Sathiseelan Gurilingam "Ronnie" GovenderOIS (16 May 1934 – 29 April 2021) was a South African playwright, theatre director and activist known for his community theatre efforts. He was known as a pioneer of Indian South African theatre in the country. Some of his notable works included Black Chin White Chin, Song of the Atman, and At the Edge and Other Cato Manor Stories. At the Edge won the 1997 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for best first book, Africa.
Govender received the government of South Africa's Order of Ikhamanga in 2008 for his contributions to democracy, peace and justice in the country through theatre.
Sathiseelan Gurilingam Govender was born on 16 May 1934[1] in Cato Manor, an Indian neighbourhood of Durban.[2] His father was also born in Cato Manor, while his mother was born in Fynnlands, another part of Durban. His grandparents on both sides of the family came from South India. After completing their term of indenture, his grandparents settled in Cato Manor. Like other Indian families in South Africa, they bought a small plot of land to grow vegetables. His maternal grandfather became a court interpreter. His father was a truck driver and his mother a housewife. Govender had ten brothers and sisters.[2]
Careeredit
After finishing his primary and secondary education, Govender began studying at the University of Cape Town (UCT), and took on a job as a sportswriter for the New Age to pay his fees.[2] In line with the paper's stance against apartheid, Govender encouraged the Indian community to boycott segregated sporting events.[3] However, the newspaper was closed by the authorities one year after Govender joined. Unable to support himself in Cape Town, he returned to Durban and entered Springfield Training College to become a teacher.[2]
After he became a teacher, Govender began his career as a writer. His first play Beyond Calvary (1962) received praise from critics.[4] In 1964, with Muthal Naidoo and Bennie Bersee,[5] he founded a theatre company called the Shah Theatre Academy in opposition to the liberal theatre of the day.[6] He went on to write other plays, including The Lahnee's Pleasure (1972),[7] one of South Africa's longest-running plays.[8] Although Govender received invitations to tour The Lahnee's Pleasure abroad and in mainstream South African theatres, he refused as part of the cultural boycott of apartheid. His short story collection At the Edge and Other Cato Manor Stories won the 1997 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for best first book, Africa.[2] The book built on stories from his childhood growing up in Cato Manor, an Indian neighbourhood of Durban. The book was later adapted to a one-woman performance portrayed by actress Jailoshini Naidoo.[9] The play 1949 (1994), also based on Govender's childhood in Cato Manor, discusses the life of the Indian community in South Africa following the Group Areas Act.[10] His 2007 book Black Chin White Chin was shortlisted for the 2007 Commonwealth Prize.[11] Critics have described Govender's writing style as unadorned, and have said that his works evoke the identity of the Indian community with its vitality, humour, and resilience in a difficult environment. His works have been considered important in constructing the South African national identity.[10][12]
The South African government awarded him the Order of Ikhamanga in 2008 "for [his] excellent contribution to democracy and justice in South Africa through the genre of theatre".[13] In 2014, the Durban University of Technology also awarded Govender an honorary doctorate "for his contribution to literature and the arts in general as well as his contribution to democracy, peace and justice in South Africa through theatre".[2]
^Hansen, Thomas Blom (2000). "Plays, Politics and Cultural Identity among Indians in Durban". Journal of Southern African Studies. 26 (2): 259. doi:10.1080/03057070050010101. ISSN 0305-7070. JSTOR 2637493. S2CID 145407397. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
^Moodley, Janine (26 April 2018). "Friends for 50 years: Ali pays tribute to Essop Khan". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
^. The Hindu. 13 August 2009. Archived from the original on 16 August 2009.
^ ab"Legendary activist and playwright Ronnie Govender has died". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
^ abBose, Neilesh (4 May 2015). "Performing History and Constructing 'Culture': Ronnie Govender's 1949 and the Romanticism of Historical Memory". African Studies. 74 (2): 235–246. doi:10.1080/00020184.2015.1045716. ISSN 0002-0184. S2CID 162011336.
