dishes to a place of pride and honour in our national repertoire of favourites: daal puri, chicken curry, fried rice, chow mein, houri, roti, mohanbhoj etc.
Readers are in for a treat. The last third is as breathtaking, pacy and intense as Andrew’s love encounter with Lena at camp Ayangana! Yes, this book has treats for everyone – the politician, the soldier, the sociologist, the historian, the teacher or the ordinary guy like me who has a love for things close to his heart and the people with whom he once dwelt.
Ahad Ishoop
***
Rishi Singh’s Review: The February 23rd Coup
I received a complimentary copy of the novel, The February 23rd Coup by Chaitram Singh, in the mail last Friday and stayed up all night Saturday to read it. What I am writing here is not so much a review as it is my spontaneous thoughts and reactions to an enjoyable work of fiction.
The writer lulls you into a sense of false security as he brings his characters on the stage and paints the environment against which his story will unfold. But be warned that the fuse has been well and truly lit from the very first page and somewhere after the first one hundred pages the drama becomes explosive and heart-pounding. The outcome of the coup, which one may have predicted with some certainty all along, takes an unexpected twist when it is betrayed during the early stages of execution. Here is where fiction says “hello”, as it were, to reality. In life things seldom go according to plan and, as Hitchcock, the Station Chief of the US Embassy in Georgetown proves, war is too important a business to be left to soldiers. Dealt a losing hand and now under stress of time, Captain Andrew Rambarran, a reluctant conspirator, commanding F-Company in Berbice, must make and execute decisions without any margin for errors and with the urgency as if his life depended on them. Because it does.
Captain Rambarran’s concern for his men, even in his darkest hour, is demonstrated in his address to them advising that they will save their lives by laying down their arms. Here is some of what he said:
“You did nothing wrong; you merely followed the orders of your officers. As such, you will not be punished. However, you must surrender to the forces of the government, which means you cannot report back to Camp Ayanganna bearing arms. When I dismiss you, you are to board the pontoon, which will take you to Rosignol. Remember that you are not a rabble but a military unit subject to military discipline. Once on board the pontoon, the Sargeant Major will be in command. I thank you for the privilege of serving you. I wish you a long life. Company, atten-tion! Company will retire; about face! Company, dismissed!”
Military protocol and Officer training at its finest.
As the story unfolds, a plan to extract Captain Rambarran from the San Boma prison in Suriname, involving landing a helicopter within the prison grounds, finds a chilling similarity in Operation Neptune Spear recently conducted by US Navy Seals in Pakistan (in which Bin Laden was terminated). Even the coded call sign “DomPedro” to be used in the San Boma operation finds resonance with the “Geronimo” used by the Seals. Given that this novel was written more than a year ago – in other words, long before we would have known of that operation in Pakistan, it must strike the casual observer that Chaitram Singh, himself a former army officer, is not only an accomplished writer of fiction, but also a master of military tactics, cunning, and deception in the same class as any of history’s legendary battlefield commanders.
With this novel Mr. Singh has taken his place alongside Frederick Forsyth, John Le Carre, Alistair McClean, and Ian Fleming. And if I should state the case in mundane terms, this book gives you your money’s worth and more. I highly recommend it.
Rishi Singh
The February 23rd Coup
General Michael Alexander:
In The February 23rd Coup, Chaitram Singh weaves a spell-binding tale replete with political intrigue, love, and armed violence. Two young army officers from different countries renew their friendship as they are drawn into a local revolt. A truly enjoyable read, even an important one for U.S. military and embassy personnel who might find themselves embroiled in Third World political disturbances.
Brigadier General Michael Alexander, US Air Force (Ret.)
***
Julius Nathoo’s Review:
Chaitram Singh’s recent novel The February 23 Coup is a tour de force. With consummate artistry and skill the author ignites our imagination by placing us in a setting of political and military intrigue where nobility is juxtaposed with treachery. The heroism of Captain Rambarran and Assistant Military attaché Erikson is portrayed in sharp contrast to the cowardly personal ambition of Captain Antony Cassius McGowan as the dominant motif, the coup, moves the novel to its inexorable conclusion.
It takes some time for the novel to gather full momentum as the author indulges his nostalgia for the land of his birth reminding us again and again of the culinary delights of his native land described with mouth-watering delicacy. We are, indeed, taken on a grand tour of Guyana visiting places many of us have never seen including Etherinbang, Kurupukari and Bonfin and vicariously enjoying world-famous Guyanese hospitality even in the midst of severe shortages imposed by a repressive regime. We are also transported to the offices of the Military High Command and eavesdrop on conversations at the American Embassy where we learn of the ambivalent role of the United States in South America in its efforts to control the spread of communism.
