MUNIAMMA FAMILY HISTORY BOOK LAUNCH IN PICTURES

THE DESCENDANTS OF INDENTURED ANCESTORS IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA HAVE LAUNCHED THEIR MUNIAMMA FAMILY HISTORY BOOK, "FLIGHT OF YOUNG LOVERS", AT THE ENCHANTED GARDENS CONFERENCE CENTRE IN THE CITY ON SATURDAY, APRIL 28 2018. MORE THAN 200 FAMILY MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER SOUTH AFRICA ATTENDED THE HISTORIC EVENT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR ANCESTORS WHO ARRIVED FROM TAMIL NADU IN INDIA IN MARCH 1882, THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS - MUNIAMMA AND YELLAMMA - AND THEIR SECOND GENERATION DESCENDANTS WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THE GREATER MUNIAMMA FAMILY. THE FAMILY TODAY RUNS INTO SIX GENERATIONS AND NUMBERS MORE THAN 500. THE BOOK WAS RESEARCHED, COMPILED, AND EDITED BY ONE OF THE THIRD GENERATION DESCENDANTS, MARIMUTHU SUBRAMONEY (AKA SUBRY GOVENDER), A VETERAN STRUGGLE JOURNALIST WHO WAS INVOLVED AS AN ACTIVIST JOURNALIST DURING THE STRUGGLES AGAINST APARTHEID AND WHITE MINORITY RULE IN THE 1970S AND 1980S. THESE PHOTOS ARE OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED THE FUNCTION:

(THE BOOK, FLIGHT OF YOUNG LOVERS, DISPLAYED IN FRONT OF THE PHOTOS OF MUNIAMMA'S ELDEST SON, PERI NADASEN GOVENDER, AND HIS SECOND WIFE, SALATCHIE)

(PHOTOS OF THE FIRST GENERATION DAUGHTER, MUNIAMMA, AND HER HUSBAND, COOPOOSAMY GOVENDER, WHO GAVE BIRTH TO 14 CHILDREN, 11 OF WHOM WHO SURVIVED TO GIVE BIRTH TO MORE THAN 500 FAMILY MEMBERS, RUNNING INTO SIX GENERATIONS TODAY)

(PHOTOS OF MUNIAMMA AND SOME OF HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS THAT WERE DISPLAYED IN THE MEMORY STAND AT THE BOOK LAUNCH CEREMONY)

(PHOTOS OF DEPARTED SOULS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION DESCENDANTS OF THE MUNIAMMA FAMILY DISPLAYED ON THE MEMORY STAND)

(SECOND GENERATION DESCENDANTS WHO ARE STILL AROUND TODAY ARE MRS AMOY MOODLEY (83), MRS SOUNDLER GOVENDER, WIFE OF PERI BOYA PERCY GOVENDER, AND IN THE WHEEL CHAIR, MRS SAVUNDALAY PADAYCHEE, OF THE NORTHERN KWAZULU-NATAL TOWN OF DUNDEE. THERE ARE ALSO THIRD GENERATION ELDERS IN THE PHOTO - MRS PANJALA NAIDOO AND RUMBA NAIR IN WHEEL CHAIR)

(SOME OF THE DESCENDANTS AND SPOUSES OF THE ELDEST CHILD, BAIGIUM NAIDOO. SEEN IN THE PICTURE ARE THE ELDERS - MR BENNY REDDY, SON-IN-LAW, AND MRS ANEE NAIDOO, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND WIFE OF BOYA NAIDOO)

(DESCENDANTS OF THE SECOND CHILD - PERI NADASEN GOVENDER)

(DESCENDANTS OF THE THIRD CHILD - CHINNA NADASEN GOVENDER)

(SOOBOO GOVENDER FAMILY DESCENDANTS)

(DESCENDANTS OF ISAAC MUNSAMY RUTHINSAMY GOVENDER)

(SOME DESCENDANTS OF VELAYADAM DICK GOVENDER)

(SOME DESCENDANTS OF SALATCHIE SUBRAMONEY FAMILY)

(SOME DESCENDANTS OF DUNDEE SAVUNDALAYA AUNTY FAMILY)

(SOME DESCENDANTS OF PATCHA FAMILY)

