Raymond Pillai’s Last Book Launched in Auckland
Old St. Michael’s Church in the Corban Estate in West Auckland attracted a number of notables from Fiji for a quiet Sunday function to launch the last book by renowned Fiji writer and teacher Raymond Pillai who was known to acutely feel the “pulse” of sentiments and emotions that marked the transitions of the cane-farming Indian community in Fiji.
Born in 1942 in the burning town of Ba during the era of the all-powerful Colonial Sugar Refinery Company (CSR), when the Indo-Fijian voice for rights in the country of their adoption was at its most precarious, Raymond was truly the product of a defining era.
His writings clearly bore this out and “Labourers’ Lament” is one that was singled out by former Leader of the Opposition and International Court judge, Jai Ram Reddy as he launched Raymond’s last book aptly titled “The End of the Line”.
A number of Raymond Pillai’s contemporaries, friends, and students then shared their experiences and thoughts about the poet, writer, teacher, and husband who was called to rest in 2007. The list included close friend Sachida Reddy (late Fiji parliamentarian KS Reddy’s son), former unionist and Fiji Labour Party stalwart Shiva Sankaran, and author of “Tears in Paradise” Rajendra Prasad.
A number of Raymond’s New Zealand friends also shared their experiences in a moving tribute to the prominent son of Fiji. These included Father Peter Murphy whose Massey Catholic Parish Raymond and his family were a part of. Westgate Kip Mcgrath director Alan Brown saw Raymond as a dedicated teacher who gave the same seriousness to his task whether he was handling a children’s class or one that had adults. Gwen Deverel, an ex-USP colleague who later worked with Raymond in NZ shared some fond memories of the remarkable gentleman. And fellow writer Ines Hellberg read an unpublished poem titled “Pukeko” that piqued the audience.
The last speaker was former Deputy Speaker of Fiji’s House of Representatives, Auckland lawyer Gyanendra Prasad, who recalled how he always struggled with English as an academic subject until he encountered Raymond Pillai at the University of the South Pacific. Raymond had a way with the English language that brought it to life and made it so simple, he said.
As a sequel to the book launch, the Raymond Pillai Foundation Trust was also launched. Registered as a Charitable Trust in Fiji, this foundation has “financial help to educate needy children in Fiji” as its main focus. Friends mentioned how Raymond valued education as a ticket out of poverty and a passport to success in life for the marginalized and needy. This Trust would perpetuate his dreams and aspirations in others.
A bank account in the name of the trust has been opened in Fiji with an initial endowment fund established by founding members. The trustees include Raymond’s wife, Yoga Pillai who hosted the Corban Estate function. Those interested in the Trust can contact Yoga (yogapillai@hotmail.com), Vimal Raj Reddy (vimalrreddy@hotmail.com) or Kavinesh Reddy (jkevi@connect.com.fj).
Old St. Michael’s Church in the Corban Estate in West Auckland attracted a number of notables from Fiji for a quiet Sunday function to launch the last book by renowned Fiji writer and teacher Raymond Pillai who was known to acutely feel the “pulse” of sentiments and emotions that marked the...
Old St. Michael’s Church in the Corban Estate in West Auckland attracted a number of notables from Fiji for a quiet Sunday function to launch the last book by renowned Fiji writer and teacher Raymond Pillai who was known to acutely feel the “pulse” of sentiments and emotions that marked the transitions of the cane-farming Indian community in Fiji.
Born in 1942 in the burning town of Ba during the era of the all-powerful Colonial Sugar Refinery Company (CSR), when the Indo-Fijian voice for rights in the country of their adoption was at its most precarious, Raymond was truly the product of a defining era.
His writings clearly bore this out and “Labourers’ Lament” is one that was singled out by former Leader of the Opposition and International Court judge, Jai Ram Reddy as he launched Raymond’s last book aptly titled “The End of the Line”.
A number of Raymond Pillai’s contemporaries, friends, and students then shared their experiences and thoughts about the poet, writer, teacher, and husband who was called to rest in 2007. The list included close friend Sachida Reddy (late Fiji parliamentarian KS Reddy’s son), former unionist and Fiji Labour Party stalwart Shiva Sankaran, and author of “Tears in Paradise” Rajendra Prasad.
A number of Raymond’s New Zealand friends also shared their experiences in a moving tribute to the prominent son of Fiji. These included Father Peter Murphy whose Massey Catholic Parish Raymond and his family were a part of. Westgate Kip Mcgrath director Alan Brown saw Raymond as a dedicated teacher who gave the same seriousness to his task whether he was handling a children’s class or one that had adults. Gwen Deverel, an ex-USP colleague who later worked with Raymond in NZ shared some fond memories of the remarkable gentleman. And fellow writer Ines Hellberg read an unpublished poem titled “Pukeko” that piqued the audience.
The last speaker was former Deputy Speaker of Fiji’s House of Representatives, Auckland lawyer Gyanendra Prasad, who recalled how he always struggled with English as an academic subject until he encountered Raymond Pillai at the University of the South Pacific. Raymond had a way with the English language that brought it to life and made it so simple, he said.
As a sequel to the book launch, the Raymond Pillai Foundation Trust was also launched. Registered as a Charitable Trust in Fiji, this foundation has “financial help to educate needy children in Fiji” as its main focus. Friends mentioned how Raymond valued education as a ticket out of poverty and a passport to success in life for the marginalized and needy. This Trust would perpetuate his dreams and aspirations in others.
A bank account in the name of the trust has been opened in Fiji with an initial endowment fund established by founding members. The trustees include Raymond’s wife, Yoga Pillai who hosted the Corban Estate function. Those interested in the Trust can contact Yoga (yogapillai@hotmail.com), Vimal Raj Reddy (vimalrreddy@hotmail.com) or Kavinesh Reddy (jkevi@connect.com.fj).
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