Simbhoonath Capildeo
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Simbhoonath Capildeo (1914-1990) was a Trinidad and Tobago politician and lawyer, born in Chaguanas. He was the older brother of Rudranath Capildeo and uncle of Sir Vidia Naipaul and Shiva Naipaul. Capildeo was one of the founding members of the Democratic Labour Party and a Member of Parliament from 1956-1966. He served as the Leader of the Opposition in 1956. Capildeo was also an important Hindu leader and played in role in the foundation of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha.
His father built the Lion House on the Main Road, Chaguanas, considered to be the authentic statement of the Indian indentured immigrant in Trinidad. His father left for India in 1926, leaving him as the family patriarch at the age of 12. His mother, Soogee Capildeo, guided him but Simbhoonath was an autodidact. His nephew, V.S. Naipaul, wrote about Simbhoonath's love for books in 'Mystic Masseur'. In his 9 line biographical sketch in the Indian Centenary Review (1845 -1945) his hobby is listed as: Reading.
He became fluent in Hindi and Sanskrit, and became very knowledgeable about his religion, Hinduism, as well as the philosophers of Western Civilization. He rapidly assumed intellectual leadership of Hindu Society and in 1928 he began creating the modern formal structure of Hindu society in Trinidad and Tobago. Simbhoonath Capildeo was married to Indradai nee Ramoutar and was the father of one daughter, Sita,born 1936, and two sons, Devendranath, born 1938 and Surendranath, born 1940.
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Categories: Caribbean politician stubs | Trinidad and Tobago people stubs | 1914 births | 1990 deaths | Trinidad and Tobago politicians | Trinidad and Tobago religious leaders | Trinidad and Tobago lawyers | Hindu politicians | Indo-Trinidadians | Former members of the House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago | Trinidadian Hindus