^Chatterjee, M.N. (2008). "Review of Black Chin, White Chin". Indian Literature. 52 (5 (247)): 197. ISSN 0019-5804. JSTOR 23348373. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
Jailoshini Naidoo performing 'At The Edge' and Other Cato Manor Stories (2014)
Premiere of "At the Edge" (1990)
January 01, 1970
ronnie, govender, sathiseelan, gurilingam, ronnie, govender, 1934, april, 2021, south, african, playwright, theatre, director, activist, known, community, theatre, efforts, known, pioneer, indian, south, african, theatre, country, some, notable, works, include. Sathiseelan Gurilingam Ronnie Govender OIS 16 May 1934 29 April 2021 was a South African playwright theatre director and activist known for his community theatre efforts He was known as a pioneer of Indian South African theatre in the country Some of his notable works included Black Chin White Chin Song of the Atman and At the Edge and Other Cato Manor Stories At the Edge won the 1997 Commonwealth Writers Prize for best first book Africa Ronnie GovenderOISBornSathiseelan Gurilingam Govender 1934 05 16 16 May 1934Durban Natal Union of South AfricaDied29 April 2021 2021 04 29 aged 86 OccupationPlaywright and theatre directorLanguageEnglishNotable worksAt the Edge and other Cato Manor StoriesBlack Chin White ChinNotable awardsOrder of Ikhamanga Category II Silver Govender received the government of South Africa s Order of Ikhamanga in 2008 for his contributions to democracy peace and justice in the country through theatre Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Works 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editSathiseelan Gurilingam Govender was born on 16 May 1934 1 in Cato Manor an Indian neighbourhood of Durban 2 His father was also born in Cato Manor while his mother was born in Fynnlands another part of Durban His grandparents on both sides of the family came from South India After completing their term of indenture his grandparents settled in Cato Manor Like other Indian families in South Africa they bought a small plot of land to grow vegetables His maternal grandfather became a court interpreter His father was a truck driver and his mother a housewife Govender had ten brothers and sisters 2 Career editAfter finishing his primary and secondary education Govender began studying at the University of Cape Town UCT and took on a job as a sportswriter for the New Age to pay his fees 2 In line with the paper s stance against apartheid Govender encouraged the Indian community to boycott segregated sporting events 3 However the newspaper was closed by the authorities one year after Govender joined Unable to support himself in Cape Town he returned to Durban and entered Springfield Training College to become a teacher 2 After he became a teacher Govender began his career as a writer His first play Beyond Calvary 1962 received praise from critics 4 In 1964 with Muthal Naidoo and Bennie Bersee 5 he founded a theatre company called the Shah Theatre Academy in opposition to the liberal theatre of the day 6 He went on to write other plays including The Lahnee s Pleasure 1972 7 one of South Africa s longest running plays 8 Although Govender received invitations to tour The Lahnee s Pleasure abroad and in mainstream South African theatres he refused as part of the cultural boycott of apartheid His short story collection At the Edge and Other Cato Manor Stories won the 1997 Commonwealth Writers Prize for best first book Africa 2 The book built on stories from his childhood growing up in Cato Manor an Indian neighbourhood of Durban The book was later adapted to a one woman performance portrayed by actress Jailoshini Naidoo 9 The play 1949 1994 also based on Govender s childhood in Cato Manor discusses the life of the Indian community in South Africa following the Group Areas Act 10 His 2007 book Black Chin White Chin was shortlisted for the 2007 Commonwealth Prize 11 Critics have described Govender s writing style as unadorned and have said that his works evoke the identity of the Indian community with its vitality humour and resilience in a difficult environment His works have been considered important in constructing the South African national identity 10 12 The South African government awarded him the Order of Ikhamanga in 2008 for his excellent contribution to democracy and justice in South Africa through the genre of theatre 13 In 2014 the Durban University of Technology also awarded Govender an honorary doctorate for his contribution to literature and the arts in general as well as his contribution to democracy peace and justice in South Africa through theatre 2 Personal life editHis daughter Pregs Govender is a human rights activist and former South African member of parliament 14 Govender died on 29 April 2021 from age related illnesses He was 86 9 Works editAn Edition of the Collected Plays of Ronnie Govender University of Natal 1991 The Lahnee s Pleasure Ravan Press 1992 ISBN 978 0 86975 087 2 At the Edge and Other Cato Manor Stories Manx 1996 Song of the Atman Jacana Media 2006 ISBN 978 17 7009 186 3 Interplay A Collection of South African Plays MANX 2006 ISBN 978 1 919690 97 1 Black Chin White Chin HarperCollins 2007 ISBN 978 81 7223 690 8 In the Manure Memories and Reflections David Philip 2008 ISBN 978 0 86486 720 9References edit Ngcoya Zama 7 June 2023 prolific writer and activist ronnie govender hailed as instrumental in fight for liberation a b c d e f Ronnie Govender South African History Online www sahistory org za Retrieved 29 April 2021 Krueger Anton 8 June 2008 Recording a petulant soul The Mail amp Guardian Retrieved 29 April 2021 Ronnie Govender South Africa Centre for Creative Arts University of KwaZulu Natal 19 March 2007 Archived from the original on 14 October 2008 Retrieved 30 April 2021 Orkin Martin 1991 Drama and the South African State Manchester University Press pp 120 ISBN 0 7190 2576 1 OCLC 23752813 Hansen Thomas Blom 2000 Plays Politics and Cultural Identity among Indians in Durban Journal of Southern African Studies 26 2 259 doi 10 1080 03057070050010101 ISSN 0305 7070 JSTOR 2637493 S2CID 145407397 Retrieved 29 April 2021 Moodley Janine 26 April 2018 Friends for 50 years Ali pays tribute to Essop Khan www iol co za Retrieved 29 April 2021 Collection of plays from South Asian diaspora The Hindu 13 August 2009 Archived from the original on 16 August 2009 a b Legendary activist and playwright Ronnie Govender has died www iol co za Retrieved 29 April 2021 a b Bose Neilesh 4 May 2015 Performing History and Constructing Culture Ronnie Govender s 1949 and the Romanticism of Historical Memory African Studies 74 2 235 246 doi 10 1080 00020184 2015 1045716 ISSN 0002 0184 S2CID 162011336 Chatterjee M N 2008 Review of Black Chin White Chin Indian Literature 52 5 247 197 ISSN 0019 5804 JSTOR 23348373 Retrieved 29 April 2021 Chetty Rajendra 2017 At the edge the writings of Ronnie Govender New York Peter Lang ISBN 978 1 4331 4642 8 OCLC 1015309682 National Orders awards 28 October 2008 Government of South Africa Retrieved 1 May 2021 Pregs Govender Literary Tourism www literarytourism co za Retrieved 22 November 2014 External links editInterview for the Voices of Resistance project 2002 at the University of Durban Westville Excerpt from Brothers of the Spirit 1996 Jailoshini Naidoo performing At The Edge and Other Cato Manor Stories 2014 Premiere of At the Edge 1990 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ronnie Govender amp oldid 1213323099, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
