In Memoriam of Dr. P.N. Govender

7 October 1929 - 16 November 2024

A Tribute to Dr. P. N. Govender (1929-2024)

By Jerald Vedan

Today, as we mark the arrival of the first Indian indentured labourers to Natal in 1860, we mourn the passing of a legend who epitomized the strength, resilience, and service that this community has come to symbolize. Dr. P. N. Govender, at the age of 95, departed from this world, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

A distinguished medical professional, Dr. Govender served the community with dedication, embodying compassion and excellence in his field. His profound sense of duty extended beyond the walls of his practice, where he often reached out to the marginalized and needy, ensuring that healthcare was not a privilege but a right accessible to all.

In addition to his service as a healer, Dr. Govender was a prolific author. Among his many contributions to literature, his book "The Legend of the Tides" stands out as a masterpiece, weaving narratives that reflect the struggles and triumphs of the Indian diaspora. Through his writings, he preserved the heritage, struggles, and accomplishments of his community, ensuring that their stories would not be forgotten.

Dr. Govender was also a proud son of the Padavattan lineage, inheriting the legacy of the Padavattan brothers of Umgeni Rescue fame. These brothers, through their heroic deeds, etched their names in the annals of South African history, and Dr. Govender carried forward their spirit of courage and service. His family values were deeply rooted in unity, compassion, and perseverance, which he nurtured in his role as a devoted patriarch.

As we reflect on his remarkable life, we recognize the symmetry of his passing on such a symbolic day underscoring his deep connection to the history and heritage of Indians in South Africa. His contributions to medicine, literature, and the community are immeasurable, and his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those who had the privilege of knowing him.

Dr. P. N. Govender’s life was a testament to the enduring power of service, family, and heritage. May his soul rest in peace, and may his memory continue to inspire us to strive for excellence and humanity in all that we do.

Hamba Kahle, Dr. P. N. Govender

(Posted on Facebook)

Beyond the Stethoscope

by Dr P N Govender

The good doctor was busy; the queue stretched quite a way.

The 86 year old was not using his stethoscope this holiday morning of reconciliation; he was autographing copies of his book about being a township doctor even before the launch began.

I sat between Professor Y K Seedat and Professor Jerry Coovadia. I was flanked by their wives including Dr Zubeida Hamid. We had a very interesting chat about the state of the nation 🇿🇦 before the launch, proper, began.

Educationist Mr Gordhan was there as well as many luminaries like Dr Ismail Vawda (the surgeon), Mac Maharaj, Githa Panday (the history teacher), as well as Don and his wife Premie.

PN is a heart-warming raconteur. He spoke about his early days in Port Shepstone and Umzinto as a teacher. Afterwards, a person I ate lunch with told me that P N was very popular and the principal at Umzinto would not let him go when PN found a teaching post in Durban.

So, PN resigned and was admitted to the Black medical faculty at Natal University.

There were 4 members of the class of 1964 there. In 1966 (the year Verwoerd was assassinated), the varlets of Apartheid decided that African doctors must earn less than Indian or Coloured doctors. P N told us that expletives come easily to him as he comes from fisherfolk stock.

Interestingly, I have never heard him being profane.

Anyway, it seems that PN was not spineless and three doctors were summoned to the office of the medical superintendent. They were summarily fired. P N described how the secretary to the super told them that they were in trouble. When one is in the power of evil, it is horrible.

PN had two small children and a wife.

They made arrangements to leave to Canada. They had photographs taken for passports etc but they only got as far as Merebank.

The Apartheid township had a population of about 30 000. It was very near Louis Botha airport and the oil refinery. The pollution, both auditory and in the air, was a perpetual problem that impeded the subjugated.

The lounge of a home became a waiting room, and a carpenter (who is still alive) created cubicles for the Practice.

Shopping centres were only an afterthought with the racist, illegitimate, Neo Nazi tyrants.

P N told us many interesting stories about his time as a medical doctor. One of his patients was arrested and got badly beaten up by the Special Branch. They had mistaken him for a human rights activist.

It was heartening to see so many friends, family, colleagues, and long-time patients there. They were given the opportunity to speak about the good doctor. And they did.

They spoke about his kindness, his dedication, and his ability as a medical practitioner. Some of them had been his patients for more than 40 years.

One patient mentioned Mrs Singh, a receptionist from the early days, whom, he said, had been very good to them. Dr Govender's first receptionist was his wife.

At the end, one slim lady came to the front and whispered to P N.

Then she spoke to us about how P N had diagnosed her dextrocardia. Her liver and stomach are transposed. She is 83 years old. We gave the doctor and patients a huge round of applause.

Yugen Naidoo dramatised excerpts of the book in his hilarious way and had us guffawing.

I thought that I would buy the book after lunch but the books were sold out. I was on my way to my car when I was called back by Angie, who works at the Meremed clinic. She had managed to scrounge a copy of the precious book.

Dr P N Govender autographed the tome.

Thank you, Neelan. Your book might not have been published by a mainstream publisher, but you have contributed enormously to the documenting and the preserving of the heritage of our traumatised, often cruel and discriminatory country.

South Africa 🇿🇦 owes its transformation and its very existence to citizens like the good people of this Govender family.

2015 Memoir

Dr Deena Padayachee