am a Proudly Indian South African

As a proudly Indian South African, I traveled the land of our forefathers; I loved every minute of it and would go back whenever I can,

As I experienced extreme diversity from slums to marbled temples,
I imagined the lives of my forefathers and what it would be like for me if they did not take risk of boarding the vessels in 1860.

I love India but I commend our ancestors for leaving home for the benefit of generations to come. I am eternally grateful to be an Indian South African with all of the opportunities that our motherland, South Africa offers us. The change that our ancestors had to undergo cannot be compared to the change that we are embracing as a country of diversity. Let us remind ourselves 150 years later of the hardships and sacrifices and change of the 1860 setters and learn to appreciate, before complaining, everything that we have as Indian South Africans.

I AM
Suren Roopnarian

My name is Imtiaz Hassan and i was born in the year 1971 in the month of May.I am the last born of three boys and currently in the fourth generation.I schooled in Overport and spent the most part of my years there.At a very young age when i schooled in town and we (my mum and i) had to catch the bus,i always wondered why there was a green bus and a blue bus.My mum told me later on that the blue one was for the whites and green for the blacks.

All through my schooling career i loved playing sport and my favourites were volleyball and cricket.I remember though that i was chosen to represent the zonal area to play for my provincial colours,”i knew i played well that day” but unforunatley because of my skin colour the white kid next to me was chosen (and he only made 3 runs before being clean bowled).

It seems that all through my growing years i’ve had to face hardships and battle for the right to have a better life.Even during current times apartheid is still rife in the business world.When i take my kids to school these days i see one colour and it’s hard to witness that they all get along (sometimes).

I wonder……what would have happened if we were given equal opportunities in life,could this beautiful country of ours been different ? Could we stand together as a nation,as a first world country ? Well, like Mr.Mandela quoted on my birthday, “Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another…”

I AM
Imtiaz Hassan

I am Vijaybalan pillay a fourth generation indian descendant of the 1860 indentured settlers.
My grandfather died when I was about five years old so I vaguely remember him.I am now 48 yrs old.

He did keep a collection of old papers and a large portrait of his family members including my granny.
In this fading yellowing photo my great-grandfather sits on a large arm chair, cane in hand and his thick white moustache neatly coiffred for the camera.

I’ve been looking at this photograph and often wondered how my great-grandfather ,Rungasamy Moonsamy must have lived his life and cared for his family,amidst the drudgery and trials of his day.

My dad’s extended family moved to Chatsworth in the early sixties.They relocated from Overport,Durban.
My granny Kanammah lived to the grand old age of 87 and she told me many a story of the hardships and triumphs of her days.

We lived in Bayiew or unit two as it was known back then.The township was just starting to get developed. In the sixties I remember how rudimentary the facilites were in our neighbourhood.
Everyones home was a semidetached bagwashed cottage of about 40 square metres with 2 bedrooms. a sitting room.a kitchen and a lavatory at the side of the house next to the kitchen.
I remember my first day in primary school -1968 ,my mum walked with me the whole two kilometers.
It was very exciting in those days and I bravely walked back home in my airforce blue safari suit not at all affected by the January heat.
I never knew about the apartheid system then but I can recall the fear and trepidation our elders accorded the ‘european’ inspectors whenever they were in our neighbourhood.

In the early seventies when my father Bobby Pillay decided to extend our council house I vividly remember how the builder would stress whenever the Durban corporation’s municipal inspectors checked on the construction work.
Many of the inspectors of the day collected brown paper bags containing a single malt variety to pass building work!
I really enjoyed my days as a teenager in the seventies although we never knew much about the ills of apartheid.
All the menfolk in those days worked hard to put food on the table.Buses was the main mode of public transport.My father left home early and came home when it was dark.Money was valued and people was thrifty.

My mum used to send me to lottery aunty’s house every saturday to hand over the agreed two rand in order to partake of the eventual payout of R50.00.
Our parents were very pro active and I can now fully appreciate the sacrifices they made to nurture and teach us good values.
In those days there was no television and nearly every home had a trusted old radio. We always waited for the world news at seven pm read by Nigel Caine.
On friday nights we used to listen to squad cars – the SAP crime series.Springbok radio the official govt channel kept us entertained.
The apartheid powers allocated a hour slot on a sunday morning – it was called the broadcast presented by Jugateason Dhaver. Indian cultural news and vernacular music was broadcast to keep us happy.
Many a bioscope were around in those days and my granny was a sivaji ganasen fan!
People used to flock to Rani theatre in Clairwwod or the Majestic cinema in Umhlatuzana township.
Law and order was very much in check and one could not get away from our men in khaki uniforms with thick tan leather belts driving around in those sturdy Ford police vans.
The police did their job well and criminals really froze when the men in khaki were approaching!

