Dharmbodh Westmaas

Frederick ‘Van’ Westmaas was born in Trinidad in 1946. Growing up in Piarco in the 50s, close to the Caroni River and spending time with his grandparents in Laventille, fuelled his thirst for adventure. He attended Hillview College, Tunapuna, where art and literature were the only subjects that inspired him. From his late teens, he harboured a desire to write a book. He had a short career as an amateur boxer, winning a silver medal in the flyweight division at the National Championships in the late 60s. By his early 20s he had developed an interest in yoga, mysticism and meditation. The author moved to England in 1974 where he pursued a career as a Psychiatric Nurse. He worked in hospitals in London and the Midlands before returning to Trinidad in 1980 to start a new career as a full-time sculptor in clay and cement. While in England he was given the name Dharmbodh by his controversial guru (Rajnesh).