MRS SAVUNDALAI PADAYCHEE - A SECOND GENERATION DESCENDANT OF INDENTURED SUGAR CANE LABOURERS CELEBRATES HER 89TH BIRTHDAY TODAY

JULY 8 2016

(MRS SAVUNDALI PADAYCHEE - SECOND FROM RIGHT - IS SEEN WITH LAST SURVIVING SISTER-IN-LAW MRS SOUNDLER GOVENDER, SISTER MRS AMOY PADAYCHEE AND ELDER BROTHER, MR MUNSAMY ISAAC GOVENDER DURING THE FAMILY RE-UNION IN JANUARY 2016)

(MRS SAVUNDALAI PADAYCHEE - EXTREME RIGHT - SEEN WITH HER LATE BROTHER, PERCY GOVENDER, LATE ELDER SISTER, SALATCHI SUBRAMONEY, AND MR MUNSAMY ISAAC GOVENDER AT A MUNIAMMA FAMILY GATHERING)

(SOUNDLER,SECOND FROM LEFT) WITH HER LATE SIBLINGS PATCHA, SALATICH, NADASEN AND PERCY. ISAAC UNCLE IS SECOND FROM RIGHT.) One of the three surviving second generation descendants of our indentured labourers ancestors, Mrs Savundalai Padaychee, celebrates her 89th birthday today. Mrs Padaychee, who lives in her home in the Northern KwaZulu-Natal town of Dundee, was born in the Dayal Road area of Clairwood, south of Durban, on July 8 1927. She was one of 14 children of Muniamma and Coopoosamy Govender, who settled in the Dayal Road area as market gardeners after their indentured parents completed their 10-year grimmits in the former Blackburn and Mount Edgecombe sugar estates respectively. Mrs Padaychee, who grew up in the Clairwood area, is now one of three children who are still around. The others are Mr Munsamy Isaac Govender is 94-years-old and lives in Pietermaritzburg with his daughter, Ruth, and Mrs Amoy Moodley, is 80-years-old and lives in Unit Three, Chatsworth. Mrs Padaychee, who has visited the land of her forefather and mother in India many times, was married to Shunmugam “Sunny” Padaychee of Dundee at an early age. They had seven children. One of the boys, Nickel, died a few years ago. Mrs Padaychee has a number of grand-children and great-grand-children. Early this year, Mrs Padaychee made a special trip to Durban to attend a family re-union organised by the Muniamma Social Club (Business) to pay tribute to the three surviving children of our ancestors. Thyna and I telephoned Mrs Padaychee this morning and wished her well on her 89th birthday on behalf of all the extended family members of the Muniamma brood who number more than 500 today. She was very happy to hear from us and asked that the Muniamma family must continue to keep in contact and promote the values, cultures, traditions, languages and music of our ancestors. We want to wish Mrs Padyachee many more happy returns and at the same time also greet her other surviving siblings, Mr Munsamy Isaac Govender and Mrs Amoy Moodley.

NEW PROGRESSIVE PEOPLES’ ORGANISATION – ACTIVE CITIZENS’ MOVEMENT (ACM) – TO BE LAUNCHED IN DURBAN IN OCTOBER

By Subry Govender A new citizens’ forum, initiated by former anti-apartheid leaders and activists, is to be officially launched in five months’ time in October to contribute to the values and principles of the country’s new democratic and non-racial Constitution and Bill of Rights. The decision to launch the Active Citizens’ Movement(ACM), formerly known as the United Citizens’ Forum, was taken at a workshop held at the Durban University of Technology(DUT) on Sunday, July 3. The new initiative was first mooted seven months ago after former anti-apartheid activists and leaders expressed their disillusionment and disappointment at the absence of organisations such as the United Democratic Front(UDF) and the Natal Indian Congress(NIC) in the new democratic order.

Some of the anti-apartheid activists who took part in the workshop on Jukly 3 included Yusuf Vawda, Siva Naidoo, Ms Eunice David, Professor Jerry Coovadia, Dr Farouk Meer, former Judge, Thumba Pillay, Dr Dilly Naidoo, Swaminathan Gounden, Ms Ela Gandhi, Paddy Kearney, Dr Crispin Hemson, Ms Coral Vinsen, and Fishy Maharaj.

Mr Vawda, who played a leading role as a community and political activist during the anti-apartheid days along with, among others, Pravin Gordhan, now Minister of Finance, and the late Yunus Mahomed, was the chairperson of the workshop. He articulated the inputs and concerns of the people who moved for the establishment of the new pressure group that would operate along the same lines as anti-apartheid organisations prior to 1994. The Active Citizens’ Movement(ACM) would be a non-political organisation that would contribute to the creation of a socially-cohesive and egalitarian society, based on the values of South Africa’ Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