In our neighbour every child had a respectful fear for the uncles and aunties for discipline was the foundation of many a Indian home.
The memories of the seventies moulded and shaped my values and culture.
I want to salute all our forbears of this golden era who sacriced and unselfishly set the benchmark for the future generations.
Today 150 yrs ago our heros and heroines valiant efforts still inspire me and I feel extremely proud to be an Indian in South Africa today.

This is my story. Please email me at veejay.pillay at gmail dot com – I would love to hear from folk who grew up during this period.thank you

I AM
vijaybalan pillay

Who am I? I am a South African Indian. My name is not important. You might wonder why I say my name is not important. Let me explain.

My forefathers were not educated; hence not all events, activities and achievements were recorded properly. Allow me to explain why so few of our surnames are that of our people in India. The whites that did the registering of our forefather’s documents did not take the time to check the correct spelling of our surnames. Through their negligence it is difficult to trace our family name.

Nevertheless my forefathers worked tirelessly to provide for their families. They did not wait for handouts. They built schools, places of worship, medical facilities and everything else needed to keep their families happy, secure and educated. Both my parents worked to provide the bare necessities for our family of ten.

My father held two jobs for as long as I remember. One was from Monday to Friday and the other was Saturday and Sunday. His name was Rammie. I can fill a book with all his achievements and volumes more with the achievements of our forefathers who came to this hostile and beautiful land called South Africa. I salute all Indians from yester year, yesterday and tomorrow.

I remain Indian.

I AM
Raymond

(This is an extract taken from a book to be published about the contribution of Indian Christians)

The Lawrence Sisters – Women of Faith

(Contributors: Harold Joseph, Dr Josephine Naidoo, Rosemary Joseph and Heather Lawrence)

Seldom have the women of one Christian family contributed so much to their community as the Lawrence sisters of Durban. Their father Vincent Lawrence came to Durban in the 1894 from Madras He was a teacher fluent both in English and Tamil and a highly active member of the Catholic Church. His devotion was rewarded with a much loved Papal Medal. He worked as a secretary in the office of MK Gandhi and the Mahatma was a regular visitor to his home. He was a founder member of the Natal Indian Congress, taking a leading role in the Passive Resistance Campaigns and remained a stalwart member of the organization all his life. In his later years, his life was dedicated to the community, serving, at an executive level, on various, political, educational and religious organizations. Their mother, Josephine Lawrence, nee Gabriel, was well-educated for her time and within the pioneer Indian community. She was one of 12 Indian girls to be educated at ‘White’ schools – at the Albert Street School and the Girls’ Model School in Gale Street and when she died in 1974 at the age of 92, she was the last survivor of these girls. She was also a talented musician, seamstress and homemaker. Given their education, religion and the colonial era of their time, the Lawrence family embraced the best of western culture. The foundations of their family life were built on the three pillars of education, music and religion.

The Lawrence girls grew up in an old rambling wood and iron house at 63 Gale Street. Gale Street, then, was one of the busiest streets leading to the south of Durban and the Lawrence sisters would often get up to the clanging of trams or the clip clop of horse drawn carts taking Indian farmers’ produce to the local market. But the house itself was a haven of tranquility amidst its busy surroundings. It was set in a beautiful garden surrounded by fruit trees of every description. For the girls it was their private world of learning, music, and spirituality. The living room was dominated by the piano which symbolized the place that music was to have in their lives while on the walls hung religious pictures of the Virgin Mary and the Sacred Heart which emphasized the pivotal role of Catholicism. This was also the room in which the family would gather every evening to recite the rosary. In the dining room, Vincent Lawrence would sit at the large table reading his newspapers while the sisters exchanged notes on teaching, students and politics over lengthy suppers and Sunday dinners. . Growing up in such a family environment must surely have shaped the lives of the Lawrence girls. They embraced the family values of their faith and bolstered by these, the girls contributed tremendously to their immediate and wider communities. They grew up in the atmosphere of daily prayer, participation in religious celebrations, and service to the Church. They attended Mass with loyal frequency and became active members in the forefront of the various societies within the Church. However, their familial socialization went far beyond the doctrine of personal salvation. Their lives were imbued with a deep sense of devoted service to their community, particularly in the fields of education, music and social upliftment
.
The eldest of the sisters was May Antonina Lawrence (May) (1992 – 2005).
She was a woman of strong character who despite many hardships raised her family of two boys as a single mother. It was undoubtedly her faith in God and her strong religious beliefs that sustained her during these difficult times. She, like the other members of the family, was a talented musician. She held the Licentiate of the Trinity College of Music for Pianoforte and was an acclaimed pianist. Together with her sisters Sylvia (violin) and Christina (cello), they formed the famed “Lawrence Trio” who graced the concert halls of Durban with their classical chamber music. May taught music in several schools and also, through private music lessons, exposed many children to the joys of playing the piano. Like her mother, she was a home maker, an excellent cook and baker and also an accomplished seamstress. Like all her siblings much of her life was devoted to the Church, serving as an organist, first at the St. Anthony’s Church in Greyville and later at the St. Paul’s parish in Reservoir Hills, both in the vibrant city of Durban. She was an active member of the Sacred Heart Society and the Ladies Guild and through such organizations was able to give succour to the poor and disadvantaged in the local community. For her outstanding contribution to the Church she was awarded its highest honour, the Papal medal.

