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Joshua Peter Chowritmootoo
Joshua Peter Chowritmootoo was born on Plantation Albion, Guyana, South America, the third child of illiterate workers of Plantation Albion. His mother died when he was seven at th...view moreJoshua Peter Chowritmootoo was born on Plantation Albion, Guyana, South America, the third child of illiterate workers of Plantation Albion. His mother died when he was seven at the plantation hospital. Mr. Chowritmootoo’s recollection of his early boyhood obsession was to wear a pair of shoes as he walked barefooted to school each day. His mother’s death in the plantation hospital informed his life-long struggle against poverty. In his early academic he struggled to change his left-handed writing to right handedness. His success at the then British Guiana Pupil Teachers’ Appointment Examination in 1958 earned him a teaching apprenticeship at the age of fifteen after his conversion from Roman Catholicism to Presbyterianism. He successfully completed his teaching apprenticeship in 1963. He joined the British Guiana Public Service after completing the London and Cambridge Universities’ general certificate of education. He graduated with a BA from the University of Guyana in 1965 and an MA from the University of Texas, Dallas in 1989. His involvement in politics in his teens led to an absorbing commitment to struggle to change the political and economic status quo in then British Guiana. In 1963 he was incarcerated in Brazil during his attendance at a youth conference. In 1965, he married Shirley Indrouttie née Naraine. Their children, Shirlanne, Danesh, and Omesh live in Texas along with their six grandchildren. Joshua Chowritmootoo was elected to the National Parliament of the Republic of Guyana in 1973 and continuously served until 1985. He held several governmental offices, including Junior Minister of Education, regional minister, and minister of Environment and Water Supply. Mr. Chowritmootoo co chaired the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, in 1981. He has traveled extensively in several parts of the world, including Cuba, Portugal, Libya, India, Europe, and the United States of America.In the United States, with recertification, he began to teach at the secondary level as a special education teacher. Later, he taught English as a second language. He currently teaches social studies in the Irving Independent School District, Irving, Texas. Mr. Chowritmootoo is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the North Texas Hindu Mandir. Currently, he is working on his second book of poems, “In Search of the Self and Eternity.” He is also working on an autobiographical novel, “ Poemeries, Plantation Albion, 1951” and a book of poems for children on American history.view less