Haniff Mohammed
Honor to a great Trinidadian Icon: Haniff Mohammed
By: Shama Harrysingh
WEST PALM BEACH - On April 24th, 1933, a legend was born in the beautiful village of San Francique, Trinidad.
Ustad Haniff Mohammed was born to Esaha and Kaliman Bachan Mohammed. Music peeked his interest from an early age. He started by singing film songs and bhajans around the house and hummed almost every song he heard. " The voice of Haniff Mohammed is etched into the landscape of Trinidad and Tobago in a way that has immortalized him, not only as one of the greatest east India classical singer of all times, but also as an outstanding leader,inspirator and educator.
The fact that he is a muslim who has devoted years of his life (also) singing hindu devotional songs, speaks volumes of the high level of religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence among all religions in Trinidad and Tobago. In this sense, Haniff is a national icon and deserves the highest commendations for his contribution towards nation building in Trinidad and Tobago." -
His Excellency, The Honorable, Mr. Chandradath Singh Trinidad & Tobago's Ambassador to India.