PROFESSOR JERRY COOVADIA - INTERVIEW IN 2008

 

PROFESSOR JERRY COOVADIA - INTERVIEW IN 2008

October 06, 2023

 

PROFESSOR HOOSEN JERRY COOVADIA

(OCT 6 2023)

(Prof Coovadia with his comrades, Thumba Pillay and Dr Farouk Meer at a meeting of the Active Citizens Movement. Dr Meer passed away recently.)

 

At a time when former activists and comrades are paying tribute to freedom and medical struggle stalwart, Professor Jerry Coovadia, who passed away at the age of 83 on Wednesday, Oct 4 (2023), I would like to re-publish a printed version of a radio interview that I had conducted with the committed and progressive leader in 2008.

This is the introduction:

 

Sometime during 2008 when I started a radio programme, Our Rich History,  to broadcast the lives of struggle heroes and heroines and community leaders, I had the privilege of interviewing Professor Jerry Coovadia. He was one of the prominent officials and activists of anti-apartheid organisations such as the Natal Indian Congress, the United Democratic Front, and the progressive National Medical and Dental Association (NAMDA).   

Professor Coovadia was at this time based at the University of Natal Medical School. I had made arrangements to interview him after a number of former activists began questioning the deviation by some of the new ANC rulers from the true values and principles for which they had struggled for and paid a heavy price.

Professor Coovadia had at this time also withdrawn from political involvement and instead concentrated his life in the research and fight against the Aids pandemic.

This is the printed version of my radio feature:

 

 

 

“At that time, our view of life was that the political struggle was just one component and that one of the critical forces through which I could make a contribution and my colleagues was in my profession.”

(Prof Coovadia seen in the back row near Siva Naidoo and Dr Farouk Meer, who passed away rcently. He attended a meeting of the ACM.)

Born into a business family who came to South Africa in the early 1900s from the Surat District of Gujerat in India, Hoosen Jerry Coovadia, did not undergo the same hardships as some of his other comrades who emerged from the indentured labour class. His parents were in a position to finance his primary and high school education and later his medical studies.

But Coovadia who came from a large family of four brothers and four sisters was just as socially aware and committed like other young people who experienced various forms of racial discrimination at that time.

After he completed his high school at Sastri College, he wanted to enroll at the University of the Cape Town Medical School.

But he was turned down because he was of Indian-origin.

His parents then made arrangements for him to study at the Mumbai Grant Medical College in India.

It was here that his political consciousness gained momentum.

“I studied in India to become a doctor at a very critical period in the history of post-independence India. It was the period when Nehru was the Prime Minister. It was an enormous exciting period globally. There was the Non-Alignment Movement that brought together some of the leading figures in developing countries. And in that climate of decolonisation it was inevitable that one’s thoughts be drawn to the struggles for freedom by people in different parts of the country.”

After his return home in the mid-1960s his parents wanted him to practice as a private medical doctor. He obtained a job at a medical practice run by three Indian doctors.

But this only lasted a few months. His social consciousness would not allow him to become a money hungry doctor.

He left the practice to work at the King Edward V111 Hospital in 1967. He has been at King Edward and the neighbouring Medical School ever since.

Here Professor Coovadia came face to face with the socio-economic suffering of the people and this soon drove him into the political arena.

“As soon as I had come back and become a qualified padetrician it coincided with the re-establishment of the Natal Indian Congress by Mewa Ramgobin and that provided a channel for the expression of my political views.”

After the successful transition of political power and the attainment of democracy in 1994, Professor Coovadia quickly moved out of active party politics when he found that the thirst for political dominance was more important than promoting the interests of the poor and marginalised.

“The focus now became on getting power within political organisations. It became absolutely clear that there was a very, very strong manouvre of getting into positions of power regardless of what your particular contributions were. And I felt particularly unsuited for that type of role.”

