Child martyr honoured

TAMIL scholar, radio show host and author Mala Lutchmanan will today share her latest book, Valliamma – A Child Soldier of South Africa’s Freedom at the Made in Chatsworth Market at Depot Road Memorial Primary School, Chatsworth.

Lutchmanan has travelled to India and Malaysia promoting the book.

It takes readers through the life and tragic death of Valliamma Munuswami, the peace activist, who died at the age of 16. Valliamma lived between 1898 and 1914 and fought unjust laws including the Anti-asiatic Law, aimed at forcefully segregating Indians, disallowing them to move freely and forbidding them from operating businesses from a place of their choice.

Valliamma became a child activist and garnered support against unjust laws. She was often beaten and hounded by police, but was resolute.

She joined a group of women, travelling on foot from the then Transvaal to Natal, courting arrest and facing life-threatening diseases, lack of food and water, and little sleep.

In spite of these challenges, Valliamma stood at the forefront, and created awareness among the mine and plantation workers and encouraged mass mobilisation for the truth. She was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour on September 23, 1913.

Valliamma was eventually released after falling ill and she died on February 22, 1914 – on her birth anniversary.

Lutchmanan said: “Valliamma fought for the freedom of our country. My intention in writing the book was to make the Tamil diaspora and the world at large see that we had a South African-born child soldier, a contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi, who fought for the freedom of all South Africans.

“I hope Valliamma’s history and struggles are now known by all, and her memory etched in our history.”

Kiru Naidoo, director of the Durban Book Fair, said the community book launch formed part of a broader Heritage Month programme being hosted today at the Made in Chatsworth Market.