Davichand Seemungal and Savitri Ramkissoon first met as students at the Exchange Presbyterian Primary School in Couva. From there however their lives took different paths, Davichand became a Pupil Teacher at the same school while Savitri went to Naparima Girl's College. But says Davichand "while she was in High School, I would still see her on the bus or train."
By the time he was sent to teach at Phoenix Park Government "we started talking and the friendship grew thicker while travelling on the bus and train." After four years of courtship, Davichand became very brave and asked Savitri's father to marry her. He consented and fifty years ago on August 26, 1951 the couple were married by the late Pundit Siew under Hindu rites.
The union produced four daughters, Maureen, a payroll manager at Shepherd's Products in Toronto, Sharon a teacher at the Orange Valley Government School, Margaret, owner of Kristin's Gift Variety in Couva and Ambika, a teacher in Florida and currently studying for a Diploma In Education at Florida Atlantic University, and seven grandchildren. All of whom were present at last night's golden anniversary dinner at the Sevilla Club in Brechin Castle, in honour of their beloved parents. A fortnight before the actual date of the anniversary but the only time when the entire family could be together in Trinidad.
Davichand, who retired in 1988 as principal of the Orange Valley Government School after 42 years in the teaching service, praises Savitri, a housewife, with running the home on his first salary of $55 per month. While Savitri, a very quiet lady, assured me "we had our ups and downs like everybody else but our life was good. I always ran my house and did everything."
Says Davichand, who was busily engaged in school, community and sporting activities, "she was the boss." But Savitri was quick to explain "my husband did not like to go to the bank so I dealt with everything. He just worked, I did the business part of it. Everything, bring up the children, housework, send them to school, making sure everything was alright. But he used to be on hand to do the important things like teach the children their lessons."
Davichand was busy as chairman of the Community Centre, the Couva Carnival Committee, running the Central Football League for over 25 years, looking after the associations responsible for table tennis, volleyball, and cricket the sport he played. At school he was chairman of the Parent Teachers Association for many, many years and also Chairman of the Couva District Teachers' Association.
But all of these extra-curricular activities did not prevent Devichand from being very attached to his close family, "including our four sons- in-law" says Savitri "they are like our own sons, and we visit those who live abroad very often, sometimes two to three times per year."
"Love, thoughtfulness, understanding, commitment, accepting each other's shortcomings, patch up your indifferences in a short space of time" is the advice from Davichand for a long marriage. "We had our children to think of and never thought for one moment of a separation because the welfare of our children was always foremost" says Savitri "life was not a bed of roses, his salary was small, there were four children to take care off and educate."
In retrospect the couple sometimes wonder how they made it, but says Savitri " I always said if we can make it, there are others who can do it as well, it is hard but it can be done." "Contentment is very important" was her very wise pronouncement "it is a very important thing in marriage. You cannot look at what your neighbour or friend has, we had a lovely house, good children, we were very fortunate." "The important thing to remember is that the only person you are indebted to is God." says Davichand.
The couple who have always lived in Couva from the time they were married are both in good health so that Davichand is able to sometimes spend nearly the whole day in the vegetable garden of the house he built 45 years ago, while Savitri, a very good cook according to her loving husband, has always had her flower garden.