Isaac Yankaran (1932 -1969)

When, on the Ith February 1969, the population learnt of the death of Isaac Yankaran there was widespread grief. Although Isaac passed away at the young age of 37, he had already made his mark as one of the finest singers of Indian melodies on this side of the Indian Diaspora. Tributes poured in from everywhere. Kamaludin Mohammed who had initially introduced him on Radio Trinidad in 1947 noted that Issac had "blossomed into one of the most impressive singers, so much so that leading Indian artistes like Mukesh, Marma Dey and others said that he could easily have held his own in India." Narsaloo Ramayya, one of the pioneers of Indian music in the Caribbean and a player in the Naya Zamana Orchestra which had accompanied Yankaran, observed that the only previous singer who could have commanded such adulation was Tarran Persad during the thirties.

As late as 2002, more than three decades after his death the Express writer Caldeo Sookram reminded us that Yankaran "is still revered as the man with the golden voice and recordings of his immortal songs are sought by connoisseurs of local Indian classical music both in Trinidad and abroad."

What is the story behind this remarkable career? Isaac Yankaran was born on the 21 5t July 1932 to Pachikalla Ananda Row who had arrived in Trinidad from Madras on the indenture ship S.S. Ganges on 17th October 1910. Pachikalla was indentured at Waterloo Estate in County Caroni.

After his bonded labour, Pachikalla had married a fellow-Madrasee, Papoma who shared his love for Telugu Music. They sang together and brightened the festivities in Waterloo; Pachikalla was sought to sing and to beat his Madrasee drum (the daplar) at funerals. After some years at Waterloo, the couple moved with their young son Isaac to Barataria in search of better employment. There the young Isaac was apprenticed to Jalim Mohammed who ran a tailor shop at 8th Street.

The San Juan/Barataria area at that time was alive with cultural activity: The Naya Zamana Orchestra was being created, Champa Devi and Narsaloo were rising stars and Indian movies were there, providing models for aspiring artistes.

It was in this encouraging atmosphere that the talent of Isaac Yankeran Blossomed. His rendition of the songs of Saigal and Pankaj Mullick were spell-binding. As his career advanced he showed a preference for the classical gharana in which he demonstrated equal competence. Soon he was in great demand to sing at weddings, funerals and social occasions. Thus it was that he came to the attention of Kamaluddin Mohammed who then hosted the show "Indian Talent on Parade". From 1947 he appeared regularly on radio as well as at competitions in Trinidad, Suriname and Guyana.

Having started his career in the North, Isaac married Moonima from Pasea and moved back to Brickfield Waterloo. In Central Trinidad he found willing sponsors who pitted him against the best singers in the island. Mulchan Seuchan, who later rose to become Chairman of the Caroni County Council, was one of his most ardent supporters, sponsoring competitions which attracted such stalwarts as K.B. Singh and Haniff Mohanuned.

The late Bhadase Maraj and Mr. S.P. Mathura were also supporters of Indian Singing, having sponsored a 1958 islandwide singing championship featuring Yankai-an and a host of other singers. These supporters of Isaac Yankaran also made sure that his music would live on for prosterity.

In 1966 he cut his fIrst 78 R.P .M. record under the Kiskidee Label and in 1982 there was a posthumous release of his second selection, recorded and produced by Balroop's Record Shop and distributed by Windsor Records. So even if the singer is absent, his melodies resonate for our present enjoyment.

Although the original maestro is no longer with us, Isaac has left this nation with a legacy of five boys and two girls. Today we remember Isaac through the soul-searching renditions of Sham, Suresh, Ashok and Rakesh as well as their sisters Devika and Surekha who will continue to fill our hearts with joy.