A marble memorial bust of Dr Keiseveloo Goonrathnam Naidoo, fondly known as Dr Goonam, will be unveiled on National Women’s Day, today.
The unveiling is a collaborative effort by the Mount Edgecombe Hindu Trust, the Shri Mariammen Temple Society, and the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council.
The idea to have a bust in memory of Dr Goonam was the brainchild of Seelan Achary, the chairperson of the Shri Mariammen Temple, and the late playwright, Ronnie Govender.
“In 2018, Ronnie and I discussed the idea. He said he wanted to do something to honour Dr Goonam. The idea for the bust was in the pipeline but we had some delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the July 2021 unrest and the floods. It was decided that we should unveil the bust this year,” said Achary.
He said the marble bust was sponsored by the Surendra family from Johannesburg, and it took sculptor Sundra Naidoo just over a month to complete and weighed 24kg.
“We chose to unveil the bust today Women’s Day holds a historic significance for South Africa. The Shri Mariammen Temple Society and Trust took a decision to honour our heroines and heroes, particularly those who fought and gave their lives for our freedom and democracy. In addition to worshipping and revering Mother Mariammen, we decided that we should honour our women leaders; as we have a duty to honour those leaders who came before us.”
Achary said Dr Goonam remained an inspiration.
“She was the first Indian woman to qualify as a doctor. She came from a family that owned a business in Prince Edward Street, which is now named Dr Goonam Street, and she was able to study in Edinburgh in Scotland. Her mentor was the late anti-apartheid activist, Dr Monty Naicker. Dr Goonam fought against colonialism and apartheid. She was jailed 17 times and was exiled. She returned to South Africa in 1990 and voted in the first democratic election in 1994.”
Achary said they initially erected a memorial to honour the Native American Vista to the temple in June 2002.
“Thereafter, we erected the 1860 Memorial Monument to honour the arrival of our forebears from India to Natal; the Sivananda Peace Pillar; and we unveiled a memorial bust of Valliamma Munusamy Mudaliar.”
He said the temple also paid homage to mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers, who kept the home-fires burning, particularly in the kitchen; with a memorial of kitchen items and utensils.
Glenda Surendra said her family sponsored the bust because Dr Goonam was an inspiration for all women, making sure their voices were heard and respected.
“Women from all cultures are faced with adversities on a daily basis, yet we push forward. As women need to break barriers and empower those that need it most by means of kindness, support for each other and above all love.”
Neermala Thool, the chairperson of the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council, said the unveiling was an opportunity to celebrate women who shaped South Africa’s history.
“Through this monument, we are celebrating Dr Goonam’s triumphs and hardships. I am a teacher and there are no books celebrating the Indian struggle heroes. It is only the Mahatma Gandhi story that is highlighted. The bust will teach children about the contributions Dr Goonam made. If we don’t tell our Indian stories, who will?”
Dr Goonam’s daughter, Dr Vanitha Chetty, will be present at the unveiling.