“The ACM will help to strengthen participatory democracy through programmes that eliminate obstacles to equality and strengthen good governance, transparency, accountability and sustainability,” said Vawda. “The ACM’s values are non-racism and non-sexism, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, appreciation for diversity, integrity, honesty and respect, and a commitment to resolving issues through peaceful action. “As a movement not aligned to any political party, the ACM will co-operate with, challenge and lobby government and the private sector in the pursuit of our goals. “The new movement will also collaborate with and strengthen civil society, specifically NGOs and communities. “We aim to form a broader network based on collaboration and not competition to bring about a truly non-racial, democratic, socially-cohesive and egalitarian society.” The emergence of the Active Citizens’ Movement is a clear indication that many former anti-apartheid activists and leaders are disillusioned with the lack of values and principles among many who occupy important positions today. Many people believe such a progressive organisation in the new non-racial and democratic South Africa is long overdue. Ends – Subry Govender July 3 2016

SURINAME - THE WEST INDIAN COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN WERE TAKEN TO WORK AS INDENTURED LABOURERS ON SUGAR PLANTATIONS

BY SUBRY GOVENDER During the recent visit of South Africa’s national cricket team to the West Indies – one would have noticed the number of Indian-origin spectators watching the matches along with their fellow black, white and mixed-race colleagues. The Indian-origin people are descendants of indentured labourers who were taken from various parts of India in the early 1800s to former colonies controlled by Britain, Holland and France. Some of the islands where Indian immigrants settled in large numbers are Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname. In 2009 I had the opportunity of talking to journalists from these countries and Mauritius, Malaysia and Fiji about the lives of Indian-origin people. I was part of a group of 19 Indian-origin journalists who attended a Pravasi Bharati Divas conference in Chennai in 2009. I have already done radio documentaries on Guyana, Fiji and Malaysia and in this episode, I have a prepared a radio documentary on the island of Suriname, which is a former Dutch colony. I spoke to journalist, Ms Indra Toelsie, who is a veteran journalist in the Suriname capital of Para Maribo, about Indian-origin people on the island.

(INDRA TOELSIE OF SURINAME IN BLACK SHORT AND PANTS WITH OTHER JOURNALISTS FROM THE INDIAN DIASPORA)

JACOB ZUMA WILL HAVE TO FACE CORRUPTION CHARGES IN COURT

June 27 2016 President Jacob Zuma of South Africa now faces the real prospect of fraud and corruption charges being brought against him. This after the Pretoria High Court dismissed on Friday, June 24, a bid by Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority(NPA) to appeal an earlier ruling by the court that corruption charges against Zuma should be re-instated. This damning decision followed one of the most troublesome and worrying periods in Zuma’s leadership when some residents of Pretoria and its surrounding townships went on the rampage – burning, looting, and destroying infrastructure. The political violence was instigated by Zuma’s own members of the ruling ANC who disagreed with the selection of a candidate for the post of Mayor in the Pretoria region. Zuma, who has condemned the violence in the Pretoria region, has said that they were studying the court decision and would, thereafter, take appropriate action. Subry Govender filed this report for Deutsche Welle Radio (Voice of Germany) on June 27 2016….

THE PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRY OF FIJI WHERE PEOPLE OF INDIAN-ORIGIN MAKE UP NEARLY 50 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION

(MONIKA SINGH ON THE LEFT FROM FIJI WITH A FELLOW COLLEAGUE FROM GUYANA, MS BIBI FAREEZA HANIFF)

BY SUBRY GOVENDER THE ISLAND COUNTRY OF FIJI NEAR AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND HAS BECOME FAMOUS BECAUSE OF WORLD GOLFING STAR, VIJAY SINGH. SINGH IS A DESCENDANT OF INDENTURED LABOURERS WHO WERE TAKEN TO THE ISLAND BY THE BRITISH IN THE EARLY 1800s. TODAY PEOPLE OF INDIAN-ORIGIN IN FIJI MAKE NEARLY 50 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION. WHAT IS THE SITUATION OF PEOPLE OF INDIAN –ORIGIN ON THE ISLAND? I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF TALKING TO MS MONIKA SINGH, A JOURNALIST FROM FIJI, WHEN SHE ATTENDED THE PRAVASI BHARATIAR DIVAS CONFERENCE IN CHENNAI IN JANUARY 2009. MONIKA SINGH WAS ONE OF 19 JOURNALISTS OF INDIAN-ORIGIN WHO ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE FROM GUYANA, SURINAME AND TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IN THE WEST INDIES, MALAYSIA, MAURITIUS, SINGAPORE, SEYCELLES, SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA AND FIJI. I COMPILED SEVERAL RADIO FEATURES ON SOME OF THESE COUNTRIES WHERE PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN MAKE UP A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATIONS OF THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. IN THIS RADIO FEATURE, MONIKA SINGH TALKS ABOUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE OF INDIAN-ORIGIN IN FIJI.