The Lawrence family must surely have discovered that the secret to longevity was a fulfilling career, a deep love of all things cultural and artistic, dedication to prayer and the service of God and a deep compassion for the less fortunate in society. In a long-lived family, May Lawrence holds the record, dying at the ripe old age of 102. Her hundredth birthday was an occasion of great joy and celebration with messages of congratulation coming in from all corners of the world. At her party, surrounded by her large extended family and friends, she rose to make her speech. Everyone was astounded by her energy, her clarity and her remarkable powers of recall as she rolled back the years and gave a fascinating history of her life and times. However, in the years that followed, slowly her body began to fail her, although her mind remained sharp and focused almost to the end. At last, all she desired was to shake off her mortal coil and return to her Maker. This wish was granted on the 26th of February 2005.

The second sister was Mary Sylvester Lawrence (Sylvia) (1904 – 1994).
Sylvia, on every level, was one of the most remarkable women of any ethnicity to have lived in Durban. Her record of service to the Indian community as well as the wider community of Durban and South Africa bears testimony to this. At the outset it must be stated that in common with the rest of her family, her deep Christian beliefs and devotion to God formed the bedrock on which all her achievements were based. She received her early education at St. Philomena’s School and thereafter attended the Special Teacher training classes organized by the Natal Education Department. She obtained a T3B teaching certificate which was then the highest teaching qualification. She held two diplomas in music – Associate of Trinity College for the Violin, the Licentiate of London College of Music for pianoforte. She was also the winner of Gold and Silver medals at the Indian Eisteddfod. She served in the teaching field in several capacities and which culminated in her appointment as the first Indian woman Principal of H. S Done Girls’ School in 1964. Upon her “official retirement”, she was appointed as a lecturer in Music at Springfield Teacher Training College and was solely responsible for training first, second and third year students in school music, Theory Percussion Band and Recorder and Blackboard work. It was fitting that she became involved in the training of music teachers as she was the first person to introduce music to Indian schools in 1930. When her stint at Springfield ended, she continued to be charge of music at various schools until her eventual retirement, long past the official age.

She served as chairperson of the Music Committee of the Natal Indian Teachers’ Society (N.I.T.S.), formed to organize the annual music festival for Indian schools. She was the organizer and chairperson of Natal Philharmonic Society which staged the plays “Chu Chin Chow” (1961) and “The Mikado” (1955). She was the organist at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church where her expertise in liturgical music was passed on to the greater congregation. Music, both religious and secular, was a very important part of her life.

She was also deeply committed to the social upliftment of her community. She was an executive member of the National Council of Woman, Durban Branch and its corresponding member for International Relations and Peace for the eight years. She was a delegate to its annual conference particularly on Indian Education and cultural matters. She was a foundation member of Red Cross Nursing Division and a pioneer of the Indian Detachment (1933) and she was appointed its Commandant in 1942. She held gold medals for first aid and for home nursing and she was awarded the King’s Medal for long service – with six Clasps, each representing an additional 5 years service and was thus the longest serving non-white member. She attested for full time service during World War II and was Unit Commander in Durban Civilian Protective Services and was awarded the South African War Medal. She was a foundation member of the Durban Indian Women’s Association, a Welfare Organisation registered under the Fundraising Act. She was instrumental in establishing the first training centre for mentally handicapped Indian children in Durban. She introduced school meals commencing with 10 poor children and prepared meals, herself, during the lunch hour. Subsequently, after a Nutrition Conference, this was taken over by the Provincial Administration for provision of meals in all Indian Schools. She was on the Management Committee of the Fellowship of Retired Teachers for two years in succession, served on the Committee of the Reservoir Hills Women’s Cultural Group and also served on the Executive of the Reservoir Hills Ratepayers Association.