Professor Coovadia began to concentrate on the Aids pandemic because it was becoming one of the biggest threats to the country’s new found democracy.

“This country and indeed the world hasn’t seen anything like what the Aids pandemic has done. It has wreaked devastation and it is a tragedy of extreme proportions that the moment we get independence and freedom that we sought, we are confronted with the worst pandemic in human history. And it so happens that the epidemic is more seriously felt in our land among the people than anywhere else in the world.”

He has been involved in more than 40 research publications on Aids and has been recognized for his untiring efforts by universities in the United States, Britain, India and was also chairman of the World’s Aids Conference in Durban a few years ago.

He was also bestowed with several awards, including the Order of the Star of South Africa Class B by former President Nelson Mandela.

Despite being fully occupied in the fight against Aids, Professor Coovadia still keeps an eye on political developments. He is not too enthusiastic about certain issues.

“I guess many of us are disappointed that the policies we have chosen as a Government and opted for a model which most people would describe as fitting in with the Washington Consensus is not a policy which I understand is directed to the upliftment of the majority of the people of this country who are poor.”

Professor Coovadia believes in telling it like it is as this is the only way that South Africa’s hard-fought and hard-earned democracy will survive for decades to come. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com

 

MORE THAN 170 MUNIAMMA DESCENDANTS GATHER IN DURBAN TO PROMOTE EXTENDED FAMILY UNITY

                                             

Classical dances, cultural songs, tributes to elders, karate performances by children and modern dances characterised a gathering descendants of indentured labourers in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday, August 13 (2023). 

The function, held at the Kampara Conference Centre in the suburb of Claire Estate, was attended by more than 170 family members whose ancestors, Kandasamy Naiken, and his wife, Thanji, arrived in 1882 in the former Natal Colony as indentured labourers. 

The event was organised under the banner of the Muniamma Family Social Club, which was established in the early 1980s to honour Muniamma Coopoosamy, the elder daughter of the Naikens. She was born at the Blackburn Sugar Estate, north of Durban, along with her sister, Yellammah. 

Muniamma and her husband, Coopoosamy Govender, who was born at the Mount Edgecombe Sugar Estate, north of Durban, conceived 14 children, 11 of whom who had survived to give birth to more than 500 family members spanning six generations. 

The family members arrived from all parts of the KwaZulu-Natal province and the Johannesburg-Pretoria region of the country. The function was organised by committee members made up of third and fourth generation descendants. 

They worked tirelessly over the past three months to put the re-union together. 

The committee members who put in all the hard work included Aster Reddy, Monica Moodley, Angie Naidoo, Nomzamo Zondi, Childie Narainsamy, Meryl Nagaroo, Margie Nair, Nad Nair, Thyna Subramoney, Sadha Subramoney, and representatives of the 11 extended family members. 

The venue and the meals were sponsored by Margie Nair and her husband, Nad Nair. They represented Mrs Savundalay Padaychee, one of the five daughters of Muniamma and Coopoosamy, who settled in the town of Dundee after her marriage to Mr Sunny Padaychee. 

The event was managed by two fourth generation descendants – Anjie Naidoo, who represented the Peri Nadasen family and Nomzamo Zondi, who represented the Satachie Subramoney family. The event started off with a universal prayer by Alan Nadasen, who represented the family of Chinna Nadasen Govender and the lighting of candles by senior members representing the 11 different families of the Muniamma clan. 

The programme included a Bharatyanatam dance item by Devasha Nair, who is related to Nad Nair; karate item by Tanishka and Tejendran Naidu, grand children of Margie and Nad Nair; and Mahin Reddy, who is the grandson of Aster. 

The organisers paid a special tribute to Mrs Amoy Moodley, the only surviving member of the Muniamma extended family, who celebrated her 88th birthday on Thursday, August 10. She was given special tokens and a cake was cut to celebrate her 88th birthday. 