GUYANA - THE WEST INDIAN COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN WERE TAKEN TO WORK AS INDENTURED LABOURERS ON SUGAR PLANTATIONS

(Bibi Fareeza Haniff (right) with Ms Monika Singh of Fiji at the PBD conference in Chennai in January 2009)

Guyana is the first country in the West Indies where the South African national cricket team, Proteas, recently played their matches in the tri-nation series against Australia and the West Indies. BY SUBRY GOVENDER The South African national cricket team, Proteas, is currently involved in a tri-nations series against Australia and the West Indies in the West Indies. Some of the countries that make up the West Indies include Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname where people of Indian-origin make up significant percentages of the population. In January 2009, I had the opportunity of talking to journalists from the West Indies about the lives of people of Indian-origin in their countries. I met the journalists at a conference for People of Indian-origin (PIOs) at the Pravasi Bharati Divas conferences organised by the Government of India in the southern city of Chennai. We were part of a group of 19 INDIAN-ORIGIN JOURNALISTS SOUTH AFRICA, GUYANA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND SURINAME IN THE WEST INDIES, MAURITIUS, SEYCHELLES, FIJI, MALAYSIA AND AUSTRALIA. DURING THE COURSE OF THE CONFERENCE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF TALKING TO SOME OF THESE JOURNALISTS AND COMPILED A SERIES OF RADIO FEATURES ON SEVERAL COUNTRIES WHERE INDIAN-ORIGIN PEOPLE HAD SETTLED OVER THE PAST 300 YEARS. THIS IS THE FIRST REPORT ON GUYANA, WHERE INDIAN-ORIGIN PEOPLE, MAINLY FROM BIHAR AND UTTAR PRADESH, HAD BEEN RECRUITED TO WORK AS INDENTURED LABOURERS ON SUGAR PLANTATIONS. I SPOKE TO BIBI FAREEZA HANIFF, ONE OF THE YOUNGEST JOURNALISTS, WHO ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE FROM GUYANA.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR POOBAL GOVENDER OF ISIPINGO

“What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes part of us.”

(POOBAL GOVENDER ATTENDING AN MSC GATHERING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS) The official memorial service for our dear and loving cousin and elder – the late Poobal Govender – will be held on the evening of Thursday, June 23, between 7pm and 8pm at the family residence – 18 Ramdass Road, Isipingo. Family members, friends and neighbours are invited to attend the service. Mr Govender, 69, who passed away two weeks ago on June 9th 2016, will be remembered not only as a human being who worked tirelessly to promote the interests of his family, but also as a committed official and member of the greater Muniamma family. Born on October 30 1946, Poobal Govender - a third generation descendant of the greater Muniamma Family -grew up as a young man in the once pristine and beautiful village of Isipingo. While as a young boy he used to, with other members of his family, help out at the temple in Jooma Road. The temple officials used to ask him and his cousin to chase away the birds that preyed on the rice fields in the temple property. The birds used to feed on the flowers that flourished on the young rice trees. Poobal and his cousin used to disturb and chase away the birds by banging small tin cans.

(POOBAL AND BABY AT ONE OF THE MSC GATHERINGS) For their efforts they would receive a banana and apple at the end of their stint as their payment. Life was not easy at that time. After completing his early primary and secondary schooling, Poobal did odd jobs until he finally went into the construction business. He worked very hard to improve the quality of his life and to contribute to the Govender house-hold. Poobal married Dhanabaigium (Baby) of Port Shepstone in the early 1970s. Their marriage produced three children – Loshnie (or Nidhie), Vis and Dersan and four grand-children: Shenice (19), Nikayal (Nivashen) (11), Darshan (4) and Tae (3). Their daughters-in-laws are Loshnie and Michel and son-in-law. Poobal’s father – Mr Soobramoney Govender, who was known as Sooboo Mamha or Sooboo Uncle to all of us in the greater Muniamma Family – was one of 14 second generation children of Mr Coopoosamy Govender and his wife, Muniamma.

(POOBAL AT ONE OF THE MUNIAMMA FAMILY GATHERINGS ENJOYING A MEAL) Sooboo Mamha was one of eleven children who eventually survived to produce the more than 500 descendants who run into six generations today. Poobal himself was part of a large family of four sisters and three brothers. His siblings are: 1. Baby, 2. Karnagie, 3. Kesa, 4. Doolie, 5. Dickson and 6. Mogie. There are also scores of nephews and nieces and other generations of the Sooboo Govender family. In the mid-1980s, Poobal became an active and committed official and member of the Muniamma Social Club(MSC), which was established in memory of our ancestor, Mrs Muniamma Coopoosamy Govender. Poobal was involved in all its activities and went the extra mile in arranging excursions of the family and promoting the true values and principles of our cultures, traditions, music and languages. In 2010, when the 150th anniversary of the arrival of our forefathers and mothers into the former Natal Colony as indentured labourers was observed, Poobal played a leading role in organising an event for the Muniamma Family at the Temple Hall in Jooma Road. Poobal’s commitment and contributions on behalf of the Sooboo Govender family to the Muniamma Social Club at large will live on for ever and ever. He will not be forgotten easily. The following quote by an American author, Helen Keller, fully describes the impact that Poobal had on all our lives: “What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes part of us.”

(THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL TAMIL SONG SPECIALLY DOWN LOADED AS A TRIBUTE TO OUR BELOVED POOBAL)