Born Hansley Hanoomansingh, he is now nationally known as Hans.
He was born in La Lomas but as a boy, his family moved to Cunupia, a village in Chaguanas, where he grew up.
There is no doubt that he is a treasured son of the T&T soil, having accomplished so much in his 77 years. Among his accolades include, parliamentarian, broadcaster, a cultural icon, and businessman.
Hanoomansingh credits much of what he has accomplished to his upbringing in Chaguanas. He said one of his first life lessons was at age 11. Early one morning he was going to the market with his father to sell peppers.
"The lady came into the taxi and said to my father, why are you punishing your child? At that time it didn’t have long pants so it was short pants I was wearing. And he said I am not punishing my son I am preparing him for life."
Sadly, six months later his father died and being the firstborn, he spent the next six years of his life selling at the Chaguanas market to feed his family.
But the challenging circumstances did not deter him, he continued his education at Presentation College in Chaguanas (formerly The College of St Phillips).
As a young man, Hanoomansingh landed a teaching job in San Fernando but was soon forced to return home.
"I came home one day, things were rough, the kitchen was bare and I thought I could not be away from my mother and siblings in San Fernando and I would like to come back home to be with them."
He began looking for employment in Port-of-Spain which was closer to home and because of the cheaper commute. He applied to Radio Guardian on Abercromby Street and was hired notwithstanding he grew up in a home without a radio or television.
He started as a radio announcer and was also assigned to the newsroom and would later become one of the most popular voices on the national airwaves. As a journalist, he covered several events including elections and state visits to this country from royals and other heads of state.
At the age of 24, Hanoomansingh took up residence on the Chaguanas Main Road and soon made his entry into national politics.
He explained that after doing several interviews with Dr Rudranath Capildeo, then opposition leader, a bond was formed.
"And one day I went to interview him and he asked me after the interview to consider very seriously an offer to become a member of the party and to run for the general election which was being held in 1966."
He eventually won the Caroni East seat which he held for five years then opted out because it was not what he had expected.
He continued with his broadcasting career and when the airwaves were opened up by the National Alliance for Reconstruction government he applied for a radio licence and was successful. He owns 101.7 FM.
"I didn’t have a burning desire to own my own radio station, I always had a burning desire to contribute to positive content in broadcasting."
However, his desires didn’t stop at broadcasting, Hanoomansingh also had a passion for Indian culture and this led him to become the head of the National Council of Indian Culture. Under his stewardship, the Divali Nagar was conceptualised and introduced in 1990.
In all his achievements and for the man he has turned out to be, Hanoomansingh credits his little community in central Trinidad.
"I grew up in a mixed community, and we had influences of Hindus and Muslims and Christians and Baptists and we lived together, speaking to each other, understanding with some limitations the distinct qualities of our traditions but it was the area that gave me the consciousness of a multicultural society, which I have put into effect by my life."