Mrs Moodley, who was born in Dayal Road, Clairwood, on August 10 1935, was the youngest member of the family. She settled in Chatsworth after marriage to Mr Moodley. Her elder siblings – Baigium, Peri Nadasen, Chinna Nadasen, Sooboo Govender, Dick Govender, Munsamy Isaac Govender, Salatchie Subramoney, Savundalay Padaychee, and Percy Govender – who were also born in Dayal Road – settled in Port Shepstone, Isipingo, Merebank, Chatsworth, Ottawa, Pietermaritzburg and Dundee. 

A special speech was delivered in her honour by her grand-daughter, Yogashni Christiansen.

The organising committee also celebrated the 79th birthday of Mrs Savithree Govender, who was married to Paddy Govender, the eldest son of Peri Nadasen Govender. Peri Nadasen was the eldest son of Muniamma and Coopoosamy Govender. There were also cultural items by Tivania and Kialan Nair; three grand-children of Maliga Govender – Kimaya, Deeyana, Keethana - who represented the Patcha family; a speech by Marlon Nair as a fourth generation descendent of the Muniamma family; speech by Yogashini Christensen, who gave an insight into the life of her grand-mother, Amoy Moodley; a dance item by Cadynn Yulissaa Christensen - great-grand-child of Amoy Moodley; dance item by Tashmika, who is the grand-daughter of Childie Narainsamy; a thabla performance by Kayden, grand-child of Mogie Govender of the extended Sooboo Govender family and a fusion dance by Mafu and Sanati Zondi, who are daughters of Nomzamo Zondi. 

Then there were spontaneous modern dance items by a number of senior descendants of the Muniamma extended family. 

The main speech was delivered by Sadha Subramoney (Subry Govender), who once again gave a brief history of their ancestors and re-iterated the need for family members to remember their ancestors and not to forget their roots. 

He said: I WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A RICH HISTORY AND WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE YOUNGER GENERATION MEMBERS ARE KEPT INFORMED OF THEIR ROOTS BECAUSE ONCE YOU FORGET WHERE AND WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND, YOU ARE LOST. 

“We have promoted the unity of the Muniamma extended family since the early 1980s when we celebrated our grand-mother, Muniamma’s 95th birthday. “Now in 2023 we are holding yet another family gathering and I would want to appeal to all the younger generation members to continue with this tradition. 

“Life is not going to be easy and by maintaining our traditions and cultures - we will be able to overcome whatever problems that may arise.” After taking part in the delicious food items, cool drinks and deserts, the grand occasion ended with the vote of thanks delivered by Michelle Munsamy, a grand-daughter of the Patcha family. 

Ends – August 13 2023

FORMER ACTIVISTS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS PAY TRIBUTE TO STRUGGLE STALWART – DR FAR00Q MOOSA MEER

(Dr Meer attending the launch of the UDF in Cape Town in August 1983) Scores of former activists, including two leaders who are now Cabinet Ministers in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Government, were part of a large contingent of family members and friends who attended the memorial service for Dr Farooq Moosa Meer who passed away two weeks ago at the age of 85. The service was held at the Sastri College Hall in Durban on the afternoon of Saturday, August 5 (2023).

(Ministers Joe Pahla and Pravin Gordhan) The activists, who also addressed the service, included former UDF leader, Popo Molefe; Dr Joe Pahla, Minister of Health; Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Public Enterprises; Dr Diliza Mji, former SAS0 leader; retired judge Thumba Pillay, who was a former Natal Indian Congress top executive; Ms Ela Gandhi, former NIC official; Prema Naidoo, former Transvaal Indian Congress official who represented the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation; Bishop Rubin Philip, former black consciousness leader; and Linda Zama, who represented the KZN Elders Council.

(Bishop Rubin Philip Linda Zama) All these leaders acknowledged the major contributions made by Dr Meer and his family to the liberation struggles prior to 1994. In addition, a number of family members, both locally and from overseas, paid glowing tributes to their "PA" for his efforts not only to the freedom struggles but also as head of the family.