In recognition of her immense contribution, she was awarded the “Aspro Award of Merit” in 1959 at a public function. In 1960 she was elected a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (F.R.S.A.) in London for long and distinguished Community Service and, at the time, was the only Indian in the Republic, possibly the only non-white in the world to hold this prestigious honour. Miss Lawrence received the “Nataraja Award” from the Indian Academy of South Africa for outstanding services in Education, Music, Red Cross and Community Affairs. She received a Papal medal for her outstanding contribution to the Catholic Church and finally, in recognition of her long community service, she was awarded the Durban City Council’s highest honour, the “Freedom of the City”.

But as impressive as these achievements are, they do not tell the complete story of this remarkable woman. She was a woman of indomitable spirit, filled with a sense of adventure. She traveled the world on her own, visiting England, India, Sri Lanka, Europe, the Middle East and Canada. She was a woman of rare accomplishments. She was a public speaker of note; her love of theatre saw her attending workshops conducted by the legendary director, Krishna Shah; she designed and sewed her own clothes; she was a passionate gardener; she was an enthusiastic painter receiving awards for her art; an ardent photographer, documenting family occasions and she was excellent at cake decoration and floral arrangements. She was a fiercely independent woman who traveled to her various meetings and engagements by public transport, never wanting to inconvenience anyone.

In an era when people were kept apart by the laws of the time, she reached across racial barriers to share her expertise with a wider community. She taught the piano to pupils of all races. She was also involved with the Kwa-Zulu Choir headed by Mr. Dubizane, being their official accompanist. She traveled with them to the International Choir festival held in Llangollen Wales where they were very well received and where she became a life member of the “Friends of Llangollen Wales” in 1980.

She was also a person of incredible generosity helping with the educational expenses of numerous nephews and nieces and also, together with her sisters, formed the “Vincent and Josephine Lawrence Bursary Fund” to help indigent students of all races.

She died in Sri Lanka in 1994, at the age of 89, attending the Golden Jubilee of her brother’s, Fr. Claude Lawrence, ordination as a priest. Her ashes were returned to Durban where a memorial ceremony was held at the Emmanuel Cathedral in Durban to celebrate her life. The highlights of her career, her awards and achievements were recalled by her nephew Harold Joseph and she was also eulogised by His Grace, Dennis Hurley, the Archbishop of Durban and a lifelong friend. Mr. J.N. Singh, well known lawyer and political activist who, together with his wife Radhi, were also long time friends of the Lawrence sisters, paid tribute and the Mayoress of Durban, representing the Mayor, also acknowledged her contribution to the people of Durban. She was truly remarkable woman who lived a full and valuable life in the service of God and her fellow human beings.

The third sister in this devout, talented, second generation of Lawrences was Mary Johanna Christina (1907-1999), fondly dubbed “Chrissie” by close family. It was in the stimulating intellectual and cultural environment of the Gale Street home that Christina’s love of music, teaching, social justice, entrepreneurship, and striving after excellence blossomed. These values remained at the core of her long life.

Christina attended St. Philomena’s Primary/Secondary School run by the Augustine nuns, and took private music examinations for piano and violoncello from the University of South Africa. Then at the age of thirteen she was compelled to leave school to help with the cooking and household chores at home. Undeterred she turned these troublesome years to advantage, grasping opportunities for extensive reading of the classics, and development of her skills at music, needlework, decorative and culinary arts. Her family recalls the amazing creations she produced from bits and pieces around the house: rag dolls, bed and cushion covers, flower arrangements, elegantly set dinner tables, and her much praised beautifully designed salads.

It was not until she was twenty that she was able to return to her formal education. She trained as a primary school teacher at Dartnell Crescent School in Durban, and pursued a teaching career, with specialization in music, for forty years until her retirement in 1974.

In the heyday of the “Lawrence Trio”, Christina’s performance on the cello, struck a unique note. It was most unusual at the time for an Indian girl in faraway southern Africa to be demonstrating her love of this burdensome looking string instrument. At an elaborate reception for the Government of India Delegation in 1927 hosted by Sorabjee Rustomjee, stalwart of the Gandhi era in South Africa, the Lawrence Trio was invited to perform. Young Christina at her cello attracted considerable attention. Delegation leader, Sir D’Arcy Lindsay, draped his garland of flowers around Christina’s neck. For the rest of her life she kept the ribbons from the garland as a treasured memento.

In July 1931 Christina married the attractive young teacher, Joseph Anthony Moothoo Naidoo, born and raised in Grahamstown in the Cape Province, but mostly educated at St. Joseph’s College in Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). These were hard times. Economic, political, and world conflicts (W.W. II) took their toll as the new Mrs. M.J.C. Naidoo (as she was most commonly called) and her husband raised a family of ten: five girls and five boys. The effects of the Great Depression, World War II, and later on, Apartheid policy, deeply impacted on the lives of the young Naidoo family. Indian teachers earned a pittance at the time. Christina and Joseph were determined their children, girls in particular, receive a good education; an aspiration largely accomplished beyond their dreams.

