By Brijlall Ramguthee
Durban: A great philanthropist. A humanitarian. A good-hearted person. That’s what his first name, Deenadayalan, means, when translated from Hindi.
It was perhaps the last that epitomised our former colleague, Deenadayalan (Deena) Pillay, who succumbed to medical complications, which eventually led to a heart attack, at Parklands Hospital, Durban, on Saturday morning. He was 59.
As we bade farewell to Deena at a crowded Clare Estate Crematorium on Sunday, he lay serenely in his coffin, adorned with, among others, a moustache (he was often clean shaven with occasional sprouting), and would no doubt have offered a chuckle or two, had he been alive, as speakers delivered their eulogies.
A series of health problems eventually led to him being medically boarded in June 2018. But before then, he was a livewire, an integral part of the POST newsroom since 1991, first as a freelance photographer, and then our full-time lensman, after his predecessor, Suren (Puri) Devjee, transferred to the Daily News. Prior to that, Deena ran a fish and chips outlet in Pinetown.
Deena’s photographs spoke a thousand words. One of his most memorable was one where he coaxed a rooster, nogal, to be the main actor in a pre-Comrades picture outside the Durban City Hall, in 1991. This was in response to Comrades runner Max Trimborn, who in 1948, with his energy levels dropping, cupped his hands, filled his lungs, and issued a lusty rooster crow for the start of the Comrades marathon.
Our man, always creative, went one better, and did the real thing (As I quipped in my tribute, he did not share the fate of the rooster, after the picture shoot!).
Deena was, however, determined to move on. After years of accompanying journos, especially newcomers, on their beats to provide both photographic and moral support, and fulfilling all other engagements that required his presence, he sought to try his hand at writing, especially on the sports beat, having been involved in sports development, especially with his beloved Rhythm Cricket Club in Greenwood Park.
He devoted much time and space to non-racial sport, especially Federation soccer, highlighting the stars and others, in his Glory Days weekly feature, which garnered much interest. He thereafter became an integral part of the Fed Legends family, and played no small part, as highlighted by former FPL administrator, Jasper Vurden. For his efforts, Deena became the newspaper’s Sports Editor.
This, though, was not enough for the ambitious Deenadayalan, whose goal was to reach the very top of the newspaper’s hierarchy. He thus became involved in production as well, helping with the proof-reading of pages, especially on deadline Tuesdays, and contributing robustly at news conferences and our weekly planning meetings.
But fate played a cruel hand as Deena suffered from one health setback to another, from cancer to a multitude of problems that eventually led to him being medically boarded. Some of us had the opportunity to share our thoughts when current Editor Aakash Bramdeo and former Editor Yogas Nair, hosted a farewell luncheon for him at the Palki Restaurant, Durban, in October 2019.
I am glad that this was made possible, and for Deena to have had his say as well, in his own, inimitable way, laced with his usual dose of humour.
Deena has certainly left behind nostalgic memories to treasure, one that reflected his life, which he enjoyed thoroughly in good times. He lived for his wife, Alice, whom he eyed from the balcony of our offices on the second floor at Newspaper House, Osborne Street, to where she worked in our Ads department a floor below, often taking breaks to catch a glimpse of her.
They eventually married on June 16, 1996, at the MTSS Hall, Merebank, with mutual friend, Shobna Persadh (now late) being the programme director at the glitzy affair. The union resulted in the birth of their daughter Lushmika, who recently qualified as a dental surgeon, bringing untold joy to both Alice and Deena.
Go well dear Deenadayalan. Thank you for being a pillar to some of us, and always reminding us of your June 16 date with Alice, and, of course, your December 13th birth date which you shared with another colleague, Niyanta Singh, who, along with Ravi Govender and others, paid their due tributes on social media.
There is now literal darkness at your home on Celtic Road, Greenwood Park, and our prayer is for God Almighty to shower your family with light and energy to overcome their loss. Aum Shaanti. Shaanti. Shaanti.
Brijlall Ramguthee, retired editor, POST
The Post