(Popo Molefe delivering his address) Popo Molefe summed up, in his address, the messages of most of the speakers.

(Ela Gandhi and Linda ZAMA) In his lengthy address, he outlined the role that Dr Meer played in the Natal Indian Congress, United Democratic Front, other progressive organisations and during the Codesa negotiations at Kempton Park in Johannesburg.

(Prema Naidoo, a former official of the Transvaal Indian Congress who represented the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation at the Memorial Service) He said: "Comrade Farouk played a critical and outstanding role in the building of various organisations of the people and in the struggle that these organisations prosecuted." He went onto mention the names of the struggle stalwarts that he worked with. (Dr Meer addressing a rally in Durban) " Comrade Farouk together with comrades such as George Sewparsadh, MJ Naidoo(late), Mewa Ramgobin(late), Archie Gumede (late), Curnick Ndlovu (late), Nozizwe Madlala, Yunus Mahomed (late), Dr Diliza Mji, Professor Jerry Coovadia, Zac Yacoob, Paul David, Thumba Pillay, Lechesa Tsenoli, Virgil Bonhomme, Rev Mcebisi Xundu (late), Professor Sandy Africa, Pravin Gordhan et et al were pivotal to the formation and campaigns of the UDF. (Dr Meer attending the launch of the UDF in Mitchel’s Pain in Cape Town in August 1983)

(Minister Gordhan and Ravi Pillay) "The UDF campaigns forced the Apartheid Regime to release Nelson Mandela and the rest of the political prisoners, unban the people’s movements and accede to negotiated democratic constitutional arrangements both of which were key demands of the UDF. (Dr Meer with other activists welcoming Billy Nair home after being released from Robben Island. Thumba Pillay was also there with Dr Meer)

(Yunus Carrim, Yusuf Abramajeee and other activists who attended the memorial) "Unquestionably, the UDF affiliates strengthened the mass pillar of the struggle for freedom. They built organs of people’s power and raised through struggles and the people victories mass political consciousness.

(Farooq addressing a protest rally in Durban in the mid 1980s) "The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa enshrines the values, principles and vision that Comrade Farouk strove and lived for. These are values of unity in diversity, inclusive society, non-racialism, civil and political rights( 1st generation rights) and social, economic and cultural rights (2nd generation rights) guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. (Dr Meer with Mewa Ramgobin, Thumba Pillay, George Sewpersadh and other activists at a protest meeting in Durban)

(Dr Meer with Yunus Mahomed and Zac Yacoob during the struggle days) "These are the legacy, heritage and monuments that Comrade Farouk through struggle and sacrifices created for the current and future generations."

– ends August 5 2023 (20:00)

"HIGHER THAN HOPE" - --- “ROLIHLAHLA – WE LOVE YOU”

 

        

 A remembrance to recall on the birth anniversary of freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, on 18 July 2023

 

INTRODUCTION:

In August 1988, a month after Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela turned 70 while still being imprisoned, one of the country’s best-known activist, sociologist and author, Professor Fatima Meer, published her book on the life of the freedom icon.

The book, “Higher than Hope: Rolihlahla We Love You” was published by Professor Meer in order to promote the values and principles of Mandela in the struggles for a free, non-racial and democratic South Africa.

At this time, I was the Editor of the Press Trust of SA News Agency. I made contact with Professor Meer and interviewed her about the book at a time when Mandela was in prison for 25 years.

The article was submitted to the Press Trust of India (PTI) and other news agencies and media organisations around the world on August 6 1988. The article (below) is just as relevant now in 2023 as it was in 1988 when the struggles had reached heightened proportions.

 

            IDEALS, VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

August 6 1988

The ideals, values and principles that Nelson Mandela stands for and that he so ardently and tenaciously fought for during the years before his incarceration in 1963 have in some way been lost and need to be brought back to the people of South Africa.