(SOME MEMBERS OF THE AMOY MOODLEY FAMILY) MIXED PHOTOS

(MORE MIXED PHOTOS)

(MORE MIXED FAMILY PHOTOS)

(MORE MIXED PHOTOS)

(ENDS - SUBRY GOVENDER - subrygovender@gmail.com May 2 2018)

MUNIAMMA FAMILY HISTORY RADIO DOCUMENTARY - A TRIBUTE TO MUNIAMMA COOPOOSAMY GOVENDER, HER SISTER, YELLAMMA, THEIR HUSBANDS AND 11 OF MUNIAMMA'S SECOND GENERATION CHILDREN

BY SUBRY GOVENDER (

This year 2018 will be the 158th anniversary of the arrival of our forefathers and mothers from a number of villages in the South and North of India to work as indentured sugar cane labourers in the former British Natal Colony. The descendants of two of the indentured labourers, Kandasamy Naiken and his partner, Thanji, who traced their roots back to the little village of Navalpore in the former North Arcott District of Tamil Nadu launched their family history book in Durban in South Africa on Saturday, April 28 2018. Their ancestors arrived nearly 22 years after the first batch of indentured labourers or semi-slaves arrived in 1860. Their forefather and mother left their village under difficult conditions as they fell in love and conceived the first generation and head of the extended family, Muniamma, without being married. This radio documentary is dedicated to Muniamma and her husband - Coopoosamy, her sister, Yellamma and her husband – Coopoosamy Pillay, and 11 of Muniamma and her husband, Cooposamy’s 14 children who survived to give birth to the greater Muniamma family. Their great-great-great-great-great-great grand-mother – Thanji – died at Dayal Road in Clairwood in Durban, South Africa, sometime in the early 1920s. Her husband – Kandasami – could not accept her death and sometime in the late 1920s returned to Tamil Nadu on a way ticket. This radio documentary that has been produced relates the early history of their ancestors, and the first and second generation descendants. This radio documentary was compiled by the writer and played at the launch of the book, Flight of Young Lovers”.

DESCENDANTS OF INDENTURED ANCESTORS LAUNCH THEIR MUNIAMMA FAMILY HISTORY BOOK IN DURBAN IN SOUTH AFRICA

(SOME OF THE ELDERS OF THE FAMILY) BY SUBRY GOVENDER

An extended Indian-origin family in South Africa, who have traced their roots to a little village in Tamil Nadu, India, have published a book about their family history. The descendants of indentured labourers, Kandasami Naiken and his partner, Thanji, who arrived in the former Port of Durban in 1882, have put together a historical book, titled: “Flight of Young Lovers”. The book was launched at a cultural function in the coastal city of Durban on Saturday, April 28. More than 200 family members from all over South Africa attended the historical function.

The function was held at the Enchanted Gardens Conference Centre near where indentured labourers toiled in sugar cane fields more than 100 years ago. The function was characterised by traditional Tamil dances; tributes to three of the elders who are still around, Mrs Savundalay Padaychee(91), Mrs Amoy Moodley (83) and Mrs Soundler Govender (81), who is the widow of the youngest son, Peri Boya Percy Govender; messages from members of the 11 different clans of the greater family; and special mesaages from family members who are now based in the Johannesburg-Pretoria region; Cape Town; Australia, New Zealand, England, and Germany.

(MR LOGAN GOVENDER) One third generation grand-son, Logan Govender, delivered the main speech at the start of the book launch. He emphasised the importance of the Tamil culture and family unity while at the same time being part of the greater society in which they find themselves.

The book was launched by the writer, Marimuthu Subramoney (aka Subry Govender), a veteran journalist who informed the large gathering of extended family members that it was vital the rich legacy and history of their forebears should be maintained and continued. He emphasised these values in a radio documentary that he compiled for the occasion. The radio documentary has also been saved onto the internet.

(MR MERVYN MOODLEY, ONE OF THE FOURTH GENERATION SPEAKERS) The book relates how the Muniamma family ancestors were forced to flee their village of Navalpore in the former North Arcott District of Tamil Nadu in late 1881 after the village elders discovered that Thanji was expecting a baby out of wedlock. North Arcott has now been split into two districts known as Tiruvannamalai and Vellore.