Plans for the February 23 Coup move to their relentless and inevitable conclusion and when that is finished, you would think that the action would come to an end. Not so. “It’s not over until it’s over” says the author quoting the famous words of Yogi Berra. The action moves to Suriname and the high seas where a naval battle is fought that competes with the battle of Trafalgar in its riveting excitement and gallantry as Captain Rambarran and Military attaché Erikson perform acts of incomparable heroism and nobility reminiscent of Nelson and Arjuna of the Bhagwat Gita. It is not an accident that the vessel from which they perform these acts is appropriately renamed “Tulsidas” and that it is Erikson who inscribes the name fully aware of its historical significance.
Against the backdrop of military and naval action, and in sweet relief, is the delicate romance between Erikson and Anita reminiscent of Bollywood’s “Bride and Prejudice” and the passion of Rambarran and Lena which imbue our heroes and heroines with the courage and nobility from which spring their sense of duty and sacrifice.
It is fitting that The Kaieteur Restaurant is the setting for the launch of this masterpiece. It is here that the story begins when a reunion to celebrate an act of supreme heroism leads to the narration of this wonderful tale. It is not “déjà vu all over again.” It is an occasion of great historical significance as Chaitram launches a novel which reveals the expert knowledge and training which he acquired at West Point. The entire military establishment should be proud of the author’s precise mastery of the intricacies of military and naval warfare. It is an education for all of us. If we cannot go to West Point, West Point comes to us through Professor Chaitram Singh. In Guyana, says the author, the sun shines “like a freshly minted shilling.” So does his remarkable novel.
Julius B. Nathoo
***
Ahilya (Narain) Ganesh’s Review of Two Novels:
I have read The Flour Convoy and The February 23rd Coup, both written by Chaitram Singh, and I am happy to share some of my reactions to the novels. I realize that my review is much later than those which appeared shortly after the launch of the second book last August, but I ask for some latitude because the circumstances surrounding my personal and devastating loss prohibited me from reading the novels in a more timely fashion.
Both books were great reading for me. The Flour Convoy took me back on a glorious trip to Guyana, literally transporting me from Timehri to Skeldon. Every village and estate mentioned brought back a lot of memories. The “Convoy” was not only a way of familiarizing the reader with the geography of the country, (Berbice, in particular) and set up the conditions for the dramatic ending, but, as others have commented, it was also metaphor for transporting the reader into the halls of power and corruption.
The book is fiction, but the brilliance of the author shines through as he made it appear so real from chapter to chapter, making it a real page turner. The everyday life, and the colloquial language we all enjoyed speaking, were all cleverly drawn together. Captain Moore’s struggle to free himself and his family from the web he was caught up in was indeed very sad and a situation many of us were victims of. In that sense, it is the story of the Guyanese immigrant, who left his beloved Guyana because of the depredations and humiliations visited on him by a corrupt clique.
The February 23rd Coup is a sequel to the first novel, it seems. A group of idealist officers attempted to remove from a tyrant from power but are betrayed. The group included Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese, Christians, Hindus, and Muslims, so Guyanese in composition, and conveying a strong sense that goodness resides in all ethnic groups and in all religions. I found the military terms and action fascinating, as well as the Surinamese places with their Dutch names. The detailed description of the Pooja ceremony was beautiful. I learned a few things I did not know, such as the meaning of Mohanbhoog. I also liked the names of the boat, “Lakshmi” and “Tulsi Das” (and the references to the two Hindu epics), common to that region of the Corentyne.
I thoroughly enjoyed both books and lamented the fact that they ended.
Ahilya (Narain) Ganesh
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Ahad Ishoop’s Review: The February 23rd Coup
The author has cleverly interwoven several threads of discourse ranging from political and economic issues to a serious commentary on human behavior in a post republic era in Guyana. The several encounters with the Kabaka and his responses to the critical issues illustrate the megalomania into which he was slowly and surely immersing himself. The author portrays the Kabaka as a true to life character while the political and social policies wreaked havoc on the lives of the suffering and hapless citizens of the country.
What is even more alarming is the degree to which a fellow officer bearing the name of his equally treacherous counterpart, Anthony Cassius McGowan went to betray his fellow officers for personal gain – one of the brilliant examples of the lies, treachery and corruption that enveloped the land of the author’s birth.
