Classical singers for fund-raising concert
Friday, May 20 2011

TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - By SEETA PERSAD - Some of this country’s top Indian classical singers, including Jameer Hosein, Rasika Dindial, Sam Doodram and Boodram Holass will be performing at a fund-raising event at Himalya Club, Barataria on Sunday from 1 pm.

Comedians Kenneth Supersad and Sammy Toucana will share the stage with Sohan Girdharie, Krisendath Blues Singh, Hem Lata Dindial, Baliram Bala, and Naresh Prabhu.

All proceeds from the show will go towards the Mohan Prabhu Fund.

Prabhu, who is the husband of former Mastana winner, Ramrajie Prabhu and the father of chutney singers Neeshan “Hitman” Prabhu and Naresh Prabhu, has been ailing with a kidney condition.

Hosein, 72, spent his life mastering the art of Indian classical singing, for which he has been given several awards for excellence. He was born in Freeport and witnessed his father, the late Hosein Ali, and his uncles singing for weddings, and other festivals in the village.

Against this background, he became very fond of singing and spent his early years under the watchful eyes of the late Isaac Yankaran in the Naya Sangeet Orchestra.

From there he moved on to the Nau Jawan Orchestra under the leadership of Chander Bali and then later to the Naya Zamana Orchestra. The last band he performed with was the BWIA National Indian Orchestra under Maestro Harry Mahabir.

Hosein spent more than 20 years singing in bands performing film songs under the musical directors such as Ustad Nazir Mohammed. In the early ’60s he was advised by the late Yankaran to try a few classical songs which he did with great success although he found some difficulty not being able to play the harmonium which is an integral part of classical singing.

After the death of his mentor the late Isaac Yankaran, and in his memory, Hosein not only mastered the art of playing the harmonium but up to today is considered a champion classical singer. He won Mastana Bahar in 1972 and the classical singing championship in 1998, and is considered one of the most accomplished classical singers.

Ramrajie Prabhu has said medical treatment for her husband costs more than $1,800 per week. “I have already spent a lot of money in seeking medical attention and I need to raise funds to continue treating my husband, “ Ramrajie said.

Ramrajie, who is trained nursing assistant, said dialysis is primarily used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal failure. Dialysis is also administered for those with an acute disturbance in kidney function (acute kidney injury, previously acute renal failure) or for those with progressive but chronically worsening kidney function.

She said her husband needs weekly dialysis treatment.