(MORE MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED FAMILY AT THE BOOK LAUNCH) After they escaped and reached Madras (now Chennai), the young couple was told that a ship would be leaving for the former British Natal Colony with indentured labourers recruited to work on the sugar plantations, near the Port of Durban. The young man and woman discussed the matter and reached a decision that “where ever this place Natal Colony is, it will be a far safer place than Madras”. Their families belonged to a warrior tribe and they feared that they would be tracked down and killed. Kandasami Naiken and Thanji then signed on as indentured labourers and boarded the ship, S. S. Mars, along with other indentured labourers in December 1881. They arrived in the Port of Durban sometime at the end of January 1882.

(MORE MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED MUNIAMMA FAMILY) Kandasami Naiken and his wife were recruited to work at the Blackburn Sugar Estate, near Mount Edegcombe, about 20km north of Durban. On the first night of their arrival at the sugar estate they had to sleep in a barn reserved for horses and the next day the couple had to build their own hut made up of sticks, reeds and mud. The conditions were tough and inhospitable but despite the hardships, their first child, Muniamma, who was conceived in the village of Navalpore, was born a few months after their arrival from Tamil Nadu. A year later their second child, Yellammah, was born. The second child was born in the sugar cane field while Thanji was out working with other indentured women. The Naikens completed their first five-year grimmit (indenture) in 1887 and thereafter signed a new contract for another five years. After completing 10 years on the sugar estate, the Naikens were recruited by a white family to move to Ladysmith. Here the young family were not only caught up in the Anglo-Boer War but their two daughters nearly lost their lives after they were washed down a flooded river. An African man who was passing by noticed the young girls in trouble. He jumped into the fast flowing waters without thinking about his own safety and saved the girls from drowning.

(MORE MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED FAMILY - STANDING FOR THE PRAYER SERVICE AT THE START OF THE FUNCTION) If it was not for this unknown African man, the descendants of Kandasami Naiken and Thanji, who number more than 500 and go down to six generations, would not be around today. In view of the dangerous war conditions, their white employers advised the Naikens to move to Durban where there were “many Indian families”. The book, thereafter, narrates the settlement of the Naikens and their children in Dayal Road, Clairwood, after at first trying to eke out a livelihood in the Congella area of Durban; the marriage of the two girls at the young age of 15 after attaining adulthood; the death of Thanji; and the return of Kandasami Naiken to Tamil Nadu in the early 1920s when he could not accept the death of his wife. The two sisters chose to remain with their families in Natal instead of returning with their father to India. Muniamma and her husband, Coopoosamy, bore 14 children – 11 of them who survived to give birth to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth generations today. Her sister, Yellammah, did not have any children and Muniamma was kind enough to allow one of her daughters to be raised by her sister.

(MS RUTH WILLIAMS, SEATED AT THE TABLE, IS THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF ISAAC AND KURPA GOVENDER) The book also relates in the words of some of the six sons and five daughters of Muniamma their struggles while they toiled as market gardeners in Dayal Road. The book also recounts the life of one son who had to run away from home after his father and one elder brother totally dis-owned him for converting to Christianity at the tender age of 17. The father and brother asked him: “why are you bringing a white man’s God to our home?”. All the eleven children began their own married lives from Dayal Road. But after the area became one of the first to be affected by industrial development in the 1950s, all of them moved to different areas, such as Merebank, Chatsworth, Isipingo, Port Shepstone, Ottawa on the North Coast, Pietermariztburg and Dundee. The extended Muniamma family have no photos of their ancestors despite one picture being taken when Kandasami Naiken returned on a one way permit to Tamil Nadu in the 1920s. The second generation descendants say the picture was kept at the home in Dayal Road but after they all moved out due to the industrialisation of the area , the photo of Kandasami Naiken was lost. The only time they heard anything about their father was when in the late 1920s they received a letter from someone in Tamil Nadu that their father had passed on. Thereafter, all their connections to the land of their parents were completely broken and the two sisters had to continue with their lives with their families in Natal.