So says Professor Fatima Meer, sociologist and veteran anti-apartheid opponent, and author of a new book on Mandela, “Higher Than Hope: Rolihlahla We Love You”.

“I wrote my book primarily for the South African people,” said Professor Meer.

“They have so little tangible knowledge of this great man and his life. I wanted to fill the gap.

“But more than that, I wanted Nelson to be able, through the book, to speak out to the people of this country. I want him to come to us through the book and remind the people of his values and ideals.”

And, says Professor Meer, at the particular conjuncture that South Africa finds itself in at present, there has never been a more pressing need for this reminder.

“I think that at this point in our history, where the townships are devastated with violence, where there is a dominant – although not yet predominant – element of black youth who seem not to understand democracy and confuse it with anarchy, who do not understand authority and responsibility, Nelson Mandela is needed more than ever.

“And since he is still imprisoned, the only way he can come to us and especially the youth is through words.”

Professor Meer said she felt the South African Government was to blame for the “moral vacuum” in certain parts of the national democratic struggle.

“The Government is so anti-democratic, so violent, so repressive and intolerant, these traits have become internalised and reflected in a large part of our population.

“These people need someone who can get up now and speak out about what real values are all about and Mandela is that person.”

What emerges from her book, said Professor Meer, is a man who is imbued with a sense of uncompromising discipline and democracy.

“Discipline is very important to Nelson. Nothing could happen without there being a tremendous amount of discipline.

“He also understood democracy better than most people and took it to its ultimate extent. He understood it precisely because he was deprived of it.”

The book, which is due to be out to the public within the next few weeks, could not have been penned by a more qualified person.

Professor Meer, who is involved in a number of community undertakings and research projects, was herself part of the “hurley-burley” years of the 50s and 60s and has an intimate knowledge of the values which drove the struggles then.

During that period, she spent time with Mandela, and grew close to his family and in 1976 spent a period of time with Winnie Mandela in prison. Indeed, much of the basis for the book were the many letters of Winnie that Professor Meer had in her possession for safe-keeping.

Other source material were scores of interviews with family members – including many with Mandela’s family in the Transkei, and with friends, associates and acquaintances.

In addition, Professor Meer had the support and backing of Mandela and his family to undertake what she terms an “overwhelming task”.

“Nelson wrote to me in 1972, and said that he thought that people who wrote their autobiographies were really on an ego trip. I responded and said, well, some biographies needed to be written and his was one and I mentioned sort-of jokingly that I would be honoured to write it,” Professor Meer recalled.

“Some time later, I got a message from a mutual friend who said Nelson wanted me to write his biography. But it was more of an informal request than anything else.”

While the primary role of the book is to bring back the morals of Mandela and his era, its main area of focus is the ten-year period of Mandela’s life between 1950 and 1960.

Part One looks at the roots – it examines Mandela the boy and the Tembu history in an effort to put Mandela’s resistance to apartheid into perspective.

Part Two locates him in Johannesburg.

“It explores – to the extent that I have been able to explore without being able to interview him directly – his early friendships, his life at college, his life as an articled clerk, his first marriage and the early years of the ANC and the Youth League.

“But I am really homing in on the ten years between 1950 and 1960 because his crucial contribution is within those ten years.

“I have tried, while I have attempted to place Mandela in Johannesburg for those ten years, to look at what is happening in the country and see how he involved himself in that.

“It is an interactive picture between a man and his socio-political environment.”

The book examines a range of historical events in which Mandela played an instrumental role, including the defiance campaign, the treason trial, the banning of ANC and the decision to go underground, Mandela’s years as the “Black Pimpernel” and finally the Rivonia Trial.

“For South Africans struggling for a just and democratic society,” Professor Meer said, “the Rivonia Trial is crucial”.

“In his statements from the dock, Mandela offers a magnificent analysis of the entire political problems of the African people at the time. He also explains why armed resistance was chosen.”

