Jhagroo Vijay Doon

"I fall asleep in the full and certain hope That my slumber shall not be broken; And that, though I be all-forgetting, Yet shall I not be all-forgotten, But continue that life in the thoughts and deeds of those I have loved." By Samuel Butler In 1960, Jhagroo Doon, known to all as Vijay, was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago to Deo Doon and the late, Dollsin Doon, as their eldest of six. Growing up, he was surrounded by his three brothers, Kasho, Bolan, and Suresh and his two sisters, Leela and Pinky. As a child, he attended school at the Felicity Maha Sabha. During his teenage years Vijay was very athletic. When he wasn't working at the local department store Capil Hani's, you would find him playing soccer or participating in long distance running, where he won a number of medals. With hard work and perseverance, he was able to attain a job with the Caroni County Counsel in Chaguanas, all the while continuing to learn and develop his skills in Tassa. He achieved acknowledgement for his abilities in Drumming by coming in first place with his family's band at many competitions. His favourite award was being dubbed Trinidad's number one Bass Man. He later immigrated to Canada in 1988 where he attended Humber college achieving a diploma in cosmetology. He had many jobs in his early life in Canada. One that he was most proud of was delivering mail between campuses for Centennial College. In his late 30's he obtained his A-Z license. He bought a small truck and started a career in logistics, shipping office furniture for his best friends business. No matter how many positions he held throughout his life, he always made time to pursue his passion in drumming. He brought the Hummingbird Tassa Band to Canada, where he shared these cultural rhythms with those around him for decades. He believed in teaching youth these sacred drumming beats and this was seen through his numerous students including his sons Vicky, Ravie, and Navin. He inspired many to spread this cultural tradition and art within Canada with his many accomplishments as a drummer. His most memorable moments are having played with Anuradha Paudwal, Hari Om, and Nandini Sharan. He also participated in major events throughout the City of Toronto such as the grand opening of Yonge-Dundas Square, CNE and the first Caribana. Vijay was a very caring and compassionate person who appreciated traditions and rituals. He would often lend a helping hand at Manticore's to ensure that prayers and offerings were done according to traditional Hindu values so that the bride or groom could go forth into a successful marriage. He always left a memorable experience to those he was around. He would make sure those around him were fed with his unmatched culinary skills, and he could provide hours of conversation and entertainment. Oftentimes, if you wanted to drop by for an hour, you would find yourself leaving after 5. Vicky: I could remember when I was younger, I could not walk in the snow because it was up to my knees and we had waited a long time for the bus. He picked me up and carried me about 5 blocks until we got home. A few times he brought in fellow musicians from Trinidad to stay with him until they were able to get on their feet. I also remember he used to fill barrels of clothes and toys then ship it to Trinidad so he can give it out to the less fortunate kids in the village. And small kids always liked hugging him, like he was a big teddy bear. The first time I went to Trinidad, I remember going for 6 weeks because he saw that my grandparents house was breaking down and he was going to rebuild it for them. He loved food. He loved his religion. He loved music.