(MRS SAVUNDALAY PADAYCHEEE AND HER SISTER, MRS AMOY MOODLEY, AND MRS SOUNDLER GOVENDER, SISTER-IN-LAW, ARE THE ONLY THREE SURVIVING ELDERS OF THE SECOND GENERATION) Today, only two of the 11 siblings, Mrs Savundalay Padacyhee (age 91) of Dundee, and Mrs Amoy Moodley (83) of Chatsworth, are around with one sister-in-law, Mrs Soundler Govender (81) of Chatsworth. While most of the third generation descendants worked in and around Durban as machinists in clothing factories, clerks, and some as building contractors, a few became teachers. Most of the fourth generation descendants have excelled educationally in various fields with two graduating as medical doctors and one an advocate. Most of the fourth generation have moved to Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and some have also moved to England, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

(MORE THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH GENERATION DESCENDANTS AT THE FUNCTION) One second generation son, Soobramoney Govender, who spent most of his life in Isipingo, and several third and fourth generation descendants had participated in the struggles against white minority rule and domination as trade unionists and political activists. One third generation descendant, who grew up in the village of Ottawa on the North Coast and who used to work in the neighbouring sugar cane fields during his school holidays, was banned, house-arrested, detained and denied his passport for 10 years in the early 1980s.

(MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT CLANS STANDING FOR THE PRAYER SERVICE AT THE START After Nelson Mandela was released from life imprisonment and the ANC and other movements were unbanned in February 1990, two descendants visited the village of Navalpore in Tamil Nadu in March of that year to check whether they could make any contact with the families of their ancestors. But when they visited the village, they were informed by elders that the families of their ancestors would have broken all contacts with the young couple because of their impropriety in falling in love and conceiving a baby out of wedlock.

(PHOTOS OF FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION DESCENDANTS WHO HAS PASSED ON) Although the descendants have no family connections in Tamil Nadu they are proud of their ancestory, their languages, and their rich cultures and traditions. Their family history book was initiated, written and published mainly to ensure that the future generations will “not forget their roots, will know who they are and they will be certain about their future”.

(MORE MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED FAMILY) The extended Muniamma family members are exhorted in the book to follow the words of advice by the Fijian author, Rajendra Prasad, who in his book, “Tears of Paradise”, wrote about the lives of the people who were recruited to work as indentured labourers in Fiji. He wrote: “No community can grow in the ignorance of its past, as it is a legacy that must nourish successive generations. Any generation that terminates this legacy will be guilty of failing in its duties and obligations to their children. Our early history cannot be delinked.”

(THE MUNIAMMA BOOK LAUNCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO PLANNED AND HELD THE LAUNCH OF THE BOOK) One third generation descendant, Mr Logan Govender, who was born in Isipingo, wrote the Foreword for the book. Mr Govender, who works for the Save the Children NGO in Pretoria, encouraged his fellow descendants not to be discouraged by the social and economic challenges and “insecurities of belonging to a minority ethnic group”. He wrote: “Rather than adopting a traditionalist ‘minority fear syndrome’, I believe that given our unique history in South Africa and the contributions we have all made, no matter how big or small, towards building a non-racial and democratic country, we owe it to those that will remain long after we have gone, to think positively about our future.

(MS KAY REDDY WHO PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN PROVIDING THE GIFTS OF THE MUNIAMMA ELDERS) “I also believe that if Aiya (grand-mother) and our forefather and mother had to make their historical journey again in the year 2017, they would have met today’s challenges with the same spirit, optimism and determination as they did in the 1880s and 1890s. “This book, therefore, is as much about our past, as it is about our future. The sacrifices made by our family ancestors should not be in vain. They have bequeathed us a wonderful and inspirational legacy. We owe it to them to carry that same legacy into the future.”

(Some of the fifth and sixth generation children) - Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com (April 28 2018)

WINNIE MADIKIZELA-MANDELA OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT MEMORIAL SERVICE APRIL 11 2018

(These photos of Winnie Mandela was taken in June 1983 when this journalist and four political activists - Mewa Ramgobin, George Sewpersadh, Paul Devadas David and M J Naidoo - travelled from Durban to Brandfort to meet with Winnie Mandela after our banning orders were lifted in early 1983)

INTRO: Thousands of people – mainly dressed in the colours of the ruling African National Congress – packed the Orlando sports stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, to attend the official Government Memorial Service for Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Mandela passed away in a Johannesburg hospital on Monday, April 2, at the age of 81. Subry Govender filed this feature on the memorial service....

