Pietermaritzburg is mourning the death of veteran photographer and journalist Soobramoney Yenkiah “Shan” Pillay.
Pillay (88) died on Tuesday, and tributes have been pouring in, remembering him for his contribution to the media fraternity and for his expert Tamil cultural and religious knowledge.
He was known both locally and internationally for his photojournalism skills, which he used to capture pivotal poignant moments during the freedom struggle.
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Speaking at Pillay’s Mountain Rise home on Tuesday, Nellan Pillay said that his father was born and bred in Pietermaritzburg. He came from humble beginnings, but his love for journalism and photography earned him a doctorate.
He was 17 years old when he started working at Eddels Shoe Factory and then at Jaguar Shoes. His passion for journalism and photography saw him going to many places during the apartheid era. He took risks because of his passion. He made many friends locally and abroad.
“We received a message from India, from a media mogul that he assisted. He called my father ‘Godfather’ because of his assistance with starting his company,” said Nellan.
Nellan described his father as a vibrant person who loved life and was always on the go. “He loved his children and grandchildren. He loved spending time with us. He was well-travelled. Among other countries, he visited India 33 times. He loved good food and could have a conversation with anyone. He could speak to the youth and was very smart as he would know what to do in any situation,” said Nellan.
Pillay’s grandchildren reminisced on their time together with him.
“He was so proud of all of us and loved telling us about all the stories he wrote about. We know that he wrote multiple stories for many publications. He loved fishing, and we had a great relationship with him,” said his grandchildren.
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Pillay’s love for writing and politics took him to the All In Africa Conference in 1961, where the late President Nelson Mandela delivered his last speech at the Arya Samaj Hall (now the Manaye Hall) before he went underground. He met Mandela and narrated his experience to him in the City Hall when he visited Pietermaritzburg in 1995.
Pillay’s love for photography and media saw him share his knowledge and experiences with novice journalists and photographers in the field.
He was also known for his promotion of cultural values.
President of the Midlands Hindu Society, Ranjiv Nirghin said that “a baobab has fallen”.
“A few years ago, the Midlands Hindu Society collaborated with African Lotus Productions and SABC 3 to produce Msunduzi Deepam, a programme that has since aired annually on SABC 3 during Diwali.
“Shan Pillay shared some insights into the history of the Pietermaritzburg community that he was able to capture through the lens of his camera over the past decades. The dark days of apartheid and the notorious activities of the security branch, studded with the lighter moments of humanity, which shone through even during those dark days.
“He was an ocean of knowledge and a library of experience whose passing shall leave a void in our community that no other will be able to fill. The affiliates and executive of Midlands Hindu Society offer our sincere condolences to the Pillay family. Aum Sathgati Shan Pillay. May your legacy live on!” said Nirghin.
Former news editor of Sunday Tribune newspaper, Yogin Devan, said Pillay was one of the last among a coterie of courageous journalists who had the honour and privilege to capture the struggle for freedom from a front-row seat.
“He was an avid fan of Tamil movies and made several trips to India to meet leading film stars. He also promoted the Tamil language, arts, culture, and religion, and for this, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Letters by the International Tamil University in Maryland, U.S., at a ceremony in December 2017 at Madurai, South India,” said Devan.
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Riquadeu Jacobs, CEO of The Natal Witness Printing and Publishing Company, described Pillay as a humble community icon who made a significant contribution to journalism.
Shan made an immense contribution to photojournalism. Not only did he have the technical mastery of his craft, but he also had a remarkable news sense. He worked with legendary editors, Richard Steyn and Stan Elridge, the latter having given him a regular column to cover his frequent cultural trips to India and Sri Lanka. He was a humble man who lived a remarkable life, and we are proud to have shared many memorable moments with him.
“Throughout his illustrious career in journalism, he mentored many young reporters and aspirant photojournalists,” said Jacobs.
Pillay is survived by his two children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
