Archive: November 2023

Dad used to work as a waiter back then and Mum worked in a shoe factory, earning small salaries that could barely cover the household bills. We would often try to watch the neighbour’s TV through a small gap in the fence until we were spotted, and the door would slam in our faces. Some days, we found ourselves without electricity and had to study using a very small candle, and it was not due to load shedding.

Our parents always enforced that we get a good education as this would help us to get better jobs. Though, I often ponder whether this was really true, as my strong values got me to where I am now. Looking back, I see value in education, but I didn’t do well at school and still managed to become successful.

As far back as I can remember, South Africa was going through something called Apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was enforced from 1948 to the early 1990s. The term “apartheid” is an Afrikaans word meaning “apartness.” Racial classification determined where individuals could live, work, and receive education. Non-white individuals were required to carry passbooks that contained personal information and proof of permission to be in certain areas.

These were called Dompass, literally meaning the “stupid pass” or domestic passport. These laws restricted our movement and employment opportunities.

Once when I was about fourteen years old, I recall being beaten with a baton by a white Afrikaner policeman because I was in the city center after curfew. His baton was made of thick, hard plastic and could cause bruising or even more severe wounds, including bone fractures, nerve or muscle damage, and internal injuries. Luckily, my muscles took the impact.

Still, to this day, being an Indian in South Africa is extremely difficult as we are always in the middle and lose many benefits through various systems implemented by the government. As an Indian, it feels like we fell through the gaps in society and do not have access to the same opportunities. We are either not Black enough or not White enough. It’s a sad state of affairs, but we do our best to become successful.

Nothing will hold us back as we believe in our God-given potential.

How did I transform you may ask? I made the decision to become the best version of myself!

~Nolan Pillay~ My Website

The alarm clock went off. It was 5 AM, cold and dark. Some mornings, I was so unmotivated to move, I was even in tears, wishing I could lay in my warm floor bed a little longer. But we didn’t have a choice; our survival depended on me getting out of bed.

As a 10-year-old Indian boy, my siblings and I used to go out early every morning selling Indian delicacies, including the most delicious Samoosa’s that our mum used to make. Life was very simple back then. If you did not make a sale, it just meant we would not have money to buy groceries for our supper or lunch the next day. I remember times when dinner was just a glass of water or a cup of tea. My stomach would growl with hunger, but I blocked it out of my mind as there was no other option.

There was a mixture of pride and shame when we went out. I noticed the judgment on people’s faces when they opened the door to me with my basket of delicacies in hand, ready to be sold. Yet, I was glad to be helping my family. The excitement when making a sale was so fulfilling that it motivated us to venture out daily. It was a proud moment, and we all celebrated together.

Our family was made up of 7, including Mum, Dad, 2 sisters, and 3 brothers. We also had a few dogs through the years. Our home was a 1-bedroom brick house with the lounge made into a bedroom for the children, divided by a makeshift curtain and a bedsheet on a string. The toilets were outside, a few meters away, so we had to brave the trip, no matter the weather. Our wash basin was a small steel bowl, and charcoal was toothpaste for us when we could not afford the luxury.

Life was not easy in South Africa, but we were grateful that we had our family together.

As a young boy, I recall some days going to school with torn shoes or no jersey on a bitter, rainy day. Other children used to make fun of us all the time…something people call bullying these days. It was hurtful, and it took a lot of courage not to start fighting those mean kids. We knew what would happen if we did, getting into fights would mean a beating from our parents and from the school principal, so we did not take the risk and accepted what came our way.

Today, when I look back on my life, I feel so proud as an Indian man who continued my pursuit of becoming the best version of myself, amidst all the obstacles and challenges along the journey.

Life is a blessing in disguise…my transformation continues, so can yours!

~Nolan Pillay~ My Website

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Much Love and Light, Nolan