Another major part of the book centres around the hundreds of letters that flow between Polsmoor Prison and the Mandela family and friends.

According to Professor Meer, through the letters Mandela emerges as a very concerned and compassionate man with his finger on the pulse, not only of world and national affairs, but also on those of his family.

“The letters make up Part Five of ‘Higher Than Hope’ and what comes out of there is just how he cares for people, how he cares for friends and what his feelings are about events that happen to his family,” Professor Meer said.

“What emerges from the prison is the extent to which he has been able to influence so many young people in his family. To exhort them to go and educate themselves, to get to university. And he has succeeded. Even from the confines of prison, where until a few years ago his family have had a half-image of him through a glass plate window, Nelson has had an enormous impact on his extended family.

“And this is an indication of the kind of influence he would have if he were allowed to be a free man.”

The book also contains a section on Winnie – a biography within a biography.

“The few chapters focus on her childhood and education; how she is drawn into Nelson’s politics and how the state uses Winnie to hit out at Nelson and how she herself emerges out of this as a leader in her own right.”

Professor Meer said she fervently hoped the South African authorities would not move to ban her book.

“Each and every person in South Africa, from white conservatives to black radicals need to read about this great man,” she said. – ends – Press Trust of SA News Agency August 6 1988

MUNIAMMA SOCIAL CLUB PHOTOS OF BOOK LAUNCH 28 APRIL 2018 SECOND LOT OF PHOTOS

JUST OVER FIVE YEARS AGO ON APRIL 28 2018, MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED MUNIAMMA SOCIAL CLUB FAMILY LAUNCHED THEIR FAMILY HISTORICAL BOOK AT THE ENCHANTED GARDENS CONFERENCE CENTRE AT THE OLD LOUIS BOTHA AIRPORT, NEAR ISIPINGO, DURBAN.

THE BOOK, FLIGHT OF YOUNG LOVERS, RECALLS THE DEPATURE OF THEIR ANCESTORS, KANDASAMI NAIKEN AND THANJI, UNDER TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES FROM THE VILLAGE OF NAVALPORE IN THE NORTH ARCOTT DISTRICT OF TAMIL NADU AND THEIR ARRIVAL IN THE FORMER NATAL COLONY IN SOUTH AFRICA.

THEIR ANCESTORS WORKED AS INDENTURED LABOURERS AT THE BLACKBURN SUGAR ESTATE, NEAR MOUNT EDGECOMBE, WHERE THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS, MUNIAMMA, AND YELLAMAH      WERE BORN.

THE BOOK ALSO RECALLS THE MOVE OF THEIR ANCESTORS TO NEWCASTLE AFTER THEIR INDENTURES AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT SETTLEMENT IN DAYAL ROAD, CLAIRWOOD, DURBAN.

IT WAS HERE THAT MUNIAMMA AND YELLAMAH WERE MARRIED AND MUNIAMMA GIVING BIRTH TO 14 CHILDREN, 11 OF WHOM WHO SURVIVED TO GIVE BIRTH TO THE GREATER MUNIAMMA EXTENDED FAMILY.

CURRENTLY THE FAMILY RUNS INTO SIX GENERATIONS AND MORE THAN 500 DESCENDANTS.  

THIS FEATURE OF PHOTOS IS BEING PUBLISHED ONCE AGAIN TO INSTIL THE VALUES OF THE EXTENDED FAMILY IN THE CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE BOOK IN 2018, TWO OF THE SURVIVING ELDERS, SAVUNDALAY PADAYCHEE OF DUNDEE, AND SOUNDLER GOVENDER OF CHATSWORTH HAVE PASSED ON.

ONLY AMOY GOVENDER OF CHATSWORTH IS THE LAST SURVIVING DESCENDANT OF THE SECOND GENERATION OF THE GREATER MUNIAMMA FAMILY.