Military doctor (80) still serving selflessly

COLONEL Dr Devanathan Veeran Perumal began his journey in political activism when he was only 16 years old. He was driven by a passion to fight for the rights of people during the apartheid era.

- NADIA.KHAN

The now 80-year-old of Mount Edgecombe, who was exiled, later became a medical doctor and served in the then SA Defence Force (now the SANDF).

Childhood

Perumal, who hails from Derby Street in central Durban, was born on August 26, 1944.

He is one of 11 children, to parents Veeran, a barman, and Gengama, a housewife.

"I had a wonderful childhood, especially with my siblings. I had seven brothers and three sisters. I never felt alone. We spent hours playing outside together and exploring the city."

Education

He attended the then Hindu Tamil Government Aided Indian School from Class 1 to Standard 6 (Grade 8). He thereafter attended Clairwood High School in Standard 7 (Grade 9). However, he transferred to Sastri College mid-year.

Political activism

Perumal said he was exposed to politics as a boy.

"Since we lived in central Durban, we witnessed the big meetings in Red Square, Curries Fountain and Lakhani Chambers. At the time, these were the meeting points for the Natal Indian Congress, Natal Indian Youth Congress, Congress of Trade Unions and the ANC.

"When I was in Standard 6, my elder brother George took me to a meeting held by the Natal Indian Youth Congress. From then I was drawn into politics. Once I joined, I started attending meetings regularly and became actively involved. At the weekends, I went out with them to the townships, distributed anti-government pamphlets and spoke to the people. We also went out at night and did slogan-painting. I also joined the protests."

Perumal said he was first arrested in the early 1960s.