Jagernath Lachmon
Encyclopedia
Jagernath Lachmon, also Jaggernath Lachmon, (Corantijnpolder, 21 September 1916 - The Hague
, 19 October 2001) was a Surinamese politician of Indian
descent. He was one of the founders of the Progressive Reform Party
, a Hindustani party founded in 1947 of which he served a long period as President.
to Suriname. His father was a plantation cook and his mother, Waterloo, clipped cane. Later, his parents started a small dairy farm in New Nickerie.
Lachmon left for Paramaribo
when he was thirteen, and completed his school qualifications. On the advice of one of his teachers, he decided to practise law. At that time, there were restrictions about legal studies in Suriname. After a long search, he found the creole lawyer Julius Caesar de Miranda who became mentor. Surprised that a Creole was willing to teach a Hindu made a great impression on the young Lachmon and laid the basis for his efforts towards reconciliation between the different ethnic groups.
In 1940, he started his own law practice, and in 1943, together with other Hindus, he founded the association Djagaran Will. In 1947, Lachmon was one of the founders and forerunner of the Progressive Hindu Party
(VHP), the largest Hindu political party in Suriname (later renamed Progressive Reform Party). Lachmon was chairman, and retained that post until his death. In the general election of 1949, Lachmon won a seat in the States of Suriname, and the NPS took 13 of the 21 seats, enabling them to form a government. In the 1955 Suriname election, the NPS lost heavily, and Lachmon withdrew one of its candidates to back Jopie Pengel
, in order to give him a better chance. From 1964 to 1967 and 1969 to 1973, Lachmon was chairman of the States and the forerunner of the National Assembly
.
, the Prime Minister at the time, announced that Suriname would be granted independence from the Netherlands
at the end of 1975. Lachmon was in favor of the independence of Suriname, but only in the long term. Arron's plans were too fast for him, because he was afraid of domination of the Hindus by the Creoles. The ethnic tensions in the neighboring country, Guyana
(formerly British Guyana) as an example of what could occur to Suriname if the government acted with blind haste. He called for a referendum on independence, if only because that issue had played no role in the elections of 1973. Arron did not want it, and the Dutch government advised against it. In the run-up to independence, this led to Preparation of severe riots in Creole-nationalist circles. Lachmon, often mockingly referred to as Lachmon van Oranje (English: Lachmon of [the House of] Orange), was reconciled to the idea just six days before independence. The commitment of Johan Ferrier
to be the first president played an important role. On 25 November 1975, Suriname became independent.
In the period after the Coup Sergeant in February 1980 he took the idea of bending reeds that he admired Mahatma
Gandhi had promoted and that his opponents mockingly with all winds meewaaien 'was mentioned. Then again in 1987 elections could be held, it was his merit. His VHP was in the government and Lachmon was chairman of the National Assembly. In total, he was parliament chairman five times. In June 1999 he was in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-serving parliamentarian in the world. A few years earlier some members of the VHP, discontented over his stance, split from the party and formed a new one. He had governed badly, making himself indispensable and irreplaceable, so that to consider his successor was not possible.
, during an official visit to the Dutch government as chairman of a parliamentary delegation. On 25 October 2001 he was cremated in Paramaribo
. In order to emphasize good relationships with the NPS, the body went not only to the VHP-party office, but also to that of the NPS. Lachmon was succeeded as president by Ram Sardjoe
. In a posthumously published interview he said the decolonization of Suriname was a 'wrong decision'.
Lachmon was married to Fawziya A.L. Abdul Sovan.
A statue of Lachmon is situated on the Independence Square. At Kwakoe the annual Summer Festival in Amsterdam, the Kwakoe Jagernath Lachmon Award is awarded to Surinamese who have been commendable in social or cultural areas.
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, 19 October 2001) was a Surinamese politician of Indian
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
descent. He was one of the founders of the Progressive Reform Party
Progressive Reform Party (Suriname)
The Progressive Reform Party is a Hindustani political party in Suriname.At the last legislative elections , the party was part of the New Front for Democracy and Development that won 31.6% of the popular vote and 14 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly...
, a Hindustani party founded in 1947 of which he served a long period as President.
Biography
Lachmon was born in Corantijnpolder in the district of Nickerie. The youngest child of six, his parents were contract laborers from Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
to Suriname. His father was a plantation cook and his mother, Waterloo, clipped cane. Later, his parents started a small dairy farm in New Nickerie.
