Feeding our children: the extraordinary life of Hare Krishna devotee Kasopersad Heeralal

FOR over three decades, 78-year-old Kasopersad Heeralal has dedicated his life to feeding hungry children through Food for Life South Africa.

- NADIA KHAN

HEERALAL, kneeling, second from right, with his colleagues while working as an earthing and lightning protection technician.

From his humble beginnings as the descendant of indentured labourers to becoming a respected lightning protection expert working for local leaders, Heeralal's story is one of service, perseverance and faith.

Now featured in a new book documenting South African Indian history, his remarkable journey shows how one man's dedication can impact thousands of lives.

Indentured history

Born in Springfield on August 20 in 1947, Heeralal said his paternal great-grand-parents and grandparents were from India, and worked at a sugar mill in Mount Edgecombe.

He said his maternal great-grandpar-ents were also from India. His maternal grandfather, who was born in South Africa, worked as a gardener.

Heeralal said his father, Heeralal Feerungee, worked as a driver for Natal Coke and Coal, and later became a self-employed builder. His mother, Kalis-pathi, was a housewife.

Childhood memories

Heeralal, the fourth of 10 children, said one of his fondest memories was “taking the cows to the dip”.

“I must have been about 6 years old when I started helping the Maharaj family take their cows to the dip, which was a long stream with chemicals used to kill fleas and ticks. Under British rule, the cows had to be dipped. I remember it cost one tickey (threepence) per cow.

“This was also quite exciting for the children because we led the cows. However, it was quite a long walk. While walking to the dip, we climbed various fruit trees such as mangoes and avocados, along the way.

“As a boy, I spent hours splashing around in the river. It is where I learnt to swim.”

Heeralal said he helped his paternal grandparents who were subsistence farmers.