JACOB ZUMA CLAIMS HE IS INNOCENT OF CORRUPTION CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST HIM

INTRO: South Africa’s immediate former president – Jacob Zuma – who resigned from office in mid-February this year – appeared in court today on charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering. He was only in court for less than half an hour after the trial was provisionally adjourned to the sixth of June after the prosecution told the court that the defence had indicated that it was filing an application for a review of the decision to charge him. Zuma is facing 16 corruption and fraud charges related to 783 bribery payments made to him by a former financial advisor – Schabir Sheik – on behalf of the French arms company - Thales. Subry Govender reports that there was more action outside court with Zuma supporters showing their solidarity in their thousands……

FORMER SUGAR TOWN, OTTAWA BOY, NELSON GOVENDER, PASSES ON AT THE AGE OF 63

(NELSON WITH HIS FAMILY MEMBERS AT HIS HOME IN BELVEDERE, TONGAAT, IN DECEMBER 2017) A former resident of the little village of Ottawa on the north coast of the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa has passed away at the young age of 63. Mr Gangadharan “Nelson” Govender, who grew up surrounded by sugar cane fields and the fast flowing Ottawa river in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, passed away on Saturday, March 17 at his current home in the village of Belvedere in the town of Tongaat, about 20km north of Ottawa. He was a third generation descendant of indentured labourers who had come to come to the former Natal Colony in January 1882 to work as “slaves” on the sugar cane fields owned by British settlers. His ancestors had come from the village of Navalpore in the Tamil Nadu state of India. At his funeral on Sunday, March 18, this was the tribute that was paid to him by his eldest brother, Subry Govender: A VERY SPECIAL PERSON DURING HIS LIFE TIME

(NELSON WITH HIS WIFE, MALA, NIECE, ASTER, SISTER, VIOLET, AND ASTER'S GRANDSON) “It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, and a day to love them, but it takes an entire lifetime to forget them.” Vanakkam, Namaskaram, Namasthe and Sanibonani. Good morning/Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. For us all – neighbours, friends and family – Nelson was that kind of special person. Firstly, I want to thank all neighbours, friends and relatives who have gathered here to pay our last respects to Gangadharan Nelson Govender, who passed away yesterday morning (March 17) at the age of 63.

(NELSON WITH HIS FAMILY MEMBERS IN DECEMBER 2017) On Wednesday evening last week, I telephoned to check with Mala how Nelson was doing. But as my misfortune would have it, I did not get the chance to speak to Mala or Nelson. I then immediately wrote an SMS and sent it to Mala. The next morning on Thursday, Mala wrote me a message, saying Nelson was doing okay. The next day on Friday, I told my wife, Thyna, that we should phone Mala again and just check about Nelson. Then yesterday morning, Thyna told me you know we should go and visit Mala and Nelson. But while we were on our way home at about 11:30am from a local shopping centre we received the sad message from one of the neighbours that Nelson had passed on. We were a bit surprised because from all accounts we thought that Nelson was pulling through.

(NELSON WITH NEIL PILLAY, ONE OF THE FIFTH GENERATION DESCENDANTS OF THE EXTENDED MUNIAMMA FAMILY) As I said in my introduction, Nelson was a special person to all of us. His thought-provoking words, interspersed with laughter and jokes, during interactions with friends, neighbours and family members were special moments during his life. Who was Nelson?

(NELSON WITH HIS FATHER, FREDDY MUNIEN, MOTHER, SALATCHIE, AND UNCLE LICKY GOVENDER AND AUNTIE PATCH GOVENDER, ON HIS 21ST BIRTHDAY IN OTTAWA) He was born as Gangadharan to Munien and Salatchie Subramoney Govender in Isipingo, to the south of the city of Durban, on 11th of December 1954. He was number six in the family. While still a small boy, our parents moved from Isipingo to settle in Munn Road, Ottawa. Here young Nelson attended the local school and was a real prankster. Climbing up the slinger berry tree and running to the road when he disagreed with his brothers and sisters, became a norm. At the same time, he created very close friends with other youngsters in the village, with whom he used to go fishing in the nearby Ottawa river, looking for guavas in the untamed bushes, fetching coal from the railway line and looking for mushroom at a number of spots on the old road in Ottawa. He also was a regular at the nearby sugar estates of Ottawa and Blackburn, where his ancestors worked as indentured labouers. He also used to join his family members to travel to the nearby sugar town of Mount Edgecombe to watch Tamil movies at the local temple hall. He also specialised in singing and became well-known at local like weddings and prayer functions in the village of Ottawa.

