Surujpat "Pat" Mathura, (1923 – 9 August 2007) was the longest serving radio broadcaster in Trinidad.

Biography

Surujpat Mathura, the son of Chandar Bahadoor Mathura and Rookmin, was working in his father's printery when he decided to embark upon a career in journalism and radio announcing. With the encouragement of his father, he started in 1947 at

Radio Trinidad Radio Trinidad was the oldest radio station in Trinidad and Tobago. It began broadcasting in 1947 at 11B Maraval Road in Port of Spain on the frequency 730 AM. Over the years, the station successfully hosted a wide variety of programmes inclu ...

, where he worked for 47 years as an announcer, as well as producing radio programmes, with special emphasis on Indian art, culture and religion. Mathura's primary education started at St. Theresa's Private school at De Verteuil St., Woodbrook. The principal, Mr. Cherry, saw him as an asset to the school and from very early he prepared him to meet the challenges of being a student. After leaving Woodbrook C.M. School he entered Tranquility Boys Intermediate where McDonald Bailey, the principal, again gave him special training. He transferred to St. Mary's College, where he became a member of the fifth Trinidad Sea Scouts Troupe, of which he remained a lifelong member. At the height of World War II, he graduated from St. Mary's College and took up a job at the American base at

Cumuto Cumuto is a town and district in Trinidad. Cumuto is east of Sangre Grande and south of Arima. It is within the Sangre Grande region. Between 1940 and 1956 much of Cumuto was part of the American army base known either as Fort Read or Wallerfie ...

where he worked for two years before deciding to join his father's printery in

Port of Spain Port of Spain (Spanish: ''Puerto España''), officially the City of Port of Spain (also stylized Port-of-Spain), is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the third largest municipality, after Chaguanas and San Fernando. The city has a municip ...

. At that time the main function of Band R Printing Service was the production of a magazine called ''The Indian''. While there, Mathura decided to embark on a career as a radio announcer. He joined

where, in the beginning, he had to purchase time and sell commercials to cover the cost of his programme, which was an important first focus on Indian culture on the subcontinent and around Trinidad. He remained at the radio station from 1947 until April 1994, when he moved FM 103, the country's first station completely dedicated to Indian programming. In the

1956 Trinidad and Tobago general election General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 24 September 1956. 129 candidates from nine political parties contested for 24 seats in the legislative council. The result was a victory for the People's National Movement, which won 13 of t ...

he fought for the seat of

Tunapuna Tunapuna is a town in the East–West Corridor of the island of Trinidad, in Trinidad and Tobago. Town Tunapuna is located between St. Augustine, Tacarigua and Trincity. Tunapuna is the largest town between San Juan and Arima. It is an importa ...

and lost to

Learie Constantine Learie Nicholas Constantine, Baron Constantine, (21 September 19011 July 1971) was a West Indian cricketer, lawyer and politician who served as Trinidad and Tobago's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and became the UK's first black pe ...

. He was the longest serving radio broadcaster in Trinidad, and was also the youngest Mayor of Trinidad's capital city,

Port-of-Spain Port of Spain (Spanish: ''Puerto España''), officially the City of Port of Spain (also stylized Port-of-Spain), is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the third largest municipality, after Chaguanas and San Fernando. The city has a municip ...

. He was a widely respected radio personality in Trinidad and Tobago. He was affectionately referred to as Uncle Pat, and hosted a show called Vintage Favourites Masala Radio. Upon his death, he was recognized by the National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC) and the Hindi Nidhi Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago. Mathura died on August 9, 2007 at age 84.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathura, Surujpat 2007 deaths Mayors of Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago people of Indian descent Trinidad and Tobago Hindus Trinidad and Tobago radio presenters Year of birth missing