A significant milestone in the celebration of South Africa’s history took place on Saturday afternoon, 28 February, with the official unveiling of a bust honouring Thillaiyadi Valliammai, one of the county’s youngest and bravest freedom fighters.
The ceremony was attended and hosted by officials from the Young Hindu Cultural Service Society (YHCSS), community and religious leaders, and guests. The memorial bust was officially unveiled by Kajan Mudeliar, former vice president of the YHCSS, and sponsored by the Mudeliar family of Ladysmith in memory of N Shunmoogam Mudeliar, a founder member of the Society.
Valliammai’s life and legacy were recounted at the unveiling. Born in Johannesburg to Indian parents, Valliammai joined Mahatma Gandhi’s 1913 Satyagraha movement at the age of 15, challenging the unjust laws and discriminatory measures of the time. Her courage and conviction led to her arrest and imprisonment. Refusing to apologise for her actions, she remained steadfast in her principles, and tragically passed away on her 16th birthday, shortly after her release from incarceration.
The commemoration highlighted the lessons her life offered: Courage in the face of injustice, unity in times of division, and faith in the power of truth. “This bust is more than bronze and stone,” said the organisation’s president Niron Singh.
“It is a reminder to our youth that they too can shape history and that freedom was not freely given it was earned through sacrifice. Women, young and old, have always stood at the forefront of struggle and transformation.”
Valliammai’s sacrifice inspired Gandhi to continue the fight for justice, ultimately contributing to India’s path to independence. The unveiling serves as both a tribute to her bravery and a call to the community to remember the values she embodied.