Lachmon left for Paramaribo
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
when he was thirteen, and completed his school qualifications. On the advice of one of his teachers, he decided to practise law. At that time, there were restrictions about legal studies in Suriname. After a long search, he found the creole lawyer Julius Caesar de Miranda who became mentor. Surprised that a Creole was willing to teach a Hindu made a great impression on the young Lachmon and laid the basis for his efforts towards reconciliation between the different ethnic groups.
In 1940, he started his own law practice, and in 1943, together with other Hindus, he founded the association Djagaran Will. In 1947, Lachmon was one of the founders and forerunner of the Progressive Hindu Party
Progressive Reform Party (Suriname)
The Progressive Reform Party is a Hindustani political party in Suriname.At the last legislative elections , the party was part of the New Front for Democracy and Development that won 31.6% of the popular vote and 14 out of 51 seats in the National Assembly...
(VHP), the largest Hindu political party in Suriname (later renamed Progressive Reform Party). Lachmon was chairman, and retained that post until his death. In the general election of 1949, Lachmon won a seat in the States of Suriname, and the NPS took 13 of the 21 seats, enabling them to form a government. In the 1955 Suriname election, the NPS lost heavily, and Lachmon withdrew one of its candidates to back Jopie Pengel
Johan Adolf Pengel
Johan Adolf Pengel was a Surinamese politician. He was Prime Minister of Suriname from June 1963 to 5 March 1969 for the NPS....
, in order to give him a better chance. From 1964 to 1967 and 1969 to 1973, Lachmon was chairman of the States and the forerunner of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Suriname
The National Assembly is the Parliament, representing the legislative branch of government in the Republic of Suriname. It is a unicameral legislature...
.
Independence
In February 1974, Henck ArronHenck Arron
Henck Alphonsus Eugène Arron was the Prime Minister of Suriname from 24 December 1973 to 25 February 1980, when he was overthrown in a military coup d'état by Dési Bouterse...
, the Prime Minister at the time, announced that Suriname would be granted independence from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
at the end of 1975. Lachmon was in favor of the independence of Suriname, but only in the long term. Arron's plans were too fast for him, because he was afraid of domination of the Hindus by the Creoles. The ethnic tensions in the neighboring country, Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
(formerly British Guyana) as an example of what could occur to Suriname if the government acted with blind haste. He called for a referendum on independence, if only because that issue had played no role in the elections of 1973. Arron did not want it, and the Dutch government advised against it. In the run-up to independence, this led to Preparation of severe riots in Creole-nationalist circles. Lachmon, often mockingly referred to as Lachmon van Oranje (English: Lachmon of [the House of] Orange), was reconciled to the idea just six days before independence. The commitment of Johan Ferrier
Johan Ferrier
Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier was a Surinamese politician who served as the 1st President of Suriname from November 25, 1975, until August 13, 1980. He was that country's last governor before independence, from 1968 to 1975, and first president after it gained independence from the Netherlands...
to be the first president played an important role. On 25 November 1975, Suriname became independent.
In the period after the Coup Sergeant in February 1980 he took the idea of bending reeds that he admired Mahatma
Mahatma
Mahatma is Sanskrit for "Great Soul". It is similar in usage to the modern Christian term saint. This epithet is commonly applied to prominent people like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Jyotirao Phule and Branch Rickey...
Gandhi had promoted and that his opponents mockingly with all winds meewaaien 'was mentioned. Then again in 1987 elections could be held, it was his merit. His VHP was in the government and Lachmon was chairman of the National Assembly. In total, he was parliament chairman five times. In June 1999 he was in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-serving parliamentarian in the world. A few years earlier some members of the VHP, discontented over his stance, split from the party and formed a new one. He had governed badly, making himself indispensable and irreplaceable, so that to consider his successor was not possible.
Personal life and death
Lachmon died in a hotel room in The HagueThe Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, during an official visit to the Dutch government as chairman of a parliamentary delegation. On 25 October 2001 he was cremated in Paramaribo
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
. In order to emphasize good relationships with the NPS, the body went not only to the VHP-party office, but also to that of the NPS. Lachmon was succeeded as president by Ram Sardjoe
Ram Sardjoe
Ramdien Sardjoe is a Surinamese politician and served as Vice President of Suriname from 2005 to 2010. He is a member of the Progressive Reform Party .-References:...
. In a posthumously published interview he said the decolonization of Suriname was a 'wrong decision'.
Lachmon was married to Fawziya A.L. Abdul Sovan.
A statue of Lachmon is situated on the Independence Square. At Kwakoe the annual Summer Festival in Amsterdam, the Kwakoe Jagernath Lachmon Award is awarded to Surinamese who have been commendable in social or cultural areas.