Georgia Hemmings, Staff ReporterHE IS now formally retired after 34 years of unbroken service at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
But fond memories of Dr. Lal Narinesingh still linger in the hearts of students; treasured recollections about a lecturer who made a lasting impact on their minds and lives.
Dr. Narinesingh was a lecturer of Spanish Golden Literatures in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. His course, which explored the 'golden age' of Spanish Literature from the 15th century to the 1630s, introduced students to writing in this genre, and the ways in which Europeans used literature to confront the realities of their day.
STRAIGHT PATH
It was a straightforward course, if not one of the more popular ones. And, while it had no geo-political relevance to modern-day society, it was more than an academic knowledge for which Dr. Narinesingh became well-loved.
The dedicated UWI lecturer used the archaic literature courses to impart analytical skills to his students, teaching them how to make a balanced, critical, objective and complete assessment of issues in order to draw valid conclusions.
"I do more than just lecture, I teach certain skills," he told The Sunday Gleaner in an interview prior to his retirement. "And these are skills that can be applied not only to literature but other aspects of life."
Whether writing in-course essays, presentations for tutorials or preparing for major examinations, students had to select the right information (determining what was useful or not), critically examine the material, argue a case logically and draw deductive inferences.
In the process, they learnt how to make a point logically, credit sources carefully, use a dictionary regularly, and discuss intelligently. Even dos and don'ts of how not to write an essay were presented digressions and irrelevancies, vague generalisations and repetitions.
The lecturer's personal philosophy was that "The study of literature, objectively and critically conducted, should force us to question the social imperatives, social doctrines and moral absolutes of any time, place and society."
He pointed out that "Even from the literatures, one can learn lessons about commitment and dedication. From the character of Don Quixote in Spanish Literature, for example, comes the message that anything that needs doing is worth doing well. And there is the principle that you must make every genuine effort to really do the best you can do to achieve the ideal."
APPROACH TO TEACHNG
Dr. Narinesingh bolstered his teachings with methods that endeared him to students on the Mona campus. He was the only lecturer who provided detailed commentaries when grading essays.
"So detailed were these commentaries, it was almost like receiving another essay," says Marlene Collins, former 'Golden Age' student, now a lecturer in the department. "These commentaries outlined all the errors (grammatical, stylistic and others) and showed what could have been written instead."
And students who heeded the advice in these commentaries found themselves vastly improved.
Dr. Narinesingh told The Sunday Gleaner that it took about three to four hours to mark and grade assignments, with all the commentaries provided.
"It was a painful chore at times," he conceded, but one which was necessary for him to develop a student's potential.
After making corrections, Dr. Narinesingh would transfer the data to his computer manually not using a scanner or other time-saving device and so was able to keep track of each student from beginning to end.
"By this means, I could tell how much progress a student had made since his last essay," he disclosed. "And whether they were repeating errors, the nature of these errors and so on. These enable me to monitor their advancement."
Not that there weren't any failures.
Dr. Narinesingh also provided printed transcripts of every lecture to students, which they were encouraged to read before coming to class. Tutorials were additional exercises in reasoning.
And, through his unique teaching techniques, the "Golden Age" specialist came to be loved and sought after on campus. His courses were attended not only by language majors, but others from different faculties (including Medical Sciences, Law, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences) and the results were reflected in their intellectual accomplishments.
Yet, despite any praise or plaudit, Dr. Narinesingh remains remarkably humble, a humility born out of his belief that he was placed on earth to serve his fellow man.
He subscribes to the Hindu concept of 'karma' in which an individual's future is influenced by past and present actions.
"For the Hindus, 'karma' determines where you are reborn. Therefore, while alive, one should seek to increase the good 'karma'. But actions must be for a reason, which can be considered one's duty. I believe that in doing one's duty, you'll get happiness," Dr. Narinesingh explained.
LIFE AMBITION
His life's ambition was to become a teacher: "I've always wanted to be a teacher and not only because it was a respectable profession. But I was influenced by friends (teachers) who helped to make me what I am. In turn, I wanted to help others and hope to keep that process going."
So spurning a position as a diplomat, and against the advice of his father (who wanted him to become a doctor) and mother (who preferred the legal profession), he joined the UWI staff in 1968, after completing post-graduate work. And he served continuously to the time of his retirement this year.
Dr. Narinesingh has never forgotten his paternal grandfather who is the person he admires most.
OVER TIME
"He came to Trinidad and Tobago as an indentured labourer, and, over time, did well for himself, sufficiently to support an extended family," Dr. Narinesingh explained. "He was an amazing character. I learnt from him as a practising Hindu that the best thing one can do in life is to make others happy."
Now at retirement, Dr. Narinesingh is content to think that "I've done my share for others." Not that the mission of helping others has any time frame, he hastens to add.
But he is looking forward to a slower pace in life, and, having retained his Trinidadian citizenship, he is returning to develop the property left to him by his grandfather.
