Passion or Profession: Political Leader

Period: 1916–2001

In 1947, Lachmon founded the Hindustani Party, the first political party to represent Hindustanis. He later became the first leader of the Verenigde Hindostaanse Partij (VHP, United Hindustani Party), Suriname’s largest Hindustani party. Lachmon’s position was that Eenheid in verscheidenheid (Unity in diversity) was the key to the future of Suriname. In the 1970s, Lachmon opposed the nation’s independence because he feared Creole dominance over Hindustanis and other groups.