Alvin Kallicharran Foundation launches ‘Color Blind’ at the National Library

During a beautifully organized book launch on Thursday at the National Library, iconic Guyana and West Indian great Alvin Kallicharran launched his inspiring autobiography entitled ‘Color Blind.
The Alvin Kallicharran Charity Foundation, which includes his wife Patsy, Pastor Lawarence White from the US and children’s book author Tony McWatt, have embarked on a two-week trip to Guyana where they will visit several schools in Georgetown and Berbice to books and giving motivational speeches.

The 75-year-old Kallicharran, who has scored 87 centuries and 32 fifties, 620 runs from 505 first-class games, explained that his book is not about his achievements as a cricketer, but rather his journey through life that took him to where he is now. Today.
Kallicharran was just 5ft 9in tall and played in the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, which the West Indies won, and had an international career that stretched from 1972 to 1981.

Kallicharran is the only Guyanese to score centuries in his first two Tests. He scored his debut ton against New Zealand in Bourda and registered the first of 12 Test hundreds.
“Many have asked why I called the book ‘Color Blind’. When I played for Guyana there were Indians and Blacks in the team and when I played for Warwickshire in County cricket for 30 years it was the white man who gave me a job as a cricketer.
I never saw color… only fellow human beings who helped me… I was color blind. Basil Butcher gave me my first bat while Lance Gibbs was my teacher.

As a little boy growing up in Port Morant, I would listen to the radio when Rohan Kanhai was batting and dream that I was him. I made ages every night when I slept as Kanhai,” Kallicharran revealed with a laugh.
“There were times when I failed, but without failure you will never know the value of success,” he told the gathering attended by students from several primary and secondary schools, including Queen’s College, the Alma Mater of McWatt who lives in Cananda .

Copies were distributed to all schools and to the National Library and the University of Guyana (UG) Library, while Chief Librarian Emiley King spoke on the importance of reading.
The Ministry of Education will purchase 200 children’s books for primary schools.
Mrs. Karen George eloquently introduced the speakers, while Pastor White, on his second trip to Guyana, began the program with a moving prayer.

Also speaking from the main table were the UNICIEF Area Representative for Guyana and Suriname and the Special Representative of CARICOM, Nicholas Pron.
“UNICEF will continue to advocate for the rights of the child. It is the 38th anniversary of the Rights of the Child, so this is a Christmas present,” Pron said with a grin.

Students from St. Ambrose Primary School read excerpts from the children’s book ‘Alvin Kallicharran Guyana’s Pocket Dynamo Little Giant’, while students from St John’s College and North Georgetown Secondary read excerpts from ‘Color Blind’.
There was also an educational video presentation of Kallicharran’s journey, while two renditions of the late Dave Martin (Where are your Heros and Cricket in Jungle) were played.
Today the foundation will visit two schools for special education. The Ptolemy Reid Center and David Rose School.