A 60 YEAR JOURNEY
YEAR
AGE
MILESTONE
1959
0
Born at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital, Umlazi. Lived in Malagazi, Isipingo
1960
1
1961
2
1962
3
1963
4
Moved to Merebank
1964
5
1965
6
Commenced primary schooling at Alipore Road Primary, Merebank
1966
7
Moved to Westcliff (Unit 3) Chatsworth. Enrolled at Lotus Primary School
1967
8
1968
9
Moved to Actonville, Benoni. Enrolled at Actonville Primary
1969
10
1970
11
1971
12
1972
13
Started High School career at William Hills Secondary School
1973
14
1974
15
1975
16
1976
17
Completed Matric but only wrote final exams the following year due to illness.
Underwent appendectomy surgery at Boksburg/Benoni Hospital
1977
18
Started work at Table Top Frozen Foods, Olifantsfontein – Cold Room Supervisor and Driver
1978
19
Started teacher training at Transvaal College of Education (TCE)
1979
20
Enrolled and graduated with a Journalism Diploma from Union College
1980
21
Graduated with an Education Diploma Underwent surgeries, “Vagotomy and Pyloraplasty” and Roux-en-Y at Coronation Hospital.
1981
22
Commenced teaching career at William Hills Primary which later changed to Liverpool Secondary.
1982
23
Commenced training and appointed as a Life Line Counsellor for the next 15 years.
1983
24
1984
25
Father passed away this year.
Underwent Roux-en-Y surgery at Coronation Hospital
1985
26
Married Nirmala at the Benoni Town Hall
1986
27
Daughter Nameshni born at Marymount Hospital
Founded “Project Talk” to prepare youth for imminent transformation.
1987
28
Underwent Revision Gasterectomy surgery at Parklands Hospital, Johannesburg.
1988
29
Appointed as Secretary of the Teachers Association of South Africa (TASA) East Rand Branch
1989
30
Appointed as Secretary of the Teachers Association of South Africa (TASA) East Rand Branch
1990
31
Transferred to William Hills Secondary as Acting HOD (Humanities)
1991
32
Organised a Glad-a-thon – Major clean-up of Actonville. Won First prize in a National TV Competition for this as well as First Prize by the Keep South Africa Beautiful Association for the same project.
Co-ordinated the transformation of TASA to SADTU in the Transvaal
1992
33
Promoted as Head of Department (Humanities) at Lenasia Secondary School
Elected as Vice-Chairperson of the Alpha Primary School Governing Body
Represented South Africa in a Rotary Group Study Exchange Programme visiting the South of France for six weeks
1993
34
Received the Junior Chamber “Four Outstanding Young South Africans” Award (FOYSA) for outstanding community work.
Finalist in the Post Natal/Impressions Young Achiever Award for Community Work and Social responsibility.
Graduated with a BA Degree at UNISA
1994
35
Promoted as Assistant Director: Cultural Affairs at the KZN Department of Education and Culture
Nominated for the Junior Chamber World’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award (TOYP) for Humanitarian and Voluntary Leadership
Presented a paper at the World Tamil Conference in Thanjavur, India
1995
36
Received an award from Rotary Chatsworth for Community Service
Appointed as Chairperson of Willow Park Primary School Governing Body
Appointed as the Provincial Representative of the Arts and Culture Task Group (ACTAG) to develop an Arts and Culture Policy for the new South Africa.
Appointed as Secretary of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Education and Culture Project Task Group – Responsible for the unification and structuring of arts and culture service for all ex departments.
1996
37
Visited America on the invitation of the US Government on the International Visitors Programme (IVP) to study the American System of Education, Arts and Culture Administration and Minority Cultures
Appointed as Chairperson of the Chatsmed Garden Hospital Community Liaison Committee
Appointed as a Committee Member of the Central Co-Ordinating Committee for Arts and Culture by the National Department of Arts and Culture.
Appointed as a Committee Member for the Sterling Resorts Scholarships Trust to coordinate International Cultural Exchange Programmes.
Recipient of the Junior Chamber Achiever Award for Community Work
Represented South Africa at the 4th International Convention of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) held in Mauritius
1997
38
My son Keiyuren born at St. Augustine’s Hospital. Fortunate to have someone to carry the name of our family as I am the only son.
Appointed as a Playhouse Company Board Member
Appointed as Secretary General of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)
Coordinator of the 5th International Convention for the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) held at the ICC, Durban
Appointed as Commissioner to facilitate South Africa’s participation in the 9th Triennial which was held in New Delhi
Represented South Africa at the World Tamil Conference held in Thanjavur, South India
1998
39
Appointed as Chairperson Falcon Park Primary School Governing Body
Represented South Africa at the Conference on Ancient Traditions and Cultures held in Mumbai
Conducted lectures for Post-Graduate students and Academics at the Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture
1999
40
Graduated with a BA (Honours) at Natal University
Appointed as the Provincial Co-ordinator of the Fullbright-Hays International Fellowship Programme
Delivered a Paper at the 6th International Islamic Tamil Literacy Conference held in Chennai
2000
41
Appointed as Chairperson Kharwastan Secondary School Governing Body
2001
42
Promoted to Deputy Director; Cultural Affairs – KZN Department of Arts and Culture
Appointed as Vice Chairperson of the Wentworth Hospital Board
2002
43
Graduated with a MA (isiZulu & Social Anthropology ) Cum Laude – University of Durban-Westville
2003
44
Awarded a Diploma in Project Management with Distinction – Executive Education
Represented South Africa at the Pravasi Bharatiar Conference for Indian Diaspora in New Delhi
2004
45
Awarded a Diploma in Financial Management – University of Cape Town
Represented South Africa at the 3rd International Conference on Cultural Policy Research held in Montreal, Canada
2005
46
Promoted to Director: Arts and Culture( Southern Region) – KZN Department of Arts and Culture
Appointed as Provincial Coordinator of the National Arts and Culture Review Process
Awarded a Ford Foundation International Fellowship to conduct post-graduate work towards a PhD
2006
47
Appointed as Secretary of the Ford Foundation Alumni Association
2007
48
Underwent Spincterotomy surgery at Chatsmed Garden Hospital
2008
49
Graduated with a PhD in Social Anthropology and IsiZulu at UKZN. Officially bestowed with the title of Doctor.