Christina’s enthusiasm and zest for the life of her family knew no bounds. The range of her activities as her children grew up was enormous. She read English literature set works to Joseph in preparation for his university degree examinations. She spent long nights making dresses and hats for her girls for joyously anticipated Christmas Midnight Mass. She delighted in making cakes for her children and their friends in the horror days of coal stoves! She knitted balaclava caps and socks for soldiers during World War II, a project organized by the local Indian Ladies Association to which she belonged with her own Mother and sisters.

Christina’s initiative and entrepreneurial spirit dared her to tackle new ventures with gusto. She crocheted lovely baby sets in soft pastel colors intertwined with fine silver thread. The older children took these sets around to interest the neighbors. She started a nursery school at home and successfully conducted it for several years. She took on outside sewing including an ambitious project designing and making ballet costumes for a university performance. On retirement she opened her own Music School at her home on Glenara Road in Reservoir Hills, entering her young students for examinations from the Royal Schools of Music. Her students excelled. Several have continued their music education at the tertiary level, obtaining higher degrees in music.

In the last two decades of her life Christina’s indomitable spirit, like that of her sisters, branched out in many directions. Musical evenings, play reading, church activities, book launches and reviews, English literature, and interactive social gatherings in her home sparked excitement for her and her wide circle of friends. Her superb dinner parties became legendary. Later, her interests extended to the writings of new Asian Indian authors, fund raising for cancer research, and travel. For her 90th birthday, a grand event celebrated in the Tudor Room of Durban’s Playhouse, R3, 000.00 was raised for cancer research in lieu of gifts. She was a strong proponent of the idea of substituting personal gifts with contributions to worthy causes. Despite the progressive physical constraints of aging, she was undeterred in her interest in seeing the world. Her travels took her to Europe, the United States, Canada, India, Sri Lanka and parts of southern Africa.

Christina’s memorial service in 1999 was celebrated by His Grace, the late Archbishop Denis E. Hurley, O.M.I., Archbishop Emeritus of Durban, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Reservoir Hills before a large gathering of mourners of many faiths and walks of life. Parish priest, Father Struver and Father Peters assisted at the Requiem Mass. Nephew, Harold Joseph of Springfield College of Education, Durban, and daughter, Josephine Naidoo of Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada, eulogized her in moving words. In 2001, Josephine gifted a piano in her Mother’s honor to the Opera School and Voice Academy of today’s University of KwaZulu-Natal. It would have thrilled her to know that music of many traditions would be nurtured at the Opera School.

Mary Johanna Christina Naidoo (nee Lawrence) was ahead of her time in many ways. Her striving to transcend the sometimes painful reality of our existence for the beauty of the human spirit will live long with us.

The fourth sister was Rosalind Gabriel nee Lawrence whose contribution is documented elsewhere in this book.

The fifth sister was Francesca Mary Lourdes Joseph nee Lawrence (1917 – 1990).
Her father, Vincent Lawrence had been instrumental in establishing the first Indian High School for girls, the Durban Mitchell Crescent Government Indian Girls’ School (later renamed the Durban Indian Girls’ High School) which was set up in January 1930. Francesca and her sister Rosa were among the first batch of girls to attend this school. Here Francesca had the distinction of being presented with the prize for first place in class for every year of the five years she was at the school (1930-34).and it was fitting that, in 1934, she was the first Indian girl to matriculate in South Africa. As a result of being the first Indian girl to pass the Matric, the Natal Indian Congress, under the Presidentship of the late Mr. A.I Kajee, offered to finance her at Medical School in Cape Town, but she was by nature rather ‘timid and retiring’ and didn’t feel able to take up the offer. So after matriculating, she trained as a teacher at Sastri College where she was also the first Indian girl to pass the T3 examination making her the highest-qualified Indian lady teacher in the profession, a position she held for several years. She married Micky Joseph, a legendary English teacher, and on his death in 1964, she was left to raise their three children on her own.

She, in the family tradition of service, became a foundation member of the pioneer Red Cross Detachment V.A.D.117. Here she gained the Gold Medal Certificate for Home Nursing, Silver medal for First Aid and the Florence Nightingale medal for 15 years long service. She was the commandant of the Junior Detachment of J.A.D.217 and received the S.A. War Medal for services rendered in the medical section of the Civilian Protective Services during World War II.

