Simbhoonath Capildeo
Encyclopedia
Simbhoonath Capildeo was a Trinidad and Tobago
prominent Hindu politician
and lawyer
, born in Chaguanas
. He was the elder brother of Rudranath Capildeo
and uncle of Sir Vidia Naipaul
and Shiva Naipaul
. A politician who would later earn the reputation as the "lion of the Legislative Council" Capildeo was one of the founding members of the Democratic Labour Party
and a Member of Parliament
from 1956-1966. He served as the Leader of the Opposition
in 1956. Capildeo was also an important leader of the Hindu community in Trinidad and played in role in the foundation of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
along with Bhadase Sagan Maraj. He received the Chaconia Gold medal from the Trinidad and Tobago government for his service to the country.
His father, Pundit Capildeo, an immigrant from Uttar Pradesh, India, built the Lion House on the Main Road, Chaguanas. The Lion House is arguably the most famous architectural icon representing the Indian heritage of Trinidad and Tobago (www.thelionhouse.com). Pundit Capildeo died on a trip to India
in 1926, leaving the young Simbhoonath as the family patriarch at the age of 12. His mother, Soogee Capildeo, guided him but Simbhoonath was an autodidact. His nephew, V.S. Naipaul, wrote about Simbhoonath's love for books in 'Mystic Masseur'. In his 9 line biographical sketch in the Indian Centenary Review (1845–1945) his hobby is listed as: Reading.
He studied Hindi
and Sanskrit
and became a local expert on Hinduism
, as well as exploring the philosophers of Western Civilization. He rapidly assumed intellectual leadership of Hindu Society and in 1928 he began creating the modern formal structure of Hindu society in Trinidad and Tobago.
Simbhoonath Capildeo was married to Indradai née Ramoutar and was the father of one daughter, Sita,born 1936, and two sons, Devendranath, born 1938 and Surendranath, born 1940. Surendranath, also a lawyer, was the only child who followed his father into local politics: he served as a senator of the United National Congress party in the early 1990s.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
prominent Hindu politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, born in Chaguanas
Chaguanas
The Borough of Chaguanas is the largest municipality 2000 census) and fastest-growing town in Trinidad and Tobago. Located in Central Trinidad about south of Port of Spain. It grew in size due to its proximity to the Woodford Lodge sugar refinery. It remained a minor town until the 1980s when it...
. He was the elder brother of Rudranath Capildeo
Rudranath Capildeo
Dr. Rudranath Capildeo was a Trinidad and Tobago politician and mathematician. He was the Leader of the Democratic Labour Party from 1960–1969 and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament from 1961–1963, succeeding Ashford Sinanan. He was also a faculty member at the University of London, eventually...
and uncle of Sir Vidia Naipaul
V. S. Naipaul
Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad "V. S." Naipaul, TC is a Nobel prize-winning Indo-Trinidadian-British writer who is known for his novels focusing on the legacy of the British Empire's colonialism...
and Shiva Naipaul
Shiva Naipaul
Shiva Naipaul , born Shivadhar Srivinasa Naipaul in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, was a Trinidadian and British novelist and journalist.Shiva Naipaul was the younger brother of novelist V. S. Naipaul...
. A politician who would later earn the reputation as the "lion of the Legislative Council" Capildeo was one of the founding members of the Democratic Labour Party
Democratic Labour Party (Trinidad and Tobago)
The Democratic Labour Party was the main opposition party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1957 and 1971. The party was the party which opposed the People's National Movement at the time of Independence...
and a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
from 1956-1966. He served as the Leader of the Opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
in 1956. Capildeo was also an important leader of the Hindu community in Trinidad and played in role in the foundation of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha is the major Hindu organisation in Trinidad and Tobago. It operates 150 mandirs and over 50 schools. It was formed in 1952 when Bhadase Sagan Maraj engineered the merger of the Satanan Dharma Association and the Sanatan Dharma Board of Control. An affiliated group,...
along with Bhadase Sagan Maraj. He received the Chaconia Gold medal from the Trinidad and Tobago government for his service to the country.
His father, Pundit Capildeo, an immigrant from Uttar Pradesh, India, built the Lion House on the Main Road, Chaguanas. The Lion House is arguably the most famous architectural icon representing the Indian heritage of Trinidad and Tobago (www.thelionhouse.com). Pundit Capildeo died on a trip to India
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...
in 1926, leaving the young Simbhoonath as the family patriarch at the age of 12. His mother, Soogee Capildeo, guided him but Simbhoonath was an autodidact. His nephew, V.S. Naipaul, wrote about Simbhoonath's love for books in 'Mystic Masseur'. In his 9 line biographical sketch in the Indian Centenary Review (1845–1945) his hobby is listed as: Reading.
He studied Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and became a local expert on Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, as well as exploring the philosophers of Western Civilization. He rapidly assumed intellectual leadership of Hindu Society and in 1928 he began creating the modern formal structure of Hindu society in Trinidad and Tobago.
Simbhoonath Capildeo was married to Indradai née Ramoutar and was the father of one daughter, Sita,born 1936, and two sons, Devendranath, born 1938 and Surendranath, born 1940. Surendranath, also a lawyer, was the only child who followed his father into local politics: he served as a senator of the United National Congress party in the early 1990s.