I was at the meeting by the market in Kitty when the “small man would be a real man” and “milk and cassava” rhetoric was spewed on the unsuspecting people. Chaitram cleverly weaved its significance into the novel to buttress the hollow promises, lies and corrupt practices that became a canker in the sides of a suffering populace. The debased economic backdrop combined with the sharp practices in appointing “comrades” to key positions, was the last straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. Men whose integrity was nurtured in professionalism and ethics of the highest order saw that it was a veritable affront and an unquestionable insult to their training and beliefs. Hence the plot to launch The February 23rd Coup.
As the story unwinds, it captures the emotions and relationships of people in love (Anita and Steve) and of (Lena and Andrew) in an ingenious and tender style that resonates with many readers. I am sure one cannot help but identify with a generous dose of empathy for the gallantry with which Dr. Spooner attempted to defend his family and property against the state marauders.
We witness and are touched by the friendship, loyalty and sacrifice as evidenced by Captains Ralph Spooner, Andrew Rambarran, Asad Shah, Steve Erickson and McCurchin (all reminiscent of Damon and Pythias of Greek Mythology)
We are introduced once more to the delicacies of traditional Guyanese cuisine. The author must be complimented for elevating the names of the dishes to a place of pride and honour in our national repertoire of favourites: daal puri, chicken curry, fried rice, chow mein, houri, roti, mohanbhoj etc.
Readers are in for a treat. The last third is as breathtaking, pacy and intense as Andrew’s love encounter with Lena at camp Ayangana! Yes, this book has treats for everyone – the politician, the soldier, the sociologist, the historian, the teacher or the ordinary guy like me who has a love for things close to his heart and the people with whom he once dwelt.
Ahad Ishoop
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Rishi Singh’s Review: The February 23rd Coup
I received a complimentary copy of the novel, The February 23rd Coup by Chaitram Singh, in the mail last Friday and stayed up all night Saturday to read it. What I am writing here is not so much a review as it is my spontaneous thoughts and reactions to an enjoyable work of fiction.
The writer lulls you into a sense of false security as he brings his characters on the stage and paints the environment against which his story will unfold. But be warned that the fuse has been well and truly lit from the very first page and somewhere after the first one hundred pages the drama becomes explosive and heart-pounding. The outcome of the coup, which one may have predicted with some certainty all along, takes an unexpected twist when it is betrayed during the early stages of execution. Here is where fiction says “hello”, as it were, to reality. In life things seldom go according to plan and, as Hitchcock, the Station Chief of the US Embassy in Georgetown proves, war is too important a business to be left to soldiers. Dealt a losing hand and now under stress of time, Captain Andrew Rambarran, a reluctant conspirator, commanding F-Company in Berbice, must make and execute decisions without any margin for errors and with the urgency as if his life depended on them. Because it does.
Captain Rambarran’s concern for his men, even in his darkest hour, is demonstrated in his address to them advising that they will save their lives by laying down their arms. Here is some of what he said:
“You did nothing wrong; you merely followed the orders of your officers. As such, you will not be punished. However, you must surrender to the forces of the government, which means you cannot report back to Camp Ayanganna bearing arms. When I dismiss you, you are to board the pontoon, which will take you to Rosignol. Remember that you are not a rabble but a military unit subject to military discipline. Once on board the pontoon, the Sargeant Major will be in command. I thank you for the privilege of serving you. I wish you a long life. Company, atten-tion! Company will retire; about face! Company, dismissed!”
Military protocol and Officer training at its finest.
As the story unfolds, a plan to extract Captain Rambarran from the San Boma prison in Suriname, involving landing a helicopter within the prison grounds, finds a chilling similarity in Operation Neptune Spear recently conducted by US Navy Seals in Pakistan (in which Bin Laden was terminated). Even the coded call sign “DomPedro” to be used in the San Boma operation finds resonance with the “Geronimo” used by the Seals. Given that this novel was written more than a year ago – in other words, long before we would have known of that operation in Pakistan, it must strike the casual observer that Chaitram Singh, himself a former army officer, is not only an accomplished writer of fiction, but also a master of military tactics, cunning, and deception in the same class as any of history’s legendary battlefield commanders.
With this novel Mr. Singh has taken his place alongside Frederick Forsyth, John Le Carre, Alistair McClean, and Ian Fleming. And if I should state the case in mundane terms, this book gives you your money’s worth and more. I highly recommend it.
Rishi Singh
CHAITRAM SINGH 