Like her sisters and brothers she was brought up to be part of the Lawrence /Gabriel tradition characterised by the three strands of education, religion and music. Through the wife of the Agent General of the Government of India in South Africa, the Kunwarani Lady Maharaj Singh (who worked tirelessly for the advancement of Indian women in South Africa), a well-known singing teacher, Madame Cecile Dana, offered to train the voice of the most promising pupil at the school. She was chosen and so began her training to be eventually an operatic singer. Her fine soprano voice not only graced St Anthony’s church but also the concert halls of Durban. At the end of many a wedding ceremony conducted in St. Anthony’s Church, she would sing the “Ave Maria” so beautifully that it would bring tears to the eyes of the congregation. . She, like her brothers and sisters, was a very accomplished person. She also received Gold and Silver Medal certificates and trophies for Operatic Singing in the Natal Indian Eisteddfods in the late 30s and was the first Indian to broadcast from the Radio Clube de Mozambique in 1943 accompanied by her sister Sylvia. She served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Schools Music Festival Committee of the N.I.T.S. for three successive years. She was Secretary, Musical Director and Chorus Mistress of the Natal Philharmonic Society which produced the “Mikado” (1955) in which she also played a leading role (Katisha) and “Chu Chin Chow” (1961). Finally in recognition of her musical talent, she was chosen to assist Krishna Shah as Choral Conductor in his production of “King of the Dark Chamber” in 1961.

Francesca taught music in several schools spending the longest time at the Depot Road Primary School which served the then Magazine Barracks. The Magazine Barracks was home to many of the manual labourers who were employed by the local municipality. Although the people were poor and lived under very primitive conditions, the Magazine Barracks was a close-knit community with a rich history of its own. The children of many of the people, who lived there, through the education provided by dedicated teachers like Francesca Joseph, were able to rise up above their surroundings to become prominent members of the wider community. For many years she was the only female teacher on the staff and was looked upon as a mother figure not only by the children whom she taught but also by her fellow male teachers. The principal at the time was the much feared Mr. K M Gounder, a strict disciplinarian, as perhaps he had to be, given the situation of the school. She provided a moderating influence to this, introducing children to the joys of music and drama and the annual school concert was a highlight not only for the pupils but also for the whole community of the Magazine barracks. She went on to teach in other schools such as the Dartnell Crescent Primary School, the Hindu Tamil Primary School and was acting Principal of the Methodist School for several years. Her kindness and sympathy, for those that she taught, ensured that she was always a well loved figure.

She continued in the family tradition of service through religion. She was choir mistress at St Anthony’s Church for many years, where her expertise in church music was passed down to succeeding generations. When the family moved from Gale Street to Reservoir Hills, she continued in this position at St Paul’s Church. She was active in many of the different church societies such as the Parish Council and the Women’s Guild and her work was recognized, when she received the Papal Medal, as her father and sisters had before her, for her outstanding contribution to the church.

The last of the sisters was Therese Marion Elizabeth Lawrence. (1925 – 2008)
She was the youngest child of Josephine and Vincent Lawrence. She was one of the first Indian women to gain a higher degree majoring in English and Criminology.
She did not want to become a teacher like her sisters. As an adventurous leader and pioneer of her time she set up her own stenography agency which did much work at the Durban Criminal Courts. However with the birth of her only child, Heather, in 1949 she had to give up the business.

She also followed in the Lawrence tradition of service. As a teenager during the Second World War she did air-raid warden duties at night and then had to go to school the next day. She won medals for the voluntary work that she did with The Red Cross. She also inherited the family’s love of music and was an excellent pianist. Since she was the youngest, her interest lay more in Swing time and Big Band music rather than the classical repertoire, much to the consternation of her father! Her love of music was always a part of her life and in her fifties she also learned to play the classical Spanish guitar. She was a role model to her nieces, several of whom were just a few years younger than her. She was an accomplished dressmaker and her nieces frequently insisted that she model her elegant, trendy handmade dresses for them.

In 1951 she bravely took the 3 week ship journey on “The Stirling Castle” to start a new life for herself and Heather in England. Heather’s father was doing post-graduate studies at Cambridge University at the time and wanted his family to settle in England. However from 1955 she was left to bring up her daughter on her own. There was not the array of grants for single parents which are now available in England and life was a struggle. She had to deal with rampant racism and male chauvinism in the workplace. With British Road Services she reached the level of Deputy Branch Manager but she was denied the Branch Manager’s post due to racial and sexual prejudice. Accommodation was difficult to rent as she was often confronted by notices which stated “no dogs, no children and no blacks”. On arrival to Britain she found that rationing was in force. This meant that at times she had to do without food in order to feed her child. However she was sustained by her faith in God and her belief in her religion and after 14 years of living in bed-sits, she was able to buy her own home in 1965 and at last she and her daughter Heather had a safe haven. Having a home meant learning new skills of decorating, property maintenance and gardening. She went to evening classes to learn Do-It-Yourself skills which included painting, wallpapering, plastering, carpet laying, and electrical maintenance. She became a superb gardener and the garden she created has been deemed magical and spiritual by those who visited it.