(NELSON WITH HIS BROTHERS - SADHA, NANDA AND SYDNEY) While still in his teens Nelson started work in Durban for the South African Railways.

(NELSON WITH HIS WIFE, MALA, AND HIS BROTHERS - SADHA, NANDA AND SYDNEY AND SISTER-IN-LAWS, THYNA, AND VASANTHA) In the early 1970s, Nelson joined his family when they moved to re-settle in Lotusville in the next town of Verulam. Here Nelson concentrated on his work but also at the same time continued with his pranks with his sister-in-laws – teasing, joking and laughing with them. While living in Lotusville, Nelson became very close to his nephews and nieces. Nelson never forget his roots in Ottawa and every Saturday evening he used to join his friends in a game of cards. Before long Nelson was introduced to Mala of Tongaat and they settled here in Belvedere after tying the knot some 35 years ago. Their marriage produced three children – Charmaine, Selina and Shiven.

(NELSON WITH SOME FAMILY FRIENDS AT HIS HOME IN BELVEDERE, TONGAAT, IN 2017) Nelson will be missed not only by Mala and his three adult children but also by five grand-children – Mykyala, Deolin, Keeval, Junaid and Samuel. Nelson will also be missed very dearly by his surviving siblings – Ambiga, Sadha, Nanda, Sydney, Kistamma Violet and Natchthramma Childie, sister-in-laws – Thyna, Devi and Vasantha, one brother-in-law – Sunny Kumarasamy Chetty – and 15 nephews and nieces. One of his nieces – Vanisha Cookie Govender – who is now settled in Perth, Australia with her family was taken aback when she was informed of Nelson’s passing yesterday. In a message to the family, she wrote: “I will always remember Nelson Mamha for the fun-loving person he was. Always smiling, no matter what adversity he was going through. May his soul rest in peace. Om Nama Shivaya.” One of the nephews, Michael “Henry” Kumarasamy, who is settled in New Zealand also sent a message of condolences to the entire family. Another nephew, Vivian “Mamba” Subramoney, who is now settled at Sun City, north of Pretoria, sent this message: “Very saddened by the passing of Uncle Nelson. Massive loss to the Subramoney family. Prayers and thoughts are with all the family members during this trying time. Please pass our condolences to Auntie Mala and the rest of the family. Jai Sai Raam.” Similar messages were sent by extended members of the Muniamma family, Mrs Paddy White, who is now settled in England; and Mrs Aveshnie Moodley, who is now settled in Germany with her family. One of Nelson’s very close extended family members, Ms Aster Reddy, who was unable to attend the funeral because she was recuperating in hospital, also sent a message to the family.

(SISTER KISTAMMA VIOLET WITH NELSON AND ASTER) NELSON'S SISTER, KISTAMMA VIOLET AND HER HUSBAND, SUNNY KUMARASAMY CHETTY, ALSO RENDERED TAMIL CHRISTIAN SONGS AS THEIR WAY OF REMEMBERING THEIR BROTHER. Nelson’s sad passing has come at a time when the Subramoney family along with other members of the extended Muniamma family is busy finalising arrangements for the launch of the Family’s History Book on Saturday, April 28. Nelson was looking forward to the launch and recently when we visited him he had requested that we must set aside at least seven places for his family to attend. He will be missed at the launch of our Family History Book. In closing my tribute to our dear brother, who was also a husband, father and grand-father, I want to say that Nelson will always be part of us. The following phrase by American author, Helen Keller, aptly applies to Nelson: “What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” Finally, on behalf of the Subramoney family, I want to express our sincere and deepest gratitude to Mala for being there with Nelson at all times. I also want to thank neighbours who were like one big family to Nelson. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com