Awarded a Certificate of Leadership and Management – Public Service Academy
Appointed as Chairperson of the Ford Foundation Alumni Association for two terms
Coordinated the United Nations 50th Anniversary Celebrations
2009
50
Appointed as a consultant with the World Bank to prepare a brief on Sustainable Cultural Industries in South Africa
Recipient of the MEC’s Award for the Most Outstanding Official in the KZN Department of Arts and Culture
Represented South Africa at the Africa Regional Conference on Leadership and Social Justice organised by Ford Foundation in Dakar, Senegal. At the Conference appointed as Secretary General of the Africa Regional Association for Leadership and Social Justice (ARALS)
2010
51
Visited Turkey on the invitation of the Turquoise Harmony Institute as part of a cultural exchange programme.
Appointed as Acting Chief Director: Cultural Affairs – KZN Department of Arts and Culture
Appointed as Co-ordinator of the Cultural Segment of the African Renaissance Conference held at the ICC, Durban
2011
52
Visited Turkey for the second time on the invitation of the Turquoise Harmony Institute as part of a cultural exchange programme.
2012
53
Underwent a Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgical procedure at the Chatsmed Garden Hospital
Recipient of the Love to Live – Nelson Mandela Peace Award for Community Development
2013
54
Successfully found my ancestral village in India during a visit there. The outcome was that my paternal grandparents, Thiruvengada and Valliamma Pillay originated from the village, Siruvallur near the town of Polur in Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu
Appointed as Vice –Chairperson of the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital Board
2014
55
Recipient of the KZN Business Award for the Best Run Government Department for Social Cohesion and Nation Building
2015
56
Recipient of the KZN Business Award for the second year running for the Best Run Government Department for Social Cohesion and Nation Building
Won First Prize in the Lotus FM Lyric Writing Competition for a song that was dedicated to Nelson Mandela
2016
57
Awarded a Certificate in IsiZulu – University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
Underwent a Cholecystectomy surgical procedure at the Chatsmed Garden Hospital
Awarded a Ford Foundation International Fellowship Grant to conduct research to develop a leadership programme for ten African countries at Columbia University, New York
2017
58
Appointed as an accredited Programme Facilitator by the National School of Government
Founded “Prioritizing Education Now” (PEN) an organization that provided stationery and uniforms to disadvantaged learners.
Appointed as Vice-Chairman of the “Social Justice Advocacy Campaign” (SOJAC) an organization formed to address social injustices on a global scale.
2018
59
Represented South Africa at the International Delhi Craft Exhibition on the invitation of the Indian Government
Visited Siruvallur, my ancestral Village during a vacation in India to establish relationships with extended family members.
Appointed as Africa Co-ordinator of Devlok, the World’s first Spiritual Theme Park situated in Tirupati, India
Invited as Guest Speaker at the Mridangam Arengetram (Graduation) of Jayandran Moodley which took place at the Vani Mahal, Chennai, India
Underwent major gastric reconstruction surgery ( Adesiolysis, Revision of the roux-en-y, gastroesteroplasty, entero enterostomy and the lengthening of the elementary line) at the Ahmed Al Kadi Hospital
Awarded a Certificate in Leading Innovation in the Public Service by the National School of Government Service Academy
Awarded a certificate for Social Cohesion and Moral Regeneration by the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
2019
60
Invited to do a presentation of Devlok at the Rise Business Conference in Malaysia
Appointed as the Africa coordinator to recruit medical students for the Cyberjaya School of Medical Sciences in Malaysia.
Underwent a second Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgical procedure at Ahmed Al Kadi Hospital
Appointed as convenor of the Tamil Business Warriors (TBW) Business conference held at the Emperor’s Palace Convention Centre, Gauteng
Awarded with a Special Recognition Award by TBW in recognition of unassuming, selfless and yeomen contribution to the community at the TBW Gala Dinner and Awards function
Awarded a certificate for “Train the Trainers for the Public Service : eFacilitation by the National School of Government
Awarded an accredited certificate for Monitoring and Evaluation – Arishi Institute of Skills Development and Training
Awarded an accredited certificate for Change Management by Primeserv Training and Development
Appointed as Vice-Chairperson of the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital Board for the third term.
Appointed as Africa Coordinator of the Swarved Maha Mandir Dham, the world’s largest meditation centre in Varanasi, India. Appointment was made at a meeting held in Melbourne, Australia
Retired from Public Service after close to 40 years of unbroken service as a Public Servant
Commencement of a new Journey in 2020 as a registered consultant with my own company, “Mzansi Empowerment Enterprise” to focus on skills development, training, research development, facilitation, project management, and diversity management