She was a wonderful cook and her cake-baking was unsurpassable. She used many of her mother’s recipes e.g. marmalade and curry and passed these on to her daughter.
She was always open to learning new skills and at the age of 54, her daughter taught her to drive. She passed her driving test quickly and would confidently drive her car to work and the shops.

In 2007 she had a recurrence of the ovarian cancer which had first arisen the year before. She underwent operations and several regimes of chemotherapy over these two years. During these long, dark years it was her Christian faith that brought her comfort. She died a long, painful and lingering death in a London hospice on 1st January 2008 with her daughter cradling her in her arms. When she was in the hospice, the parish nun gave her a rosary from Jerusalem and the priest, who gave her the last rites, gave her a wooden crucifix. She was buried with both items together with a poem written for her by her daughter and a lock of her daughter’s hair.

Throughout history, Women of Faith have helped lay the foundations for a better, just society. We find that our society today is bereft of its moral compass, dogged by corruption and crime and informed by a crass materialism. To renew society we need to the return to the values espoused by those women of faith, the Lawrence sisters. We need our leaders to have a deep spirituality that will enable them to serve their people and not their pockets: we need educators who are selfless in their commitment to their students and equip them with a well-rounded education where art, music, drama and a rich spiritual life are as important as mathematics and science. This is the legacy of the Lawrence sisters that can help us become a caring, happier society, dedicated to God and the service of our global world.

I AM
Woman of faith

On the 15/06/2010 I received a copy of my register of births of Indian Immigrants of Natal. I received this copy after 5 years of searching for some information. I was extremely when I realised my birth details, my mothers’ name and the families colonial numbers, 34754, 29181 & 27391. I phoned the Kwazulu Natal archives and received 3 documents. No. 34754 was my grandfather Govindan who came from India in 1886 with his father Veerasami. In 1882 Amirdam,18 yrs. old, No.27391 arrived with her father Naraina Mody and in 1883 Naga, 20 years old, No.29181 arrived with his father Moonesamy. I believe Amirdam and Naga are relatives of Muniamah. They sailed on the Umvoti from Madras. They were from the villages, Madurnur, Pothutoor and Tirupathur. They were employed at La Mercy Estate, by La Mercy Verulam Sugar by a Bloy, F.R. Monte Christo Colenso and Richardson, CGK. The caste they derived from was Vellala, Maharatta. All I know is that Govindan was married to a lady named Runjamma (as per my birth documents) and that they had 8 children. One of those children that I am trying desperately to locate is Muniamah Pushpa nee Govindan, who is formally from Maidstone but also lived with her family in Warwick Avenue, Durban. It just so happens that in the midst of my search we are celebrating the arrivals of Indians to SA. I am so proud to discover my grandfathers’ information and I will treasure the documents always. Please will you assist me in finding this lady, I have been trying for years but still my prayers have not been answered. I may be running out of time as this lady is probably very old.

I AM
Mary

In 1998 I began writing “A Labour of Love”, the biography of Shishupal Rambharos (1920 – 2010), a first generation South African, whose father had come from India as an indentured labourer in 1896. Bhai Rambharos (as he was known for most of his life) died a few weeks ago. For over a quarter of a century years he served as President of the Aryan Benevolent Home and continued to serve as Honorary Life President until his death. His life and that of the Aryan Beneolent Home are inextricably intertwoven. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to record, in his lifetime, his remarkable achievements in the sphere of service to the needy, for which, incidentally, the University of Natal conferred on him an Honorary Doctorate in 2000. I am grateful too, to his prodigious memory and fondness for keeping a diary: these were invaluable in recreating the hardships endured by indentured labourers and providing insight into how a community worked together to provide the essential services that the government neglected to provide for those who were not classified “white”.

Researching, recreating his early life and writing the biography was a humbling experience that has left an indelible impression on how I respond to the world. Bhai Rambharos grew up in exceptionally difficult circumstances – his father died when he was almost seven years old; his mother was ailing, going blind and crippled by rheumatism; his older brother was mentally challenged. In any other circumstance, the young boy would have struggled to survive. That he survived and made a success of his life is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Indian community:in the biography I trace the selfless devotion to service of the needy that brought into being the Aryan Benevolent Home, which became Bhai Rambharos’s home after his father’s death.

I AM
Kogi Singh

my name is Shubnum Singh. In 1901 my great, great grandfather Mahabhali Gangadin came to South Africa as an immigrant. He married Bhabni Singh. His intention, i am told, was to stay for five years only. But he never returned to India. Together, my great great grandparents had eleven children, one of whom is Ramluckan Gangadin who today is 91 years old. Before the hype around this important year started, i was not very interested in learning who i was. When i look back now, i realize that my grandfather is living history and have missed an opportunity of a lifetime to find out where my ancestors came from. My grandfather is an extremely learned priest. what is great is that he still vividly remembers when his father came to South Africa. i have no record of my fathers side of the family and the only people that could have assisted have passed on. Today i work at one of the biggest and busiest courts in the country and realize that had it not been for my great great grandparents, i perhaps may never have had the opportunites that i have today. Or my children for that matter. We are a nation steeped in culture. And how proud we ought to be. I work with other indian women that have excelled in their fields. i have cousins, mostly female that i am incredibly proud off. Not only are they wonderful, caring, mothers and wives, they are also incredibly talented. i suppose that is something that was always instilled in us by all our indian parents. To this day i can never understand how our parents on such meagre earnings managed to buy their own homes, buy a car, put us all through school, insist that education was a must for both girls and boys, and still get all their children married.i would also pay tribute to my paternal grandmother and aunts who never let a Diwali pass without new shoes and clothing, all this, whilst still living in a tin shanty. Those were the days that i indeed was so rich. Everyone of us owes it to every person that made that bold decision to brace the shores of Natal in search for a better life. And how prosperous we are. Not bad from human beings that carried luggage at the train stations and cut sugar cane on the plantations. i am so proud to be an Indian.

I AM
Shubnum

I was one of the lucky grandchildren who would love to hear my grandmothers stories. My paternal grandparents lived on a sugar cane farm in Glendale, North Coast of Durban. They lived their simple life right to the end. I visited and spent a few summer holidays with them as I loved the farm life, its quiet, the serenity and most of all the freedom. I could walk or run or play and just be me. Most of my childhod memories were created on that farm. I miss my grandma, a strong, outspoken and most of all she loved me. She told me this story one evening during my vacation there. Story goes back to a little village in India, name of which I cant remember. Her mom went to the local store to get grain and some other food ingredients for their evening meal. On her way back she was picked up by British Soldiers. The next thing she knew she and hundred’s of other woman and men were on this ship. All she could think was of her little children with no food, a husband not knowing what to do or where she is. She cried for days until she could cry no more. Then they all came to a strange place. British soldiers, separated men and woman, inspected them as if they were cattle. Tatooed weird names on their arms. My grandma says that her mother was made to stand next to a man whom she hadnt met before and the next thing she knew, this man was now her husband. How is this possible she screamed. ” I have children and a husband, take me back” But to no avail. She had no choice. She was married off to whom we now know as my great grand father. She learnt to accept her knew life, but never forgetting the children and husband she left behind. How sad I felt when I heared this story. My grandmother was her only child as she couldnt have any other children. How many other woman had to go through such an ordeal. But had this not happened, would my father have exsisted or I or my siblings. Today I salute her, because he was strong. The All mighty did however reward her with the best husband, my greatfather, and my grandpa was the sweetest man alive.

I AM
Mala Ramdheen

AN IDENTITY FOR A LEGACY.

Being a South African Indian hasn’t been the easiest walk in the park, but through determination and innovation, which are prevalent traits in most Indians in South Africa, I have built my repertoire as a leader in the graphic design industry.

Fate played out its many hands once again, and this time a POST newspaper billboard flashed past me, which barely got my attention, but enough of it to read “1860 Logo Design Competition.

Curious to see what this was all about I did further research and discovered that the POST newspaper, a stalwart for the Indian community for decades, was holding a logo design competition for the 1860 Legacy Foundation. At first I was quite perturbed that such an illustrious and essential society which held our heritage of being South African Indians at the fore front, was only being publicized through this competition and should of been brewing for along time in the minds of the South African public.

Nevertheless I took up the gauntlet and found it the perfect opportunity to try my hand at something so momentous to us Indians, and just being part of this competition gave me some sense of my own identity as an Indian.

After countless proposals and with the deadline looming, I settled on what I felt best described and encompassed the mission statement of the 1860 Legacy Foundation. After submitting my final design, I felt that it would be a tough battle against other worthy entrants but I still remained positive and upbeat.

Out of the blue late September 2009, I got the call that my design had been chosen to represent the 1860 Legacy Foundation and I was the official winner. I was overwhelmed by joy and surprise as I had won, not only the praise from the 1860 committee but personal adulation that my creation has been chosen to be part of something this big.

I am sure that every person strives for the event or action that would have them to be remembered in history, I have done this and feel proud that I have given, if not the most important symbol for Indian heritage the 1860 Legacy Foundation, a visual identity.

I AM
MARLON SUKHNUNAN